Is the future of hunting all doom and gloom?

[Stalker69]

Have you not seen the open border, we should be talking U.S. population here, and there have already been more illegals come across then many states populations have now. They are going to have to house them some where. Plus they are going to have kids, and that population alone will double or triple in the next few years. And two more years at least of open border, we are talking a horrendous population growth, in that secure alone.

 

[roadrunner]

Human population isn’t growing that quickly
Come on man that’s ridiculous. The human population in 2000 was 6,143,493,823, today it’s 8,037, 434,162!

World Population Clock: 8.2 Billion People (LIVE, 2025) - Worldometer

How many people are there in the world? World population has reached 8 billion on November 15, 2022 according to the United Nations. World population live counter with data sheets, graphs, maps, and census data regarding the current, historical, and future world population figures, estimates...

www.worldometers.info

The small rural town i grew up in during the 80s hunting private farms and the surrounding public has grown from 2000 people when i was a kid to 23,000 according to the sign just outside of town now. There is only a single farm left from when i was a kid as the others sold to subdividers who crammed a house on every 1/4 acre and the public grounds around there are absolutely congested by the people crowding into all those homes. You can’t hunt around there anymore brother.

If you haven’t seen this type of urban sprawl and population boom consider yourself fortunate. Just know it’s coming for you eventually and it absolutely destroys hunting when it comes. Subdivisions full of out of touch urbanites, strip malls, condo and apt developments, etc and hunting aren’t compatible.

The spread from 2000 to 2023 is an avg of 83 million people per year. Yeah, I'd say it isn't growing enough to cause the devastating problem many think it is. Again, the Boomer spike from '46 - '64 dropping off and being replaced by the aging and much smaller Gen X along with the uninterested Gen Y's and Gen Z's won't take away hunting opportunity. Clueless government policy is a larger threat...

 

[dutch_henry]

Hunting is doomed. That's why you should donate your elk points and unwanted tags to hopeless romantics like me.

 

[Predator_SD]

The spread from 2000 to 2023 is an avg of 83 million people per year. Yeah, I'd say it isn't growing enough to cause the devastating problem many think it is. Again, the Boomer spike from '46 - '64 dropping off and being replaced by the aging and much smaller Gen X along with the uninterested Gen Y's and Gen Z's won't take away hunting opportunity. Clueless government policy is a larger threat...

83 million more people per year is a MASSIVE INCREASE. Never in the history of mankind has the human population exploded at the rate it is now.

Glad for you that you haven’t felt it yet where you hunt and maybe you’ll be lucky enough you’ll die before it gets to you. But that doesn’t mean it isnt coming to where you are eventually. There is no arguing population increases and the urban sprawl it’s caused has destroyed once great opportunities for tens of thousands of experienced and new hunters alike.

It’s definitely not looking good for hunting long term. I’ve seen it decline quite a bit in just 35 years, that’s scary.

 

[roadrunner]

83 million more people per year is a MASSIVE INCREASE. Never in the history of mankind has the human population exploded at the rate it is now.

Glad for you that you haven’t felt it yet where you hunt and maybe you’ll be lucky enough you’ll die before it gets to you. But that doesn’t mean it isnt coming to where you are eventually. There is no arguing population increases and the urban sprawl it’s caused has destroyed once great opportunities for tens of thousands of experienced and new hunters alike.

It’s definitely not looking good for hunting long term. I’ve seen it decline quite a bit in just 35 years, that’s scary.

FYI - the largest population explosion was after WWII. It was a world wide phenomena, not just the US. 83 million is just over a 4% increase each year.

I agree about urban sprawl. City people are invading the country side in droves.

 

[cck311]

83 million more people per year is a MASSIVE INCREASE. Never in the history of mankind has the human population exploded at the rate it is now.

Glad for you that you haven’t felt it yet where you hunt and maybe you’ll be lucky enough you’ll die before it gets to you. But that doesn’t mean it isnt coming to where you are eventually. There is no arguing population increases and the urban sprawl it’s caused has destroyed once great opportunities for tens of thousands of experienced and new hunters alike.

It’s definitely not looking good for hunting long term. I’ve seen it decline quite a bit in just 35 years, that’s scary.

