ORIGINAL: LBR
I know a lot of stuff is bought on-line. Shoot, 99% of my business is done on-line.
However, I know what I'm talking about here--it doesn't take a genious to figure it out. I used to work in construction--I was around a lot of different people. September rolls around, people start talking about "dusting the bow off" and getting ready. I live out in the country as well--again, around September, I'll start seeing the occassional 3-D target or bag target start appearing in a yard here or there. When Wal-Mart does put out their archery gear, if they put it out a little early it just sits there for the most part, then for 2-3 weeks it dissapears, then what's left gets put on clearance. Again, it doesn't take a genious to figure it out.
Back when we had a lot of local shoots, I'd try to round up folks I knew bowhunted to give it a try. Most wouldn't go--their bow was already "put up" and wouldn't be out again until next season.
Not trying to imply everywhere is the same as here, but my guess is there isn't a lot of difference--hunters are hunters, people are people. I know how it is in my area anyway.
What's the deal with this "limiting opportunities for other hunters"? Who said nobody should be allowed to hunt with a crossbow? My personal feelings are there are separate seasons for different weapons. I haven't heard anyone protesting because they can't use a 30-'06 in muzzleloader season because--is that not limiting opportunities?
I see it like this. I have a bad ankle--I'm stuck in a brace for the rest of my life. Due to this, I'm limited on how far I can walk, and the terrain I can walk on. Do you think that I should be able to take an ATV into places that normally allows foot traffic only? If not, why not? Wouldn't that be limiting my opportunities?
How about hunts I can't afford--should I get gov't help or a cheaper tag so my opportunities aren't limited? I'd really love to go to Hawaii and hunt wild goats, but I can't afford the air fare (and ATV rental when I get there). Should I be offered help?
Life ain't fair--some folks won't be able to hunt Bighorn sheep, some folks won't be able to hunt elk, some folks won't be able to hunt with a bow. I hate it for anyone who can't enjoy the sport, but I don't think the sport should be changed to accomodate them, any more than I think I should be allowed to use an ATV in elk country or have the gov't pay for a hunt in HI I can't afford.
Chad
Excellent post Chad!! I think in allot of cases with hunter#'s being down in most states is because of laziness. More people these days would rather sit in front of the boob tube with a bag of chips and add to there already oversized gut instead of actually getting out there and doing some walking around, its too much work! The kids these days are being raised much different then we all were. My entertainment as a young fart was working on dairy farms or running around outside shooting sparrows with my little recurve driving my mom nuts hoping an arrow wouldn't hit the house. The kids these days entertainment is Video games or maybe the computer, my folks wouldn't allow it, we did have a Nintendo but mom and dad put strict time restrictions on it!! Hunter #'s will be down in the future because of how parents let there kids sit in the house 24/7 and not actually learn whats going on outside of the walls. And if kids want to try something, they want to do it the easiest way possible and the parents say ok you can. Parents are the ones to blame, at least a big majority of them, not the hunting restriction's of certain weapons!!