Biggest hurdle/barrier to entry into hunting?

[Adam0321/0306]

I feel a large barrier is thinking it is going to be just like a heavily edited hunting show. Thinking that all you have to do is spend a couple thousand dollars on gear and you will see dozens of deer and elk every sit. Not realizing that most of the time you will not see a thing.

 

[WCB]

So you're inviting people to start hunting for the first time? Despite everything being so overcrowded that we don't need any new hunters? Hypocrite.

Ahhh..your one of those guys that don't understand or avoid context clues. Explain two things...#1 where in my post did I say never take anyone new. And #2 how you function daily.

 

[hoooogan]

I grew up much more sheltered than I like to admit. No firearms, no hunting, minimal nature activities, etc. But since I started making my own money, I have spent countless days offroading, camping, biking, and in recent years shooting and fishing.

I have plenty of friends that hunt but that aspect was still such a foreign concept to me. As a habitual overthinker, each piece is a huge hurdle. Quite literally everything from clothing, to rifle setup, to getting my hunting license, the countless hours of researching hunting units, applying for tags, practicing shooting, load development, e-scouting, actual scouting, watching hunting videos/reading on strategies, how to field dress a deer, training for hiking and probably another 1000 things I haven't mentioned. I basically put myself through a year of "schooling" before I went and shot my first deer last year. For me, everything has been a hurdle but I am a problem solver (DIY mechanic, DIY fabricator, software engineer) so I am very familiar with "this might suck but let's just get it done". That translates into hunting, especially when I was sitting in front of my first deer with zero experience, alone.

All that was not quick or easy but the hardest part by far was the mental game during the hunt. I'm so used to solving things and moving forward, that sitting and waiting for something to show up or for me to spot it was extremely difficult. There were definitely times when I was considering "reclaiming my future vacation time", if you will... I'll be out in the same mountains this year.

 

[Sully_44]

I think the biggest barrier to entry these days is people’s need for instant gratification and general dislike of failure and discomfort.

There’s still tons of opportunities if you want to work and suffer for it. Most people don’t want to be new at something and suffer. They want to be what their flavor of instagram/youtube bad@$$ portrays from jump street.


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This 100%! Even “shitty” tags can be punched, some areas just take more effort. I think a lot of people expect to go out and see a 180 buck on every ridge. If they’re seeing animals, they expect to point and shoot and the animal lands in the back of the truck. Hunting is type 2 fun. It’s hard as hell, and that’s what makes it great!

 

[repins05]

Finding the time to commit to something and what you prioritize in your life as you try to navigate through it.

 

[Rich M]

Where did anyone say to tell them they should "absolutely not start hunting..."? Also, in general what has the sudden surge of western hunting done? Are game numbers better? Is hunter experience better? Are game departments flush with cash and doing a better job?

Apparently you missed the part in my post where I stated that the people that enjoy the table fare and furs, etc...have "zero interest" in actually partaking in hunting or trapping themselves. These people have explicitly said it and some I have 100% offered to take them with.

Water off a duck’s back. He likewise took something personal that got under his skin. Must like crowds of folks, I dunno.

I very well may have said it would be better to take up golf than start hunting in today’s day and age.

Quota hunts reduce the number of hunts. $ and vacations reduce it more. Needing special gear and guns makes it more $. So you drop $10k in gear to hunt public with “100 other guys” for 10 days every 5 years. Nuts.