Future of hunting on Federal lands

[Gutshot007]

What do you guys think the future of hunting will look like in a generation or two from now ? Personally not a big federal guy , but as time moves forward i see the federal government getting more involved in management of a state's wildlife on federal lands . I believe hunting on federal land will increasingly attacked from all angles harder than we have ever seen . Obviously the anti-hunting folks use any means . I think the introdution of predators into areas is in the long run to have "natural biomes" where hunters are not needed to manage game numbers . From not running hounds , outlawing bear hunting or mountain lion, to copper only, to i hike/bike and dont feel safe with hunters and guns , too we need to step in and manage your CWD problem on federal lands . All kinds of dripping faucet angles with one goal in mind to eliminate ALL hunting on federal lands . (See also recent post about alaska Nps) . WHAT SAY YOU ?

 

[t_carlson]

This is like a boulder sitting on a hillside.

I don't like where the boulder is sitting.

But also, I'm worried about it gaining a little too much momentum if it gets dislodged.

There's no easy answer.

 

[Gutshot007]

In Minnesota . Hunt alot of county and state land . We have some large Federal national forest tracts . Dont hunt those much . Head west and hunt only Federal, blm etc . Those that live in western states do many of you hunt private or mainly federal or mixed bag ?

 

[Laramie]

What do you guys think the future of hunting will look like in a generation or two from now ? Personally not a big federal guy , but as time moves forward i see the federal government getting more involved in management of a state's wildlife on federal lands . I believe hunting on federal land will increasingly attacked from all angles harder than we have ever seen . Obviously the anti-hunting folks use any means . I think the introdution of predators into areas is in the long run to have "natural biomes" where hunters are not needed to manage game numbers . From not running hounds , outlawing bear hunting or mountain lion, to copper only, to i hike/bike and dont feel safe with hunters and guns , too we need to step in and manage your CWD problem on federal lands . All kinds of dripping faucet angles with one goal in mind to eliminate ALL hunting on federal lands . (See also recent post about alaska Nps) . WHAT SAY YOU ?

Simply put, it will be up to our kids, grandchildren, and so on. It takes large numbers to fight large numbers. Unfortunately it isn't as simple as recruiting the next generation of hunters. Demand has already exceeded supply in much of the country and especially in western states where large tracts of federal land exist. When there isn't enough supply to meet the demand, it makes recruitment very challenging. Due to the recruitment challenges, hunters are going to continually become a smaller and smaller % of the population until their voice doesn't matter.

The biggest thing we can do to delay the inevitable is protect the hunting in our own backyard. Teach a kid to small game, waterfowl, or upland hunt. If those experiences are positive, it is much less likely that individual will jump the fence later in life.

 

[Yoder]

I see the Federal Government selling off public land to pay off the national debt.

 

[HornPorn]

The case has never been stronger to own your own land back east with whitetails on it. And specifically, a red state.

The future of hunting is that the last people to enjoy it will be private landowners, and their friends, and the types of animals able to be legally hunted will continue to decline until it is completely outlawed.

 

[Gutshot007]

I see the Federal Government selling off public land to pay off the national debt.

That one has been discussed before . Wouldnt suprise me to see some sold off and the rest/ whats left "green space" with no hunting

 

[khart_6882]

I see the Federal Government selling off public land to pay off the national debt.

Does anyone really believe that they give a flying F about the national debt?


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[Flyjunky]

I see the privatization of lands, and eventually hunting, as being the biggest concern. Throw in the anti gun/hunting people into the mix and it paints a sorry picture.

 

[BuckeyeRifleman]

This is like a boulder sitting on a hillside.

I don't like where the boulder is sitting.

But also, I'm worried about it gaining a little too much momentum if it gets dislodged.

There's no easy answer.

Well said.

I worry about shooting on federal lands too.

I wonder if a federal constitutional amendment to the right to hunt, fish and trap would be prudent or if that too is opening a can of worms.

I know many states have it in their constitution but I’m not sure how effective it has been.

 

[Tick]

Nothing would surprise me at this point. My opinion, diy hunting on public land will not exist for nonresidents in 20 years. Interesting to see how long residents will be able to fight the fight with limited out of state help.

My support for public land and public land hunting is directly related to my opportunity to participate. As a diy nonresident, that support diminishes as my opportunity diminishes. I'm selfish.

 

[Flyjunky]

Nothing would surprise me at this point. My opinion, diy hunting on public land will not exist for nonresidents in 20 years. Interesting to see how long residents will be able to fight the fight with limited out of state help.

