The Future of Hunting

www.ncwildlife.org

Will there be hunting in the future?  More specifically, will there be hunters?  The number of licensed hunters in North Carolina has been somewhat steady although they are in an overall decline.  According to a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) blog entry from 2012, the number of licensed hunters decreased from 270,091 in 2006 to 253,712 in 2010.  This is just over a 9% drop during this five year period.  During this same five year span the overall population of North Carolina increased from 8,890,380 to 9,574,477, a numerical increase of 684,097 or 9.2%.  It is an alarming trend. 

Can this trend be reversed?  As the population increases, it speeds the loss of huntable areas.  According to a 2007 agricultural census, North Carolina lost 970,000 acres of farmland from 1997-2007 - a rate of almost 100,000 acres a year.  North Carolina is becoming increasingly urban.

And how about those that do hunt?  The typical hunter is a middle-aged white male.  Those of us who spend time in contact with hunters can see that he is getting older.  We snap photos of the few kids we see hunting as though they are a rare species.

So, what do we do?  The loss of revenue alone for the NCWRC from 2006-2010 equals $245,685.  Do we continue to pitch hunting through the same programs and outlets as the numbers decline?  Do we fly the plane into the ground as the cockpit voice screams, “Terrain, terrain!!!”  Or do we take a look at who we are not reaching?

www.archerytalk.com

The same NCWRC blog mentioned above shows a noticeable increase in the number of licensed female hunters.  Statistically, the increase is significant – 24% over teh five year period.  The blog credits the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program with some of this increase.  This is a great program, but are we just scratching the surface?  In her book Call of the Mild Lily Raff McCaulou describes some of her difficulties breaking into hunting – a predominantly male activity.  The NCWRC recently offered hunter education courses geared toward females that were well received and attended.   TV hosts such as Eva Shockey (right) have shown that the hunting shows are reaching out to a more diverse audience.  

The North Carolina Hispanic population grew 111% from 2000-2010 and now makes up 8.4% of North Carolina’s overall population.  Can we recruit new hunters from this demographic group?  We often hear that hunting regulations are complex and difficult to understand.  How much more difficult is it when English is your second language and the hunting regulations are only printed in English?

And finally, are we truly reaching out to the 18-34 years of age group?  How about those locavores who are committed to eating locally grow food or the homesteaders who are trying to simplify their lives?  The young family who wants to do things together are looking for activities in a structured environment, can we make hunting an option for their limited free time?  

These are adaptive issues that will require experimentation to find the right solutions.  A question that we seem to avoid is whether established hunters are truly open to new hunters who may not look like them, talk like them, or dress like them?  And is there even room for more hunters?  Maybe even more important is that those who are in positions of authority and can address these issues are middle-aged white males who may assume that the world shares their view of this problem.