Is the marketing of hunting destroying hunting?

[Farmerlentz]

Sorry in advance as I 'm sure this will kick over a hornets nest. But Its something I have been thinking of lately as I see more and more channels and podcasts trying to build a brand by promoting Everyone should go hunt the west. In full candor I am a NR who got sick of the tag game and is moving to Wy this summer to avoid it. Also I do believe everyone has the right to go hunt anywhere it is legal. My issue is everyone trying to build a career promoting it. Since I have hunted the west it seems like every trailhead has exploded compared to ten years ago. All my relatives in western states have a hard time drawing tags every 5 years that used to be guaranteed draws. Maybe I am just a selfish Sob but I love hunting for the solitude on the mountian not the commercial instagrahm bs it is becoming. What do you guys think.

 

[JWP58]

Yes, more than likely.

 

[FLAK]

I'm with ya, the commercialism gets incredibly annoying.

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

I’m torn on it. On one hand you hear about how hunting is dying out as it’s not being passed down from older generations to younger ones. If it doesn’t remain popular it can easily be voted out of being legal. That’s true to some extent, this fall at the lumberyard the old guys are talking about deer hunting, as literally everyone does it.

On the other hand, I agree that forums, podcasts, YouTube, etc, have made hunting more popular, especially out west. The fact of the matter is a lot of eastern newbies come home empty handed, but have $500-$700 to western states conservation funds. The increased pressure does have effects though, as well as locals not being able to get tags as you mentioned.

Hopefully the fad aspect will pass soon. Something similar happened with duck hunting over the last decade, but it seems to be dying out.

I do wonder what will happen to the animals as they become unable to avoid hunting pressure, with guys training year round to go in deeper, backpack hunting, etc.

 

[Trial153]

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.

 

[Wingshooter]

If you guys think it's getting crowded in the mountains the leasing game chewing up the midwest isn't helping the future of hunting either. It seems much less like neighbors out enjoying time with friends and a Lee Lacosky wanna be contest at the expense of future generations.

 

[hodgeman]

I think the westward migration of hunting is driven by the fact that hunting opportunity in the East and Midwest is getting harder to come by and more expensive. In my former TN hometown, it's no longer a bunch of 100ac farms you can hunt for the asking...it's 200 house subdivisions you can't.

If you want to hunt public, the West is pretty much it.

 

[mtmuley]

YES. mtmuley

 

[Rs3003]

The same thing happened with motorcycles. Eventually the fad ran its course. Either they lost interest, to expensive, family, not enough time. Whatever the reason it’ll fade. The hardcore will always hunt/fish, just like the hardcore will always ride. Be patient it’ll run it’s course. When the people don’t draw their tag every year or two they’ll give up.

 

[HookUp]

The hunting industry has largely misrepresented hunting since the invention of the tv. The new brands that have popped up are favorable to us in image and the commitment shown to public land. The media landscape is changing and its far easier to get involved and the voices are no longer picked and chosen by executives. Anyone can grab a go pro and create a youtube account and bring there dream to the market. It's uncomfortable for some but it clearly paints how awesome the future is becoming for us. Information in the tech age flows free and fast as the hunting industry is experiencing and people in the thread are acknowledging.

 

[ckleeves]

Social media has given everybody their own little platform to try and make a career out of it. The internet has also made info so easy to attain which is a double edged sword in many ways.

We’re seeing the results of the increase in info available just in draw odds across the west.

As far as declining hunter numbers I tend to think it’s a lie sold to us by manufactures and retailers (at least that’s my conspiracy theory lol)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tlowell02]

As Wingshooter and Hodgeman mentioned, I think the loss of hunting properties to development and ridiculous lease costs and rules is one side of the rapidly growing popularity of western hunting. I also think the economy has a large role as well. Obviously I don't hope for another economic recession but am curious what effect it will have on applications.

 

[Chucklehead]

So I'll ask this: do you only dislike the IG/youtube types just because its brought more hunters out west? If that's your only reason, then yes, you are being selfish. Its their land too. They have an equal right to be there.
But if you don't like the bro/huntress, IG/YouTube, wanna-be famous types because of the way they represent hunting, and the way they are constantly trying to ram crappy products down your throat or sell you a crappy tshirt or hat that has their name on it, that's another story.
More hunters out west isn't going to ruin anything. The states will manage hunter #s appropriately. And yes opportunities will suffer if #s become too great.
I feel hunting becoming an activity only for the super wealthy is what will ruin it. Its trending that direction and commercialization plays a part. Hopefully its just a cycle that needs to play itself out.

 

[jhm2023]

I think the westward migration of hunting is driven by the fact that hunting opportunity in the East and Midwest is getting harder to come by and more expensive. In my former TN hometown, it's no longer a bunch of 100ac farms you can hunt for the asking...it's 200 house subdivisions you can't.

If you want to hunt public, the West is pretty much it.

It's cheaper for me to do a fly out sheep hunt in the brooks (as a resident of course), then it is for my family back in Louisiana to lease a small patch of swamp and hunt tiny whitetail. I won't be moving to the lesser 48 any time soon that's for sure. I can see why people are leaving the east to hunt western states.

 

[manitou1]

It has gotten so hard to gain permission in the Midwest now that leasing is on the rise... making it harder and harder for young hunters and folks without deep pockets to hunt. The greed for money is killing hunting and the simple comraderie that was the norm. I realized I could hunt our West for less than what I was paying to hunt turkey and whitetails at home. Over the past 21 years of going West for vacation, alot has changed out there... and not for the better.

 

[Rmauch20]

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.

 

[Chucklehead]

Western hunter numbers/applications are up. Overall hunter numbers/participation are down. Gotta remember that eastern hunters dwarf all western numbers.

 

[gbflyer]

Didn’t read all the replies but we need more hunters and less mountain - biking posey - sniffing bark - eating wolf huggers. If it takes 100 Randy Newbergs going 24 hours a day I’m all for it.

 

[cbeck36]

A particular area of the recent hunt expo in SLC made me gag a little/lot. How can people flex for such long periods of time without passing out. Some really cool folks there as well.

 

[chippewawarrior]

Marketing’s influence on hunting has many facets. I recently read this article and found it interesting.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/byland...hould-consider-quitting-camouflage?format=amp