I wish I could ship a couple million Californian refugees turned Utahns to these people that don't feel like the human population is it of control!

 

[semasko]

Most rural counties in the northeast and midwest have been declining in population for decades, with no foreseeable end in sight. There's plenty of opportunity and public land from my experience in PA and WV.

Growth and Decline: Visualizing U.S. Population Change by County

Rural counties across the U.S. are losing residents as large cities and the coasts are growing. This map shows U.S. population change by county.

www.visualcapitalist.com

 

[Stalker69]

Most rural counties in the northeast and midwest have been declining in population for decades, with no foreseeable end in sight. There's plenty of opportunity and public land from my experience in PA and WV.

Growth and Decline: Visualizing U.S. Population Change by County

Rural counties across the U.S. are losing residents as large cities and the coasts are growing. This map shows U.S. population change by county.

www.visualcapitalist.com

I am sure many rural areas are losing people to more populated areas, more work and better pay. But by them leaving, does not mean the population growth of the U. S. is declining. Those people just moved else where. It would be nice to live in small town (with a declining pop.) again, but financially I just can't do it.

 

[Idaboy]

Love him or hate him.. Newberg on a more recent podcast goes into the details of current judicial procedures certain outdoor groups and individuals are currently undertaking to grant more access to state lands for recreational use. Shined light on some hope for the future. With precedent already set, in Montana.

I Like Newbergs coverage on this topic. It's going to change....life always changes...if hunters stay focused on access, habitat and public land, we can keep it going. Also, instead of keeping our head down we have to talk it up, to no hunters who are friends,family, coworkers and neighbors. I've actually found it encouraging how supportive many non-hunters are, if they hear it from someone they know, like me, than some social media or news story

 

[timekiller13]

Big game is hunting is better in my state than it was 30 years ago or even 15 years ago.

We have more deer, more bear and more turkeys than we did in the late 90s when I started and we even have MORE public land available than when I started. Sure, lease prices have increased and it can be hard to find private ground, but it ain’t impossible to find private land to hunt for a reasonable fee and if you just wanna hunt then there is plenty of public. My state has added about 15,000 acres of public land just in the last 5 years, with another 7500 acres that should be opening in the next 2-3 years.

 

[Stalker69]

Timekiller13, What state you talking about ?

 

[HornPorn]

The last days of big game hunting will take place on private land. The hunters will be the landowners, and their family and friends. If you want to ensure a future of hunting for yourself and your descendants, I would save up and buy some private land wherever you can afford it, and as much as you can afford. The cheapest is East of the Mississippi. The upper peninsula of Michigan or Alabama/Mississippi/Arkansas/Kentucky are where I would look if I was buying today.

 

[taskswap]

I don't believe in "glory days" - things were always better for somebody 30 years ago. Elk hunting is still one of the best experiences I've had in my life and I've never had a problem getting a tag. If I wanted to go out and have a 100% chance of shooting something tasty, I'd raise cattle.

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

If people learned how to keep their mouth shut.
Stopped posting scenic pictures.
Stopped giving Unit specific info out.
Stopped having to gloat on the gram.

Then it isn't, but if it continues the way it is. Absolutely doom and gloom.

You can't put the internet back in the toothpaste tube. Heck, $100 subscription to go hunt and there are no unit specific secrets.

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

The last days of big game hunting will take place on private land. The hunters will be the landowners, and their family and friends. If you want to ensure a future of hunting for yourself and your descendants, I would save up and buy some private land wherever you can afford it, and as much as you can afford. The cheapest is East of the Mississippi. The upper peninsula of Michigan or Alabama/Mississippi/Arkansas/Kentucky are where I would look if I was buying today.

True but the u.p., and northern WI. Has a very low dpsm. My area of central wi. Is now $7k/acre for ag or woods. How many can justify dropping $280k for 40 acres to hunt?

 

[Broadjumper]

Feels that way in Australia. Govt is aerially shooting Sambar Deer in the Victorian High Country and just leaving them dead on the ground. A lot of the other deer species we have are getting the same treatment. They hate hunters and fisherman a lot more these days. Radical latte sipping greenies ruining everything. They are city types who never see a real whale or venture into the backwoods who try to tell us all how to live.

