Social media's influence on outdoor recreation

[menhaden_man]

This article is a little dated (last summer), but has a few elements that reminded me of my recent OTC mule deer hunt. Ran into a local guy that grew up in the mountains and in conversation he mentioned that YouTube and social media has really hurt hunting.

Probably arguments on both sides of the coin, but no doubt things have changed quite a bit (some good, some bad).

In the social-media era, Washington's public lands are being destroyed. What can be done?

The social-media age has made it easier for nature lovers to find new, beautiful places to hike, camp and climb. But it's also resulted in an alarming disregard for "leave no trace" principles that outdoors folk have espoused for decades....

www.seattletimes.com

 

[Clarence]

My wife tells me to put down my hunters social media (rokslide) and stay on task. It is easy to blame social media for the ills of our society, but I think there is more at play in this situation. Lots of people weren't raised on a outdoor lifestyle. We can take for granted what we were brought up with. The article touched quite a bit on people being new, and attracted to the outdoors through social media. We hear a lot about recruiting new people and demographics to the outdoors. New people come, but they don't know how to act, and what their impacts can be. Educating folks new to these people, in a positive way is very important. If you break etiquette because you don't know better, that is one thing. If you know better and don't care, that is being a #$%^.

 

[ODB]

Social media has hurt a hell of a lot more than hunting....

When I lived in Seattle I never camped on the Snoqalmie (mentioned in the article) for all the people - I headed far away from all the nonsense... I was camping in Idaho by a stream one year (location withheld, he he) and the first thing I saw was a pile of poop and toilet paper. I just don't understand people....

 

[ODB]

My wife tells me to put down my hunters social media (rokslide) and stay on task. It is easy to blame social media for the ills of our society, but I think there is more at play in this situation. Lots of people weren't raised on a outdoor lifestyle. We can take for granted what we were brought up with. The article touched quite a bit on people being new, and attracted to the outdoors through social media. We hear a lot about recruiting new people and demographics to the outdoors. New people come, but they don't know how to act, and what their impacts can be. Educating folks new to these people, in a positive way is very important. If you break etiquette because you don't know better, that is one thing. If you know better and don't care, that is being a #$%^.

So people must be taught not to leave trash in the wilderness? Do we permit that in ANY other part of life? I don't buy the "they are new to the outdoors" excuse. Is anyone going to be surprised they should not leave beer cans and trash by a river campsite?

 

[gfreidy]

Not only social media, but it seems everyone runs a YouTube channel and podcast. There must be significant money being made. Most of them turn me off, but I do have a few I follow.

 

[Clarence]

So people must be taught not to leave trash in the wilderness? Do we permit that in ANY other part of life? I don't buy the "they are new to the outdoors" excuse. Is anyone going to be surprised they should not leave beer cans and trash by a river campsite?

Agreed. Leaving trash falls in the being a #%^* category. Knowing how to dig a proper cathole, and why its important perhaps could fall to the other category. Perhaps.

 

[ODB]

Agreed. Leaving trash falls in the being a #%^* category. Knowing how to dig a proper cathole, and why its important perhaps could fall to the other category. Perhaps.

I can hear it now...

"You want me to move my poop into a hole I dig? What am I, an animal?"

"Why yes ma'am, in point of fact, you are. Now start digging..."

 

[SDHNTR]

It’s not just hunting, but yes there has been an impact. IMO, social media is the bane of human existence. Especially among kids. There is nothing positive about it. When one’s self worth is measured by how many fake friends and “followers” one has, we’ve lost our way. We’re there now. I follow one man, and he’s not on Earth.

 

[Jbehredt]

It’s not just hunting, but yes there has been an impact. IMO, social media is the bane of human existence. Especially among kids. There is nothing positive about it. When one’s self worth is measured by how many fake friends and “followers” one has, we’ve lost our way. We’re there now. I follow one man, and he’s not on Earth.

