Is the marketing of hunting destroying hunting?

[Jacob_Outdoors]

What frustrates me about these guys who have established a following and make a living off their followings is the lack of publicity given to the issues that make what they’re doing possible.

Guys will pump their merch and YouTube videos 20x a day, but never mention a house or senate bill, never mention habitat projects or local conservations groups, never partner with a local chapter or group.

There are some who do a lot (Rinella, Newberg, Born and Raised, and some others) and then some who mention “how important public lands are to us” every once in a while in a video. Those half hearted statements are just pandering to viewers if you ask me.

With such an opportunity to bring widespread attention to issues it astounds me how selfish some in the “industry” can be.

That and posting the same deer or elk pic 25 times. We get it, you shot a good animal. Can you imagine if you told you hunting friends 25 years ago that a guy would should a good bull and then print it all over shirts, hats, and sweatshirts? Better yet, people would actual buy it.


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[sneaky]

I don’t buy the declining hunters line. It seems hunting is cool right now. I blame the duck commander guys. After their show started everyone became duck hunters and now the cool thing is hunting out west. I think it will eventually level off. People will lose interest or a recession will hit and that will thin the herd........and a bunch of jacked up diesel pickups will be for sale.

I almost forgot. #sitka#mtnops#keephammering#firstlite
#6.5forlife#steepanddeep#backcountryhunter#whysomuchfacepaint#whydoeseverybodycrysomuch#dieseleventhoughidontpullanything
#liftkit#whatthehellisahuntress
Make sure to follow me on the gram.

#sickforit#bowhuntingsucks duh lol

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[bojangles808]

i dont think its just hunting, its kind of a microcosm of our society in general. i'm a teacher and ask kids these days what they want to be when they grow up and half will say a youtuber

 

[Ray P]

Its not just out west.........here in the south leases have doubled/tripled in price. And I cant draw any state WMA quota hunts that were a no brainer a few years ago.

 

[SoDaky]

This.

'The over Monetization of wildlife will be the demise for hunting as we have known it.
Antis will not be out downfall it will be ourselves. '

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

Geez. I’ll be a new hunter on the mountain this fall. Thanks for the warm welcome. I’m truly sorry that I wasn’t at a point in my life when I could start hunting when all of y’all did, that way I wouldn’t be viewed as encroaching on y’alls territory.

Oh, wait, I’m no sorry at all, it’s my land, too. Y’all bitch that hunters are on the decline, and as such, we may lose the privilege of hunting. Then you bitch that too many hunters are on public land. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Besides, haven’t the states been managing hunter numbers for years? Based on the many success stories of states bringing back species to robust populations, I’d say they’re doing a damn fine job of it.

Methinks you may be scared of a little competition. Yes, tags are going to be harder to draw, that’s the nature of supply and demand. Yes, when you do draw a tag, you’ll have more competition for that trophy bull you’re chasing. Come early, stay late, work harder. That’s what you need to do. Not bitch because there’s. More hunters on the mountain. States will take care of that.

Conversations like this fuel my desire to work as hard as I can to be as successful as I can. Thank you all for the morning motivation and I’ll see y’all out west this fall, wether you want me there or not.

 

[veganhunter]

I'll be the first to admit most of the new wave wannabe transplants annoy the crap out of me, but ruining hunting? Ruining for who? The wildlife? I doubt the deer or elk care if they're killed by a new hunter or a 20+ year hunter. Wildlife Management? I doubt the state Fish and Game departments are upset about an influx of new tag revenue. Ruining hunting for you personally? Maybe. But it's a sad state of affairs when people who are allegedly such hard core hunters are willing to to say their sport is ruined because its harder now than it once was.

Seems to me like the only thing getting ruined is a bunch of attitudes.

And this certainly isn't restricted to hunting. Everything is going through the same growing pains...fly fishing, back country skiing, mountain biking, etc

 

[Btaylor]

What frustrates me about these guys who have established a following and make a living off their followings is the lack of publicity given to the issues that make what they’re doing possible.

Guys will pump their merch and YouTube videos 20x a day, but never mention a house or senate bill, never mention habitat projects or local conservations groups, never partner with a local chapter or group.

There are some who do a lot (Rinella, Newberg, Born and Raised, and some others) and then some who mention “how important public lands are to us” every once in a while in a video. Those half hearted statements are just pandering to viewers if you ask me.

With such an opportunity to bring widespread attention to issues it astounds me how selfish some in the “industry” can be.

That and posting the same deer or elk pic 25 times. We get it, you shot a good animal. Can you imagine if you told you hunting friends 25 years ago that a guy would should a good bull and then print it all over shirts, hats, and sweatshirts? Better yet, people would actual buy it.


