MA hunter here, go out every MA gun season and hope to hunt NH this year if I can find a decent place to hunt!

I amyoung-kinda (36).

Yes, lots of other distractions these days.I woudl say I-pods and playstaion might take their toll, but I hada walkman and Atari when I was 12.I think youth decline is mostlybecause less and less kids are getting introduced to the sport. My 11 YO nephew loves to fish, has already hunted upland birds and turkeys. (no kill yet) He is jumpiong to hunt deer and will probably go this fall or next. He got this interest from his Dad taking him out, no different than our dad taking us out.

All you can do is take them out when they are young and let them decide if its for them.