I liked it because I agree but also to be spiteful

 

[rob86jeep]

You can't say that it hurt "hunting" as a whole although it did probably hurt a lot of individuals chances of getting an animal due to the increased pressure. It's a double edged sword; I constantly hear about how we need to recruit more hunters and hear just as many people say the woods are too crowded and social media is to blame. Can't have it both ways.

For me, I will always welcome more people into the woods and into a hunting lifestyle. It might hurt my ability to get an animal, but the greater good is getting more people outside. I can always find a new spot/area with less crowding. You always hear about the hunters who run into tons of people in the woods, but it's usually because they're fairly close to a trail. You can still have seclusion even with all the new hunters social media has brought, you just have to work a little harder and get off the trail.

 

[Vids]

You can't say that it hurt "hunting" as a whole although it did probably hurt a lot of individuals chances of getting an animal due to the increased pressure. It's a double edged sword; I constantly hear about how we need to recruit more hunters and hear just as many people say the woods are too crowded and social media is to blame. Can't have it both ways.

For me, I will always welcome more people into the woods and into a hunting lifestyle. It might hurt my ability to get an animal, but the greater good is getting more people outside. I can always find a new spot/area with less crowding. You always hear about the hunters who run into tons of people in the woods, but it's usually because they're fairly close to a trail. You can still have seclusion even with all the new hunters social media has brought, you just have to work a little harder and get off the trail.

I agree with this. Back in my 20s when I lived in the midwest it was pre-internet, and making a trip out west for elk seemed like the same undertaking as a sheep hunting trip to Uzbekistan. Overwhelming. Social media removed the communication barriers, so there are more people heading west to hunt because they can easily figure out the logistics aren't that difficult. It's good and bad. Some places are severely overcrowded, but I've had no trouble finding places in CO where nobody goes.

But with the battles we face against the anti-hunters, I see that social media can be a good thing in terms of increasing hunter recruitment and the acceptance of hunting. Just look at the Joe Rogan podcast, I think his reach and his connections with Steven Rinella and Cameron Hanes have done a lot of good for hunting.

 

[16Bore]

Pre-Internet, a fella could use his own judgment and be satisfied.

Post-Internet, a fella can’t be satisfied with his own judgment unless complete strangers do this:

 

[menhaden_man]

Pre-Internet, a fella could use his own judgment and be satisfied.

Post-Internet, a fella can’t be satisfied with his own judgment unless complete strangers do this:

No kidding! After 40 plus kills, I had no idea all my scopes were junk until joining Rokslide .

 

[menhaden_man]

You can't say that it hurt "hunting" as a whole although it did probably hurt a lot of individuals chances of getting an animal due to the increased pressure. It's a double edged sword; I constantly hear about how we need to recruit more hunters and hear just as many people say the woods are too crowded and social media is to blame. Can't have it both ways.

For me, I will always welcome more people into the woods and into a hunting lifestyle. It might hurt my ability to get an animal, but the greater good is getting more people outside. I can always find a new spot/area with less crowding. You always hear about the hunters who run into tons of people in the woods, but it's usually because they're fairly close to a trail. You can still have seclusion even with all the new hunters social media has brought, you just have to work a little harder and get off the trail.

I’ve got mixed feelings myself (and a bit of a hypocrite since I watch YouTube at times).

Always felt that Cabela’s did a great job commercializing hunting, making it more about gear and clothing than fundamentals... but again, I’m a Pharisee in recovery on that too.

Like seeing a young man playing with his phone while dining with a gorgeous lady, I agree that the pursuit of the “top this” photo and awesomeness is a distraction from what really counts. Capturing and sharing the moment is now more important than living the moment.

By the way, would someone give me some coordinates to their mule deer spot already?

 

[16Bore]

No kidding! After 40 plus kills, I had no idea all my scopes were junk until joining Rokslide .

And 270’s suck....you need a $400 matching jacket...deer’s are way long ways away....need turrets.....yadda, yadda, yadda.