Biggest hurdle/barrier to entry into hunting?

[PARA1977]

Im not sure what your point is. Things cost money. I dont care if its hunting, a paddle board, a stupid pedal bike, or just chasing ass, there is a buy in.

Since when did everything need to be easily attainable and

This is getting way out in the weeds and off topic but these are some of my incoherent thoughts.
I've got 3 daughters, only one of them hunts now, but all three grew up hunting. I taught them how to be woodsmen, they can pitch a wall tent, run chainsaws and butcher their own animals. The lessons they learned while we were hunting will carry with them for a lifetime . They wouldn't have sought these lessons out on their own but I'm glad that they wanted to learn and I hope that they will be able to pass that knowledge on to their youngsters.
I've still got a bunch of rocks rattling around in my noggin, there's going to be a bunch of hard learned knowledge that will die with me and likely won't be passed on to anyone else. That's depressing when you think about it.
I hate seeing trucks at the trailhead as much as the next guy and I've been referred to as a gatekeeper, but we should be passing this knowledge down to the next group when they ask.

I went ten years as my boys were hunting and never killed anything it was all about them and patience and it was the best time I have ever had hunting and the last memory’s I hope to remember on my deathbed. And they turned out very young to love and appreciate life much more because of it.

 

[Jack321]

I absolutely agree to everyone of these points.

Id even go as far as to say, "You don't know, what you don't know."

Ever tried to explain baseball to a foreigner?

I have.

When I was younger we had a foreign exchange student, and I played mens slow pitch softball. It was quite hard to explain the game of baseball/softball.

An imaginary box, over a "plate" that a person (pitcher) has to throw to and get a ball inside that box (strike zone). All while a person with a stick (batter) has to hit the ball, between two lines (foul lines). Then when they (the batter) hit it, they have to run to another white square before the ball gets to another person (1st baseman) touching the base to catch it. If the ball makes it into the imaginary box, its a "strike," if not its a "ball." 3 "strikes" = one "out." Three "outs" = an "inning."

And you have to make it to all 4 "bases" to score a "run."

Theres a "top" and "bottom" "inning" and 9 "innings = a game."

The object is to hit the ball and touch all 4 "bases" to score a "run" before "3 outs end the inning." And the other team gets to try. You can score as many runs as possible until you get 3 outs.

Oh! And outs can come via "strike out" or catching the ball in the air, or the ball going to the base before you do. (But only at 1st base?) Or you get tagged out. But if the ball hits the ground before you catch it in the air, it doesnt count as an "out."

Why does the "batter" get to over run 1st base, and only first base? Why not 2nd or 3rd?

Why when a person tries to "steal" 2nd does the person catching the ball (2nd bademan or shortstop) have to "tag" the runner, why cant they just step on 2nd base like they do at 1st base?

Why when a ball is hit do they run to the right (1st) and not the left (3rd)?

And what the F* is the "infield fly rule"?!?!

If you don't hit it between the lines (foul lines) its a "foul ball" and considered a "strike", but why can you have an infinite number of foul balls and still be "batting" if its "3 strikes and your out."? And if thats the rule, why if you bunt with 2 strikes and it goes foul, are you out? Isnt it a foul ball? And dont you get infinite number of foul balls?!

Oh! And we also have special "position" players, and people are placed around the "field" called a "diamond."



Hunting can be like that!

"Wait--I have to have a license and a 'tag'??" I cant just hunt everything with a "license"?

Oh, and I can hunt several things with a license--squirrels, rabbits and maybe some upland birds--but I need something special (a "tag") for deer, elk--oh and a "special federal license" for waterfowl.

But my drivers license lets me drive cars, suvs, vans....? Why not my hunting license hunt all animals? And my drivers license lets me drive in any state? Why not my hunting license? I need a license and tag for each state? And each animal in that state? Oh--yeah I guess my regular drivers license doesnt let me drive a motor cycle or a semi....or a tank!

Oh, I also need gear, clothes and a weapon--ok. That makes sense, cuz as an average joe. Im not going to go to soccer with a baseball glove. But can soccer shoes double as football spikes, badeball cleats, and golf shoes?

Oh, and I can use a gun! Whats a .22LR vs a .22Mag? A "30 caliber" ok--whats the difference between a "30 odd 6" and a "300 win mag?" What did I "win" by the way? And theres a "300 short mag?" Is that for shorter people or kids?

Oh! And theres even different tyypes of weapons! Theres "rifles" "shotguns" "pistols" "revolvers" "muzzleloaders" and "crossbows" and "bows."

And I have to have a "different tag" for different weapons? Why cant I just buy a "deer tag" and use a gun and a bow and a muzzleloader?

