I absolutely agree with Wooters. The focus on snagging that "record" deer has turned the focus of hunting away from killing for survival/meat to killing for bragging points. I simply cannot get on-board with the hunters who are out to compare racks. Everyone loves to kill a big buck but I'm not trying to show up my buddies when I do.

Also, think about the tangent in hunting that is occurring as a result. All you have to do is watch the hunting programs on the VS Channel or Outdoor Life that take place on private "hunting ranches" and the advertisements that come along with them. Of course, I am an avid "fair chase" proponent.

As for hunting being an "older man's sport," I can't say I agree with that per se. I'm 28 and have been hunting since the age of 11. Perhaps the problem is that 1. young kids today have the attention span of about five minutes because of the various distractions available to them and therefore they lack the patience to "hunt"; 2. most "modern men," as Chad has expounded on before, have lost the tradition of hunting through political pressure and general urbanization as well as domestication and therefore their sons don't participate in hunting as a result; 3. the baseless fear that "guns are bad" and "if I have a gun in the home my child is going to shoot himself or someone else." It's not just hunting that's in decline, it's the "gun culture" that's in decline (even though gun ownership is going up ironically). Ever heard of PC gun ownership?

As for "honorable hunting" I completely agree and feel that the decline in "honorable hunting" is associated with the increase in blood-thirsty trophy hunting and all-around thrill-seeking we see in many you-tube hunting and shooting videos. People treat it too much like a game instead of a skill. Used to be, a "skilled hunter" was more revered than a lucky hunter. Now everyone can be a "skilled hunter" without ever learning how to actually hunt because of the above mentioned artificial circumstances many hunts take place in.

Hunting has for many become a sport.. a hobby done to show how sporty and active the "sportsmen of hunting" are.. English foxhunting has been a sport performed by the upper class mostly and in a sociable setting etc.. and now its mostly banned cos its unethical.. is deerhunting gonna evolve into an unethical sport some time in the future too?? how can we who hunt now influence what will become our grandchildren and great grandchildren if we perform our hunting with questionable ethics now?? We must lead by example and sometimes when hunting with the young ones let a prey go cos we didnt feel like taking it.. that that is ok, and try to instill wisdom in our children not just knowledge.. teach them respect for life and that being an ethical hunter is more important than getting the biggest trophy and getting a record..
Then maybe it isnt gonna evolve into a bloodsport for manly men:P

I've always respected Wootters comments but I must be critical about one thing. I agree that the high fence breeding industry has jaded the publics perception of the hunter and I myself do not consider it hunting but I also believe if a guy wants to hunt behind a high fence. So be it. I've always thought it was more appropriate to simply explain the difference between fair chase and high fence hunting rather then ridicule the other. If you ridicule one hunter you've cast a bad light on all of them.

I have to agree (to some extent) about the Mr. Wootter's comments.

Few people small game hunt anymore. It's all about trophy deer now. Gadgets, leasing and trophy deer.

As much as I hate to say it, I think hunting is coming to a close for many. Their fathers don't hunt, don't have a place to hunt and thus their kids won't ever hunt.

My 11 year old is one of only two kids in his grade @ school that have ever hunted or shot a firearm. Out of 125 kids, only two. With numbers like that, how long can it last?

Jim

i agree with all of you guys

I agree with his comments. I never really thought about simply not having a record book on animals, but I think it would be one heck of an idea. Records just give people a reason to try and lie about who, what and where animals were killed. But I realize we live in a competitive world and that some people want to be better than everyone else. But I really believe that for most people hunting is more about family, friends and peaceful time in the woods than about the numbers.

Wow... really can't say anything that has not already been stated. Let's just hope that hunting has a place in the future. With less popularity that means less people to care about gun rights and hunting rights.