States Trying to Stimulate Demand for Hunting

From the NYT: There appears to be a downward shift in the demand curve for hunting. In 1975, there were over 19M+ hunters; in 2006, only 12.5M. This decrease might reflect widespread changes in consumer preferences, but some states are losing a little hunting permit fee revenue. For that reason and others, states believe it’s their responsibility to stimulate demand for hunting. Among the initiatives:

* lowering the minimum hunting age (just like the tobacco companies

* “learn-to-hunt classes for single mothers”

* expanded state-sponsored trips for women, children under the age of 15 and disabled people

* state-sponsored youth hunting weekends

* “a ‘Leave No Child Inside’ initiative last year that encourages families and children to try fishing and hunting.”

Did you notice a running theme? Just like the tobacco companies, states appear to be trying to hook the kids early.

Ironically, many of these states have shut down Internet hunting, which might have actually expanded the ranks of hunters. And it’s hard to distinguish Internet hunting from the modern state of physical-space hunting, which as one hunter described, “the habit is to ride an all-terrain vehicle to a tree platform, pour out a bag of corn and sit waiting for the prey to show up.”