 

[dutch_henry]

Of course there are issues and concerns. But for the sake of argument, here's a particular perspective that doesn't apply to everyone here:

I think that for some people, saying hunting is doomed is code for saying it's lost it's allure for them personally, but they don't want to admit it. They'd rather blame the system.

If hunting has lost its allure, hell, maybe it's "your" fault. No one is forcing "you" to go into debt by updating your hunting wardrobe every season, or by buying range-finding scopes, $3,000 precision rifles, subscription GPS services, Dyneema fiber tents, supersteel game knives, ultralight packs, and so on. That stuff can be awesome, yes, but at worst it can also make "you" feel entitled, like you absolutely deserve to tag an animal every single time. Why wouldn't these hunters, when every time they go outside to "get back to nature" or "embrace our primitive cultural heritage" they're strapped with five figures worth of kit?

If that works for you and you love hunting, GREAT! No quarrel whatsoever. BUT if you're doing this and hunting has lost its allure and is doomed, well, maybe you have too much shit and you're stuck fetishizing stuff over experience? Keep it simple, you don't need to be ahead of the curve with every conceivable piece of technology.

 

[roadrunner]

But by them leaving, does not mean the population growth of the U. S. is declining. Those people just moved else where.

People are not immortal, and boomers will begin to experience that over the next 20 years. Expect the global population to decrease...

 

[HornPorn]

True but the u.p., and northern WI. Has a very low dpsm. My area of central wi. Is now $7k/acre for ag or woods. How many can justify dropping $280k for 40 acres to hunt?

40 acres? Nah, you can get 300+ easy....you just got to look around:

Wolf Lake Highlands 10061069

455.57+/- ACRE WOODED RECREATIONAL PARCEL IN THE SOUTHERN MICHIGAMME HIGHLANDS OF MICHIGAN FOR SALE! This property straddles Champion and Ely Townships, which are located in the west-central side of M

www.landwatch.com

calhoun 374

This is a 374 acre tract about 5 mi northwest of Big Creek MS. The timber is mostly cut but there is a good bit left on the property. Needless to say the easy part has been cut. There is a pretty good

www.landwatch.com

Mill Branch Tract

Mill Branch Tract: Sand Gap Rd, Branchland, WV 25506. This beautiful rolling recreational tract offers exceptional deer and turkey hunting, long range views, and plenty of recreational opportunities

www.landwatch.com

Large Highlands Property With Hunting And Food Plot Potential

This large property has produced quality deer, turkeys, grouse, waterfowl and bear for many years. It is referred to as the “Highlands” for good reason, the elevation changing 60 feet from the lowland

www.landwatch.com

 

[Deleted member 8-15-23]

40 acres? Nah, you can get 300+ easy....you just got to look around:

Wolf Lake Highlands 10061069

455.57+/- ACRE WOODED RECREATIONAL PARCEL IN THE SOUTHERN MICHIGAMME HIGHLANDS OF MICHIGAN FOR SALE! This property straddles Champion and Ely Townships, which are located in the west-central side of M

www.landwatch.com

calhoun 374

This is a 374 acre tract about 5 mi northwest of Big Creek MS. The timber is mostly cut but there is a good bit left on the property. Needless to say the easy part has been cut. There is a pretty good

www.landwatch.com

Mill Branch Tract

Mill Branch Tract: Sand Gap Rd, Branchland, WV 25506. This beautiful rolling recreational tract offers exceptional deer and turkey hunting, long range views, and plenty of recreational opportunities

www.landwatch.com

Large Highlands Property With Hunting And Food Plot Potential

This large property has produced quality deer, turkeys, grouse, waterfowl and bear for many years. It is referred to as the “Highlands” for good reason, the elevation changing 60 feet from the lowland

www.landwatch.com

Not in Waupaca co. I have 20 bucks run by per sit. #3 County for book entries, #1 dpsm. My chunk would sell in 1 week@8k/acre. Hornporn has folks crazy to harvest big deer.6 miles from me, my buddie sold his 310 acre woods for 2.3m last year. It also virtually impossible to find 300 to 600 acres of contiguous hunting land for sale.