the decline of hunting is changing the natural order of predator and prey.

[FalconSmitty]

This is kinda long but worth the read.I thought some of you might be interested.
How the decline of hunting is changing the natural order - 11.24.08 - SI Vault
I stopped hunting about 12 years ago because of my children. I had put a stand on the side of my cow pasture. I had watched deer grazing in the field and eating fallen pears along the fence line.. I killed a 4 point and took him up to the house..My kids went crazy..They were crying and screaming that I murdered Bambi.. I haven't hunted since that day.. It got to me how they acted and looked at me so I just quit. Kinda stupid as I look back. I have never lost the love for hunting deer or coon huntin. I had planned to start again when my kids got older but I spend my spare time chasing crappie. Plus I couldn't drag a deer out of the woods now...lol anyway I never taught my kids to hunt. I taught them to fish:D

hope you enjoy the read and please let me know what ya think..

[Outlaw1&2]

Yes I quit also some years back,due to the costs of hunting these days and disgusted at how people make a mockery out land leases and clubs,people double,tripple leasing land and seems like people are trying to make a living off of hunting clubs anymore.Use to be all about the love of hunting,now just seems too commercial.

[TnT]

Yes I quit also some years back,due to the costs of hunting these days and disgusted at how people make a mockery out land leases and clubs,people double,tripple leasing land and seems like people are trying to make a living off of hunting clubs anymore.Use to be all about the love of hunting,now just seems too commercial.

I am with you on this one Outlaw. I lost a lease in Macon County because of "Commercialization". That is one reason I chose not to hunt this year. I have 2 deer stands behind my house on my land and I have not sat in either one of them since last year but I let my neighbors grandson hunt them. I just get a thrill when he kills one. But like Smitty, I probably would have a hard time trying to drag a deer and my knee isn't in any shape to do so. But I have really taken a liking to fishing so much that I have not even missed deer season at all.

[T_om]

I quit hunting deer while living in Maine. I had to send the kids out to throw rocks at them to keep them out of the garden. Finally had to put in an electric fence.

We lived on a small 6 acre place in Bowdinham and on practically any day I wanted I could open a window and take a nice deer without even having to put on a coat.

There was no "hunting" involved. Sort of lost the appeal.

Tom

[jroz]

have slowed down but can not give it up we like the meat to much for that.

[jafacman]

Its funny that i have never been hunting in my life but me and my wife both have had a big game license for the last 5yrs... we eat deer that our friends take down and we were told it wasn't legal to posess it without a permit....Even if you are getting it from a proccessor... Better safe than sorry...Thats why we posted for the freezer...got a lot of meat off a 215 lb shot in Eastman.... costed us $85 plus $100 for the freezer... Got about 6 months worth of cubed and ground...Great deal and no 4-wheeler,land or weapons to purchase :D:D:D

[Trout]

Yep- too expensive to hunt nowadays- especially here in the East. Back west the situation is better, but still... when hunting gets to be a hassell, why bother? Got so it was more fun to hunt with the camera and fish. You'd think the state game agencies which rely on revenue from tags and liscenses would figure it out- there are so many deer here in Miss that they are a nusance, but if you want to hunt on the national forest, there is a booklet of regs for them, then a different one for the WMA, then a different one for state land, one for Army Corps of Eng. land... How to keep track of it all? Hell, it is sometimes hard to figure out who's land you're on in hte first place.

[ChuckyBoy]

With gas sky high, fishing has become more costly than hunting. I enjoy one just as much as the other. Teaching the young'en is what drives me.

[foul hook]

All the above is correct. I have a solution for your problem. teach your kids that it is a good thing. They would not be here if it werent for our forefathers hunting trapping and fishing. You dont have to drag a deer anymore. Use enough gun to get the job done, shoot him close to the road , back up to the bank and drag him into the back of your mobile stand. Works for me and dont cost $185.00. A little time with a good Gerber knife and some freezer paper and it is a done deal.

[Shine Runner]

I had to talk my dad into hunting when I was 12 because it was something my friends did and he hadn't done it since he was a kid himself. We learned a lot and he killed his first deer when I was 12. The memories are stacked up in my mind like cord wood. I just ate some cube steak that was awesome from the doe I shot opening weekend. I GOT TO GET BACK IN THE WOODS!!!! I can't eat fish every day. I like to shoot them close to the road too, but after watching my sons get interested in hunting I am sure we will be packing it in the back woods before long. Just makes me mad at what it cost to hunt if you have to get into a club. I have managed to find a couple small tracts of land that I can hunt from time to time. Thats the only reason I can afford to still hunt. I got that doe processed for 1.77 per lbs. Cube and ground. You can't do that at the grocery store, and I know there ain't a bunch of steriods and junk in the meat I am feeding my kids. Now, if I can just get a few small hogs I will have some sausage and chops for the grill too!!!!!

All the above is correct. I have a solution for your problem. teach your kids that it is a good thing. They would not be here if it werent for our forefathers hunting trapping and fishing. You dont have to drag a deer anymore. Use enough gun to get the job done, shoot him close to the road , back up to the bank and drag him into the back of your mobile stand. Works for me and dont cost $185.00. A little time with a good Gerber knife and some freezer paper and it is a done deal.