Gas may be a factor but the recent decrease in price may help. I know no-one that will not be hunitng this years because of the price of gas.....and we travel 5-6 hrs up to Maine.

Also, I honestly don't hunt with anyone who's wife looks at hunting as a waste.
Some may not agree with their husband's passion, but none think of it as a waste. In fact most support deer hunting and look forward to venison. And no, we (they) don't hear it from the wife.

And.....Coming home empty handed may indeed happen quite a bit. It surely happens in our group and hunting in New England (NH/Maine) doesn't help. But the number of guys who are successful in our group has not decreased over the years.

Complaining because of not seeing deer is something thatishappening less and less. Again, even for NH, which has probably the worse odds for a hunter. Hunters are at least seeing more deer than in past years. There aresimply more deer.

All in all, a lot of factors go into the decline of hunting. I just disagree with the above posts....and it's all based on my personal observation.