Oh! And this tage lets me only shoot boy animals? That one is for girls. What? This tag is for "young boy" animals (spikes) and that's for the older guys? Well thats kinda sexist, isnt it? Cant I just shoot one and say its transgender?! I mean, we do that? Why cant that buck just identify as a doe?

And HOLY SMOKES $1000 for a Montana deer and elk combo license! Whys my home state so much cheaper? Oh and this state had an application period and time frame? But that state I can just walk into Walmart?! What unit do I want?

Wait--my bow tag is only good for these dates? And I need a separate gun tag? And its only allowed in this area (or county or only for national forest or only for private land)?

Wait?!?! Different states have different rules?!? Theyre not all the same? And I have to read an entire magazine for each state to figure it out? Well waterfowl should be easy, theyre federally looked after, right? Huh! Some states I csn shoot 3 geese? Other states 5? Ducks have to be a number of mallards vs pin tails? Whats a pin tail anyway? Theres an early goose season? And a regular season? Early goose I csn shoot 5, but regular season only 2?

Oh, and I have to use a "minimum" caliber? So its like golf? Different clubs for diffedent things? Different guns for different animals--got it! Ok? How much is a gun? What! $500 for a gun and $200 for a scope? And thats not even high priced? Dang! I dont spend $700 for every club in my golf bag?

Wait! And I have to buy ammo?! When I golf I dont have to get a new ball every shot! (Coupd you imagine having to buy 90 golf balls for a round of golf! )

Wait--if I shoot a duck it has to be "non-toxic"? Whats that? Oh! "Steel" and not "lead"? But whats "bismuth" and HOLY CRAP TSS IS $15 A SHELL!!! But this box of "12 ga 2-3/4 #7.5 shot" gets me 25 shells for $10 but this "12 ga 3" #7.5 TSS" is $80 for 5 rounds?!?!

What are these numbers on this box? Whats a 20 gauge vs a 12 gauge? 2-3/4" and another number: #4 shot? Whats that mean? Is #4 good? Is that the number of bullets in the shell? Why's it called a "shell" anyway. Whats a 9mm vs a 50 BMG?!

Oh! Theres a "choke tube"? "Modified" does that mean the guns changed? Is it a modified gun now? Is that legal? And a "extra full" for turkeys? Whats TSS?

Hold on! I bought a "30 odd 6" and this box says "30 dash zero 6" is that the same? And I see like 100 different boxes from "winchester, federal, hornady, and names I can't even pronounce " but this box has a deer on it! Is that OK?

What?! Theres different "bullets" and "bullet weights"!?! And a "Nosler 150 gr ballistic tip" will fly different than a "150 grain Hornady SST?" And I should try different types to see what my "gun likes"? And theres 165, 180, 220 "grains"?!?

Oh, and I need a "base" "rings" and a "scope"?

Why is this "Bushnell" so much cheaper than this "Nightforce"? They have the same numbers on the box?!

Oh! Stay away from Leupold, Vortex they "dont hold zero" (what does that mean?)--got it! (I dont got it.)

Oh! So only shoot a "Tikka 223" with 77 grain TMK bullets, with a SFWA scope, UM Rings and a RokStock and I can kill everything on the planet!??! Well $hit!!! Why the F didnt you just say so!?!?!





I could go on and on.....

See what I mean......

Mentor. Period.

 

[wapitibob]

Biggest barrier is not having an experienced friend to bring you along and up to speed.
Cost of equipment, I can buy a bow or rifle and accessories for $500.
Getting a tag, I can hunt OTC in my home state or draw a 0-1 point unit in WY.
Getting to the unit would be reasonable if shared with that friend.

 

[Rich M]

I starting hunting as an "adult" (18) on my own. By far my biggest barrier was not having a mentor. No one in my family and none of my friends were hunters. I had to figure everything out on my own or via internet. It made things very difficult. Ended up spending 4 cumulative days in the field before I shot my first squirrel and I about froze to death doing it.

Its only by fortune that I'm the type of stubborn person who stuck with it because I said I was going to do it. Otherwise I would have given up without someone to show me the ropes. Hell, a couple years later I had a buddy who had wanted to go hunting all his life, but also didn't have any mentors. I was able to be that "mentor" myself, despite being extremely inexperienced and bad at hunting. Just having someone with him a couple times was enough to get him out hunting all on his own in pretty short order.

The second biggest barrier for me at the time was access. It took me a long time trying to figure out what areas I could hunt in and not. Especially as an inexperienced person who grew up in the city, it was very difficult for me to wrap my head around there being places I can just walk in with a gun and shoot an animal. I was very used to parks, not State Forest. Ohio has very little public land and trying to find it was a big pain in the butt. Then once you did, it was all very high pressure. Tough to have success on it.