My support for public land and public land hunting is directly related to my opportunity to participate. As a diy nonresident, that support diminishes as my opportunity diminishes. I'm selfish.

You’re not selfish, that’s human nature. I keep harping on this but states who keep limiting NR’s are benefitting in the short term but hurting themselves and hunting in the long-term.

 

[displacedtexan]

*reintroduction of predators

I think there will be a lot less hunting, because people don't want to hunt as much.

Particularly the hunting we enjoy on public lands out west.

It's hard, it's frequently uncomfortable, it's not cheap...

I'm 40... The vast majority of hunters I know and see are older than me.

 

[WCB]

IMO...Hunting as we have known it is breathing its final breaths. Many guys won't like that but that is just how it is. 5 years from now will look completely different than today. 10-20 years it will be for all intents and purposes over. Not that people won't but definitely not like today.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Not looking good for sure.
Looking more and more like I need to buy me a little piece of hunting land.

 

[Gutshot007]

You guys that live in western states would you have much access if Federal land "dried up" ? Eastern states majority is private with some "government " . Obviously land is expensive everywhere , but best bang for the buck , affordability, and opportunity to purchase in the long run may be east ? As stated above with the current climate toward hunting in our country it may happen within 20 years (?) . There are also alot of other " hobbyist" groups using Federal lands . Hunters dont have the place to themselves and there will be many other legislative influences/lobbyist

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

In Minnesota . Hunt alot of county and state land . We have some large Federal national forest tracts . Dont hunt those much . Head west and hunt only Federal, blm etc . Those that live in western states do many of you hunt private or mainly federal or mixed bag ?

I hunt 99.9% on public (state and Fed). Private access is so hard to get anymore, not impossible, but hard. My .1% is walk in areas or the occasional access I am granted. Honestly without our fed land, I wouldn't have any place to hunt. There is a law that gives states the right to govern their wildlife within the State. I don't have that legal reference right off the top of my head but can pull it, if someone is interested. Back to your question about what the future holds. For me, I worry more about seeing more and more people on public land and make game scarce and pushing them to the inaccessible private lands. Take area 7 (currently a big debate for those that hunt Wyoming) and wanting to flip a draw area to a general area because the area is over populated and they can't get a big enough kill. The problem there is, while there is a lot of public, those elk reside on private lands that are outfitted or do not allow access. Some of those ranches will never allow access to the public unless your wrote them a HUGE check. One ranch in particular, I doubt would even do it for that. So, after my long rant, in Wyoming, that hill is not worth dieing on right now for me.

 

[Yoder]

Does anyone really believe that they give a flying F about the national debt?


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You're right. They will just spend it on nonsense and corruption after they sell it to billionaires, corporations and the Chinese.

 

[t_carlson]

I see the Federal Government selling off public land to pay off the national debt.

The Federal Government has to get seriously concerned about the national debt first.

Republicans have floated the idea in the past, but I don't think they did it with good intentions (ie: they are actually concerned about the debt). I think it was an attempt to make land more available for big donors like the Wilks brothers, etc.

I wonder if a federal constitutional amendment to the right to hunt, fish and trap would be prudent or if that too is opening a can of worms.

Wasted time and energy if you spend more than 5 seconds thinking about it.

I don't think we'll ever see another amendment to our constitution without a major upheaval of some kind. It is just too onerous to amend the constitution, and the population is too divided. You have to have some kind of moderate consensus to amend, and I can't think of a single issue that is both important enough to warrant amendment AND non-controversial enough to pass.

You’re not selfish, that’s human nature. I keep harping on this but states who keep limiting NR’s are benefitting in the short term but hurting themselves and hunting in the long-term.

Flooding a state with NR hunters is the quickest way to demoralize the locals who actually vote in that state, so no, not really.

IMO...Hunting as we have known it is breathing its final breaths. Many guys won't like that but that is just how it is. 5 years from now will look completely different than today. 10-20 years it will be for all intents and purposes over. Not that people won't but definitely not like today.

That seems overly pessimistic.

 

[Customweld]

Does anyone really believe that they give a flying F about the national debt?


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The folks in DC don't give 2 sh!ts, but the folks that are holding it might.

I think that the future of hunting on federal ground is bleak in the long term. The new generations are into bio-diversity, wildlife corridors and nature as a deity unto itself. Not to mention the urbanists that have absolutely no idea of what life outside of the city is.