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I think most people grow or mature into being more stewardship and conservation minded, it's a natural progression for a lot of hunters. The same can be said for business folks. Early in their careers thier focus is on building success, the give back phase comes later. It is understandable that those pursuing success in that arena would be light on philanthropic type work early on but we share in some of the blame here because we dont ask for more of that from them. Sure plenty of folks gripe and complain about different shows or personalities but do we try to communicate to them in a constructive way the things we would like to see. After all, at the end of the day they are pedaling entertainment first.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

History repeating itself unfortunately. As others mentioned it has already happened with waterfowl hunting, a sport that is experiencing the fastest rates of losses of hunters despite record waterfowl populations today. The same thing occurred when Bill Jordan and other industry marketers built the midwestern whitetail bow hunting industry in the 1990’s, now the average joe is leased out and all those guys head west. Then marketing machine takes hold and romanticizes backcountry hunting and we are at where we are today with states struggling with tag allocations and relative overcrowding. Maybe the tide is starting to turn though as it seems the podcast tv industry types have pulled out of OTC elk hunting and are spending most of their time in Alaska, Mexico, and New Zealand these days.


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[Rich M]

I have to laugh - outdoor writers have been promoting hunting out west since before you or I were born. I remember reading books on antelope, mule deer, and elk hunting in the 70s. Y'know - the folks out west have been complaining about nonresidents since at least the 1970's. Probably earlier.

SO - why are there more guys going out west?
IMO - increases in technology allow folks to hunt without trespassing and getting in trouble. The whole fear of the unknown (property boundary, trespass laws, etc.) is gone. Then add the loss of places to hunt in their own states and if they have to wait a couple years to hunt in their own state, might as well go somewhere else and hunt too.

A lot of guys travel to hunt whitetails, turkey, ducks - you name it. The loss of local opportunity and better quality hunting or animals elsewhere cause folks to travel.

What the video yahoos online do is draw attention to specific places and units. Then you have the hunter service websites who also release the best units for the year. These things ruin it for those units, and hunters who like to hunt there. Of course, the folks who do this, do it to get paid somehow. Selling memberships, sponsors, cash for aiding folks in the field, whatever. Then you have the copycat folks who think it is cool to make videos and try to get into the money game.

Ultimately, the overall loss of hunters is due to the loss of places to hunt and the competition involved in the remaining areas - once it becomes too big of a hassle, folks stop.

 

[Kevin Dill]

Why should we be concerned? We're truly as cutting-edge and modern in our progression as any other high tech endeavor. We utilize everything within our technology-driven world to help us do one thing well: kill animals. If you've got some kind of problem...big or small....there's a personality, website, feature, app, podcast, device, service, video or other something you can take it to in your quest to get the success you crave. Much of our hunting skills were acquired through nothing more than sweat, effort, failure and repeated attempts to figure things out on our own...or with another hunter who taught us things. That still happens, but certainly the road to hunting success has become a marketable commodity.

And because it's marketable with potential to be hugely profitable, we've got all those who are willing to cash in wherever and however they can. It feels like we're overrun with a nonstop barrage of hunting-related media and marketing....much of it high profile and rather exaggerated for effect. In a lot of ways it reminds me of the changes in country music which occurred from the 1970s to the 1990s and beyond. That music genre changed so much it's almost unrecognizable to those who preferred the classic styles and artists. It's still called 'country music' but it has totally changed the product. Country music....and hunting....will both survive but are forever changed by the demands for new products, new successes and our intolerance (it seems) with doing it the old and classic ways.

Hunting isn't being destroyed. It's changing and it will keep changing. A lot of what I see disgusts me in truth, but I can't change it. I can only go my own way and pay attention to what I choose.

 

[Dos Perros]

I know this is not completely on topic, but regarding the trend of hunting leases in the midwest...I know ranchers who say they can't afford to hunt their own land even though they'd like to. Meaning that the income they generate through hunting leases pays bills and keeps their ranching business afloat. Some are operating on 3% margins. We may bemoan the trend but I don't think it's created by greed.

 

[Blacktail_Packer]

I have to both agree and disagree with what’s said and to a point even the way I feel about some of it.
I think social media ultimately is going to hurt whatever it touches, there will always be some amount of good with it but, I don’t think most people are responsible/reasonable enough for all the good intentions to come to fruition.

As mentioned most of these guys are out to pump there career instead of using there voice/screen time to help the hunting community, address real issues. However there are at least a couple that do seem to actually have the holy trinity (head, heart and wallets) in the right place.

I’ll admit I skimmed but as far as the op’s question about tags being less available, have any of the regs in those areas changed? I’d guess that “The West” you speak up by percent is having far less effects on Ca than other states but, over the last 5-7 years even my mixed up state has made some changes that have left people tagless or looking for new areas to hunt.

 

[mfllood3800]

Its over populated in some areas for sure, and not in others. Where I hunt it is crazy over hunted and the locals are organizing meetings to deal with declining deer herds. So yea, it is an issue in certain locations for sure.

I guess I will add, I started hunting with my dad. Over 40 years ago.
Today , and a few generations now, many homes didn't have a dad in them. Many new to hunters are hunting because of You Tube or IG. Its the new dad, if you will.
The rise of social media has educated, trained, and encouraged new hunters.
In the end, you cant replace a dad, or true experience with real time traditional knowledge, and many who "give it a try", will eventually move onto the next social media explosion.