Even those of us who have hunted our lives could have used a mentor. We grew up with fathers and uncles who were set in their ways and had specialities. Im a good upland bird hunter cause that was dad’s fav. Rabbit tracking was a fav of mine. Deer was an every year but just walk around kind of thing. Late 80s and he still likes shotgun sports and competition style handgun stuff.

My whole approach is that folks shouldn’t skip the early learning stage cause they are older. It is a good first step. It involves all this stuff that people are paying for - shooting, finding critters, which rabbit tracks to follow, the last spot I saw the pheasant or grouse when I shot was, stuff like that. It helps avoid the guy shooting the deer and not knowing where it was or which tracks are freshest, Etc. to cut the corner with a mentor hurts the progression and robs you of skills to show your kids and watch them master.

Access is the limiter in the NE and SE. I have land and can hunt there but can shoot to the edges of my property. Sit in camp window w dad and “hunt”. Still making memories and having fun. Hope to get him duck hunting this fall, long waits on the permits.

Hunting is a great 2-3 man thing. Everyone pushes each other along and you can have fun.

It’s def not all about trophy only kind of things.

 

[Rich M]

Id even go as far as to say, "You don't know, what you don't know."

Ever tried to explain baseball to a foreigner?

I have.

When I was younger we had a foreign exchange student, and I played mens slow pitch softball. It was quite hard to explain the game of baseball/softball.

An imaginary box, over a "plate" that a person (pitcher) has to throw to and get a ball inside that box (strike zone). All while a person with a stick (batter) has to hit the ball, between two lines (foul lines). Then when they (the batter) hit it, they have to run to another white square before the ball gets to another person (1st baseman) touching the base to catch it. If the ball makes it into the imaginary box, its a "strike," if not its a "ball." 3 "strikes" = one "out." Three "outs" = an "inning."

And you have to make it to all 4 "bases" to score a "run."

Theres a "top" and "bottom" "inning" and 9 "innings = a game."

The object is to hit the ball and touch all 4 "bases" to score a "run" before "3 outs end the inning." And the other team gets to try. You can score as many runs as possible until you get 3 outs.

Oh! And outs can come via "strike out" or catching the ball in the air, or the ball going to the base before you do. (But only at 1st base?) Or you get tagged out. But if the ball hits the ground before you catch it in the air, it doesnt count as an "out."

Why does the "batter" get to over run 1st base, and only first base? Why not 2nd or 3rd?

Why when a person tries to "steal" 2nd does the person catching the ball (2nd bademan or shortstop) have to "tag" the runner, why cant they just step on 2nd base like they do at 1st base?

Why when a ball is hit do they run to the right (1st) and not the left (3rd)?

And what the F* is the "infield fly rule"?!?!

If you don't hit it between the lines (foul lines) its a "foul ball" and considered a "strike", but why can you have an infinite number of foul balls and still be "batting" if its "3 strikes and your out."? And if thats the rule, why if you bunt with 2 strikes and it goes foul, are you out? Isnt it a foul ball? And dont you get infinite number of foul balls?!

Oh! And we also have special "position" players, and people are placed around the "field" called a "diamond."



Hunting can be like that!

"Wait--I have to have a license and a 'tag'??" I cant just hunt everything with a "license"?

Oh, and I can hunt several things with a license--squirrels, rabbits and maybe some upland birds--but I need something special (a "tag") for deer, elk--oh and a "special federal license" for waterfowl.

But my drivers license lets me drive cars, suvs, vans....? Why not my hunting license hunt all animals? And my drivers license lets me drive in any state? Why not my hunting license? I need a license and tag for each state? And each animal in that state? Oh--yeah I guess my regular drivers license doesnt let me drive a motor cycle or a semi....or a tank!

Oh, I also need gear, clothes and a weapon--ok. That makes sense, cuz as an average joe. Im not going to go to soccer with a baseball glove. But can soccer shoes double as football spikes, badeball cleats, and golf shoes?

Oh, and I can use a gun! Whats a .22LR vs a .22Mag? A "30 caliber" ok--whats the difference between a "30 odd 6" and a "300 win mag?" What did I "win" by the way? And theres a "300 short mag?" Is that for shorter people or kids?

Oh! And theres even different tyypes of weapons! Theres "rifles" "shotguns" "pistols" "revolvers" "muzzleloaders" and "crossbows" and "bows."

And I have to have a "different tag" for different weapons? Why cant I just buy a "deer tag" and use a gun and a bow and a muzzleloader?

