Hunter Recruitment

[Flashman]

Mike, this is a fascinating analysis, thanks. Very interesting.

It's an interesting problem for sure. When my dad was growing up, he and his friends and his cousins spent lots of time in the bush, including hunting. Far from a country boy, he grew up in downtown Montreal.

When I was growing up, not a single one of my friends or cousins was into hunting. In thirty years of living in Toronto, I've known a grand total of two people who've been into it. Were it not for the bug being inextricably planted at a very young age, there's no question I wouldn't be into it now.

The citiots thing is counterproductive, but fair IMHO. It's the manifestation of resentment of people in cities forming opinions and making decisions about things of which they are almost certainly wholly ignorant, based mostly on emotion. If I had to deal with black bears up the wazoo because some architects in the Annex don't like the idea of the spring bear hunt, I'd be resentful too. Unfortunately the vast vast majority are simply disconnected from the idea of killing and eating something.

It's funny though; the whole local - sustainable - organic - free range trend is doing the most to change this that I've ever seen in my life. Explain hunting in those terms, and everyone but the irrationally biased are in favour, even the most leftist folks I know in the dark heart of downtown TO. The problem is you may as well suggest they fly to the moon as take up hunting, for all the obstacles in their way.

What's the reduction in moose tags going to do to hunter numbers? The same number of gangs out there or will we see a decline? How's it shaking out in reality - fewer tags per gang or just fewer gangs period? Dumb Q maybe, but I've never hunted Bullwinkle here, our camp was on the QC side.

[MikePal]

The citiots thing is counterproductive, but fair IMHO. It's the manifestation of resentment of people in cities forming opinions and making decisions about things of which they are almost certainly wholly ignorant, based mostly on emotion.

I don’t think that it’s about being ‘called’ a cidiot….I think it has more to do with them feeling like their being perceived as a cidiot when they have to leave their comfort zone and head out into the rural areas and meet with farmers to ask for permission to hunt on their property.

It’s hard to come face to face with a yokel, back woods, redneck and ask him a favour.

Name calling works both ways and is just trash talk. If your worried about it, you need to go back to Grade 1, where they covered that...LOL.

[MikePal]

Mike, this is a fascinating analysis, thanks. Very interesting.

Thanks, it's been a truly educational exercise, looking thru the various levels of data to try and get a picture of what is ailing our Hunting Heritage.

I hate the fact that the only real positive intervention I've found is coming from organizations who see Hunting from the economic impact that it generates; be it tourism or the MNR requiring license income to support the SPA.

[Flashman]

I don’t think that it’s about being ‘called’ a cidiot….I think it has more to do with them feeling like their being perceived as a cidiot when they have to leave their comfort zone and head out into the rural areas and meet with farmers to ask for permission to hunt on their property.

It’s hard to come face to face with a yokel, back woods, redneck and ask him a favour.

Name calling works both ways and is just trash talk. If your worried about it, you need to go back to Grade 1, where they covered that...LOL.

Makes sense. Just to play the devil's advocate though, even the well meaning folks can do idiot stuff even with the best of intentions if they're from the city and unfamiliar with how things work on a farm or property. Stay out of fields. Stay away from crops and farm equipment. Close the gates you open. Tell the landowner about downed spots in the fence (or better yet fix them if you can and then tell him), that kind of stuff. No particular fault of theirs, just unfamiliarity. And what farmer has the time or inclination to make sure you won't eff his place up? Hard enough job as it is without having to worry about some guys up from TO for the day running around your back 40 with rifles.

One guy I have a great relationship with now was having problems with his Kubota's crank bearings when I walked up... offered to take a look and give him a hand - I dunno how many toasted motorcycle engine bearings I've dealt with, but it's a lot. Got his oil starvation problem troubleshot, and that was the start of a great relationship.

My unsolicited advice to guys who are hesitant to ask for the favour of permission is don't. Don't ask. Offer something first, and ask for permission to hunt in exchange. You'll probably be more confident if you show up and offer to assist with whatever you're good at than showing up just asking for a favour off the bat. I always ask for coyote permission first too, and wouldn't you know it but a lot of the time after a year or two that turns into an offer to come back for deer season once he knows you're not a ding dong.