I suspect the latest generation coming of age, isn't into hunting as much as my generation. I sure hope the $$ brought in now, is wisely managed to offset the decline sure to come when todays generation is the leading force and direction of the vast majority of its day.

How many complaining on here about hunters , got their start out west from social media some how some way?
Probably more than will admit.

The economy is decent, so $$ is spent on hunting.

 

[30338]

Geez. I’ll be a new hunter on the mountain this fall. Thanks for the warm welcome. I’m truly sorry that I wasn’t at a point in my life when I could start hunting when all of y’all did, that way I wouldn’t be viewed as encroaching on y’alls territory.

Oh, wait, I’m no sorry at all, it’s my land, too. Y’all bitch that hunters are on the decline, and as such, we may lose the privilege of hunting. Then you bitch that too many hunters are on public land. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Besides, haven’t the states been managing hunter numbers for years? Based on the many success stories of states bringing back species to robust populations, I’d say they’re doing a damn fine job of it.

Methinks you may be scared of a little competition. Yes, tags are going to be harder to draw, that’s the nature of supply and demand. Yes, when you do draw a tag, you’ll have more competition for that trophy bull you’re chasing. Come early, stay late, work harder. That’s what you need to do. Not bitch because there’s. More hunters on the mountain. States will take care of that.

Conversations like this fuel my desire to work as hard as I can to be as successful as I can. Thank you all for the morning motivation and I’ll see y’all out west this fall, wether you want me there or not.

BD, I've competed for everyday for over 30 years in my industry of choice. I've been largely successful doing it and have made a decent living. But all that competing at my day job has always made my time in the outdoors about unwinding, spending time with my wife and kids and generally getting away from it all.

There have been elk, mule deer, antelope, moose, mtn goat, bighorn, whitetails, caribou, and black bears, all unguided and 95% on public ground. So you come on out and compete with whoever your perceived fellow competitors are. I'll just keep plodding along and enjoying the ride.

See you on the mountain.

 

[JWP58]

Geez. I’ll be a new hunter on the mountain this fall. Thanks for the warm welcome. I’m truly sorry that I wasn’t at a point in my life when I could start hunting when all of y’all did, that way I wouldn’t be viewed as encroaching on y’alls territory.

Oh, wait, I’m no sorry at all, it’s my land, too. Y’all bitch that hunters are on the decline, and as such, we may lose the privilege of hunting. Then you bitch that too many hunters are on public land. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Besides, haven’t the states been managing hunter numbers for years? Based on the many success stories of states bringing back species to robust populations, I’d say they’re doing a damn fine job of it.

Methinks you may be scared of a little competition. Yes, tags are going to be harder to draw, that’s the nature of supply and demand. Yes, when you do draw a tag, you’ll have more competition for that trophy bull you’re chasing. Come early, stay late, work harder. That’s what you need to do. Not bitch because there’s. More hunters on the mountain. States will take care of that.

Conversations like this fuel my desire to work as hard as I can to be as successful as I can. Thank you all for the morning motivation and I’ll see y’all out west this fall, wether you want me there or not.

Some of us dont bitch about hunter numbers being in decline, because we see the record number of applications and the lack of leftover tags. But "methinks" while you dont like being scapegoated, you apparently don't have an issue doing the same.

 

[Blacktail_Packer]

To echo mfllood, I got a late start to hunting I kind of fell through the cracks so to speak, I had deer hunters on both sides of the family. My fathers father quit hunting due to asthma and a recovery of a poorly shot buck that ran way to far down into some steep thick stuff, so my father never took to it. I’ve got relatives on my mom’s side but they got old and quit before I was old enough to know I missed out. My mom remarried when I was 16 and the transition from chasing deer with a camera my whole young life to a rifle instant and smooth.
But I got lucky. One of my hunting partners remarried a gal with 3 kids, the whole family took to the woods, oldest boy did all the work got his license and took a buck his first year hunting. Then his real dad laid a huge guilt trip on him about hunting and bonding with someone other than him. I didn’t see him up there for 2 seasons. He grew up a little cane into his own a little and told his real dad to pound sand.

It wasn’t social media that did it in either of those cases but wasn’t the typical father to son method either...

 

[ODB]

Yes. Add the social-media-izaton of hunting as well. It’s a “lifestyle” for commercialization’s sake and it’s really sad, mug. The hunting “industry” is a mess.

And no one writes books on hunting even worth reading anymore.

 

[WoolyBugger]

Hunting public ground in the midwest is a crap shoot too. Be careful who you tell your spots to, i've heard way too many "honey holes" given away at the local bar

 

[NDGuy]

"Hey guys new to hunting, I am looking to apply for Mule Deer and Elk! I have no experience so if anyone has any suggestions for what unit/state to apply for let me know. I bought a lifetime membership to Gohunt but I am still lost.

I don't need anyone's honey hole or anything lol just some general advice. I am outfitted with full Kuiu gear and just bought my first rifle. I think it's called a Cooper Backcountry or something in .300 RUM. Any tips on sighting it in?

Lastly, I only have $200 leftover from purchasing my Verde camo underwear, any suggestions for binos? "






....Sarcasm..