Oh! And this tage lets me only shoot boy animals? That one is for girls. What? This tag is for "young boy" animals (spikes) and that's for the older guys? Well thats kinda sexist, isnt it? Cant I just shoot one and say its transgender?! I mean, we do that? Why cant that buck just identify as a doe?

And HOLY SMOKES $1000 for a Montana deer and elk combo license! Whys my home state so much cheaper? Oh and this state had an application period and time frame? But that state I can just walk into Walmart?! What unit do I want?

Wait--my bow tag is only good for these dates? And I need a separate gun tag? And its only allowed in this area (or county or only for national forest or only for private land)?

Wait?!?! Different states have different rules?!? Theyre not all the same? And I have to read an entire magazine for each state to figure it out? Well waterfowl should be easy, theyre federally looked after, right? Huh! Some states I csn shoot 3 geese? Other states 5? Ducks have to be a number of mallards vs pin tails? Whats a pin tail anyway? Theres an early goose season? And a regular season? Early goose I csn shoot 5, but regular season only 2?

Oh, and I have to use a "minimum" caliber? So its like golf? Different clubs for diffedent things? Different guns for different animals--got it! Ok? How much is a gun? What! $500 for a gun and $200 for a scope? And thats not even high priced? Dang! I dont spend $700 for every club in my golf bag?

Wait! And I have to buy ammo?! When I golf I dont have to get a new ball every shot! (Coupd you imagine having to buy 90 golf balls for a round of golf! )

Wait--if I shoot a duck it has to be "non-toxic"? Whats that? Oh! "Steel" and not "lead"? But whats "bismuth" and HOLY CRAP TSS IS $15 A SHELL!!! But this box of "12 ga 2-3/4 #7.5 shot" gets me 25 shells for $10 but this "12 ga 3" #7.5 TSS" is $80 for 5 rounds?!?!

What are these numbers on this box? Whats a 20 gauge vs a 12 gauge? 2-3/4" and another number: #4 shot? Whats that mean? Is #4 good? Is that the number of bullets in the shell? Why's it called a "shell" anyway. Whats a 9mm vs a 50 BMG?!

Oh! Theres a "choke tube"? "Modified" does that mean the guns changed? Is it a modified gun now? Is that legal? And a "extra full" for turkeys? Whats TSS?

Hold on! I bought a "30 odd 6" and this box says "30 dash zero 6" is that the same? And I see like 100 different boxes from "winchester, federal, hornady, and names I can't even pronounce " but this box has a deer on it! Is that OK?

What?! Theres different "bullets" and "bullet weights"!?! And a "Nosler 150 gr ballistic tip" will fly different than a "150 grain Hornady SST?" And I should try different types to see what my "gun likes"? And theres 165, 180, 220 "grains"?!?

Oh, and I need a "base" "rings" and a "scope"?

Why is this "Bushnell" so much cheaper than this "Nightforce"? They have the same numbers on the box?!

Oh! Stay away from Leupold, Vortex they "dont hold zero" (what does that mean?)--got it! (I dont got it.)

Oh! So only shoot a "Tikka 223" with 77 grain TMK bullets, with a SFWA scope, UM Rings and a RokStock and I can kill everything on the planet!??! Well $hit!!! Why the F didnt you just say so!?!?!





I could go on and on.....

See what I mean......

Mentor. Period.

Uh?

If you take it one step at a time it comes together. Trying to go from 0-60 mph is where you screw up. Folks spend a lifetime learning and some dude expects to know it all in time for next hunting season.

That’s the mistake and why hunting sucks on public right now.

Mentor - no. Stop if you are. Let these folks figure some stuff out without spoon feeding.

 

[ianpadron]

The biggest barrier is not growing up with anyone to teach you.

Takes a unique individual to take up Western hunting without any of it in their formative years.

I've introduced a few guys and it seldom sticks. The guys that are most passionate a) grew up hunting or b) have the right personality type where mastery and learning are worthwhile pursuits, regardless of "success"

I've stopped taking anyone outside the family hunting specifically because it's mostly a waste of time.

 

[Backyard]

Uh?

If you take it one step at a time it comes together. Trying to go from 0-60 mph is where you screw up. Folks spend a lifetime learning and some dude expects to know it all in time for next hunting season.

That’s the mistake and why hunting sucks on public right now.

Mentor - no. Stop if you are. Let these folks figure some stuff out without spoon feeding.

Exactly! For me, and I would suspect a lot of people, 80% of hunting is the learning. Whether it be from mistakes, or actual research, or experience in the field. Like the saying: the journey IS the adventure.
And as in anything the cost is relevant. If you enjoy it, you’ll find a means.


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