[MikePal]

I was at a ofah zone meeting today and one stat that was mentioned was that about 20% of the people taking the hunter safety course are women, whereas in the past that was closer to 4%. Not sure what role that plays, if any.

I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely lady yesterday at breakfast in town who's husband and 3 of his friends own a Hunt Camp up near the park. Actually she says she owns their 1/4 share , its in her name and she never been there. More interesting she has taken the OFHA One stop course, got her PAL and her Outdoors card. But, surprisingly, she has never even been to the camp and never hunted nor intends to.

It was just to 'use' her Card etc.....same with the wive's for the other 3 guys....so I guess it's more than a rumour.

[Marko]

I think many of the "new" hunters are at least a generation removed from hunting and deer require more mentoring then small game or water fowl. Deer also take some time (and money) to invest right from scouting through to butchering. I can go hunting in the morning and have fresh grouse for lunch.... Hey, it could happen.

The above is very true. I'm a new hunter myself, got my licences in 2012, and here I have no family member or mentor to teach me. Even if I managed to kill a dear, I would not know what to do with it, so there would have to be the cost of butchering, on top of the tag cost, ammo, gas, etc. I think these big game tags cost too much, especially turkey. $28 for a turkey tag, and if you don't get one, you lose it and come next season you have to buy a new one? They should at least allow to carry a turkey tag into the future until one can fill it.
If the MNR increase the prices of big game tags, as some suggest, they will sell even fewer tags.

[Gunner 38]

Well guys , I guess I'm a slightly older hunter . I've been hunting and fishing since I was ~ 10 years old ; that was ~ 67 years ago . Hunting and fishing are still in my blood and I continue to partake ; however , I couldn't care less whether I ever shoot another species of big-game again . Over the course of the decades I've collected my share of it . --- Physically I'm still fit enough (working-out to keep from deteriorating) but I'd rather give some "YOUNGSTERS" a chance to experience what I did in my life-time . --- Yes , I hunt and fish whenever I have a chance (in season) but don't feel the urge to make an effort to harvest "bush-beef" anymore . --- Small-game and fish are still on the agenda . --- I fish about 3 times a week (during the season) and hunt whenever the opportunity presents itself . The main-difference between now and then : Now I generally only kill for consumption ; I eat what I collect . Previously (when I was younger) I shot a lot of "nuisance-game" (groundhogs , porcupines , skunks , raccoons etc.) and was quite fanatical about it . --- If I had a BUCK for every creature that I've "taken" in my life-time I could --------------------------- . Oh well , you wouldn't believe me anyway ! --- More oldtimers should refrain from harvesting big-game in order to allow the younger generation the same opportunity .

[MikePal]

-- More oldtimers should refrain from harvesting big-game in order to allow the younger generation the same opportunity .

I think the point is Gunner, there are fewer and fewer of the young generation showing any interest in taking up the reins.

[DGearyFTE]

Mike,
I have another source of data to add to the discussion. I have read this report in the past with an intent to use it as a backdrop to a letter to my MP. Interestingly enough, according to this report the numbers for hunting are dropping in the US as well. It does not provide attribution of a cause for the decline but it does show a gradual reduction ( p 16).
In addition to the loss of hunting areas I can't help but lean toward the decline in Canada being related to the anti-gun culture following the Ecole Polytechnique.
There is potential to grow the numbers again and I believe one way is to promote it thru tourism. Doesn't take long for people to realize increased economic growth associated with hunting would be a good thing. It needs more government support and sponsored education such that people come to understand the hunting is not 'killing' and it is a valuable and necessary conservation tool.


http://en.destinationcanada.com/site...scape_rev1.pdf

[MikePal]

In addition to the loss of hunting areas I can't help but lean toward the decline in Canada being related to the anti-gun culture following the Ecole Polytechnique.

I wonder if, in general, there is a more mature awareness between casual Gun ownership and Hunting in Canada. I can see your point as far as Gun ownership without purpose, ie; did Ecole Polytech stigmatize gun ownership outside the need for a gun for hunting purposes ?

Maybe your right, maybe there was a subtle shift in acceptance of having a gun in the house by women who were scared by the incident, so their husbands/boyfriends no longer 'allowed' to own guns.