ORIGINAL: davidmil
YUP, I grew up in NY. It just killed me when my older brothers headed off to deer hunt. I was like Christine, ran a trap line for years while in school. BUT... I did grow up in the sticks so I was into shooting and killing critters at an early age. I was hunting alone with the 22 when I was 8. Got my own shotgun at 12 with trapping money. Before I got it I had to take turns with my next older brother. Was it legal for us to be out there. Not according to NY law, but that was the life style at that time.. 55 or so years ago. We just did it with the graces of mom and dad who appreciated the extra meat we brought home. Partridge, rabbits and an occasional pheasant were welcome additions to the larder. We hunted every day that the seasons were open. Deer season was different. It wasn't like shootinga bunny. In my family you couldn't go until you got the legal license for that. We did abide by seasons and all that. Just weren't old enough to legally hunt. I got caught once when I was 12 out shooting woodchucks. He drove me home and said to my folks, you know he isn't suppose to be doing this. Keep him out of the fields by the roads. LOL
Great Post!!! I think it's just a completely different world now.
Now as to what is wrong with hunting, I agree, it's the $$$$$$. I lost my first property that I'd hunted for YEARS to a lease this year. I understand the old farmer is in need of money, fixed income and all, and has an opportunity to make a few $$$, leasing out his land, but I just hate that it happens. I think Texas is probably the WORST state for all of the damned leases, and guys don't have much public land to hunt on down there. I've heard many guys talking of paying well over $1000 just to have a place to hunt!!! That's SAD!!!! If I was in such a position, I'd MOVE to another state that offered plenty of public hunting and very few leases. When a guy can BUY his big B&C buck, while the rest of us have to HUNT for them, there is a problem in hunting. I don't like FEEDERS, I don't like the HIGH-FENCE RANCHES, and I really don't particularly care for LEASES either, though I know they are often times good for landowners needing to make ends meet.