Where have all the hunters and trappers gone?

[Boyd]

I know, I debate every morning if I should be using my wrist rocket or my .38 to scare off the critters getting in the garden!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
I know that here the population has been growing. Although NC is packed with hunters, so there is no shortage of people willing to keep the populaton in check. They've even changed the laws to actually become MORE relaxed! This year, for the first time, you don't have to be disabled to shoot a crossbow. I've also heard there are other changes in the mix.

I got my hunting class and permit just after the halfway mark last year, then I had trouble finding a place to hunt. Both hubby and I are prepared this year and I'm starving for some venison!

Hence me asking about roadkill deer!

-Kim

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

My uncle was an enthusiastic hunter. As houses creeped into areas he hunted and places to actually hunt were limited he was finding that for several years he was paying for a hunting license but, not even hunting. The public hunting grounds are so overused that you are lucky to even find any animal in the area.

Where is all the wildlife now? They migrated to people's backyards and little strips of forest that is too close to homes to hunt in. Surprisingly I always see Turkeys, Rabbits, Deer in the little strip of forest about the size of two football fields behind my house. Can't tell you how many people have been killed by deer in vehicle accidents in the middle of town but, it is extensive and every year.

The same goes for fishing. The only legal place to fish near here is a lake nearby that is stocked with finger length brim. It is worth it to know someone and fish in a private area but, the public areas are not even worth the time to bother. Their idea of fishing is getting enough for a fish fry for the neighborhood. One is lucky if several people catch enough fish to feed one person.

There was a little trapping here in the early 1990's but, I think that about vanished with people/pets getting hung up in the traps and regulation on where to trap became just small areas that was out of the way and yielded few rewards.

 

[Scoop]

Oh man! You all are just killin me! You guys say you have tons of deer? We don't! They have relaxed the laws so much we are hunting them into extinction in my area!

Kung Foo Chicken have you ever heard of bowhunting? It's the greatest thing for areas that can't have gun hunters! Man oh man do I ever want to go to Minnesota and Michigan where you guys are all saying there are so many deer! What is the bag limit for a license?

 

[Boyd]

um........... 2 with bow, 2 with gun, 1 with black powder, and then if you know a sympathetic farmer who has block permits......... another 15-18 or so depending on the crop damage

 

[Scoop]

That's it! I'm packing my bags! Let's see...bow, .243, money to buy a muzzleloader, camo clothes, train ticket...

 

[Boyd]

I forgot to tell you... Last time I was in the UP (who's had this problem for the last 15 years according to the guy I was talking to) The DNR turns a blind eye on people hunting year round... Now that is Here say to 5 ways to heaven but that's what I've heard

I could literally walk out in my back yard and have either a wild turkey or deer just about any day of the week.

 

[sparkles2307]

There are towns in our area that have a short, in-town hunting season at the beginning of each fall...

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

I still trap with my boy but it has come down to is the pelts make know money last year and it takes alot of time to run a trap line. Coon hunter's last yr ones that I know have fur bearers licsence and would go out with there dogs on there land and just kill and let lay because it was not worth hauling out of the woods.

Just last night I shot another coon ( Ducks are good alarms).
I am setting out what other farmers have told me to set out to get rid of coon's but not sure that I want to say on BYC.

 

[AThoroughbredNamedBabe]

I have not read all nine pages but I will say that here in WI we have many critters that call for hunting or trapping. I am proud to say that my husband and my three children, our daughter who is sixteen and our boys who are 13 and 10 all hunt. My 13 year old would love to start trapping. We hunt bear, deer, coyote, coon, rabbits, squirrel, turkey, etc. We have two coon hounds and no bear or coyote hounds anymore. The bear hunting to go up north got to expensive with gas and our coyote hound just passed last winter. It is hard around here to find land to hunt on anymore. WE live where my husband grew up and a gentlemen to put it politely purchased a couple hundred acres next to us that we used to walk with our children with permission forever. Not anymore. We listen to the local farmers c/o their crops being mauled by the critters but don't allow anyone to go in and hunt. The hunters and trappers are a dying breed. We try very hard to pass this on to our children but you can't pass something on when there is no where to do it. I honestly believe we are asking for trouble with not having places to hunt and fish. I guess what I am trying to say is don't complain about your crops if you are not going to let those of us who love to hunt help take care of the critters that are causing the problems. People need to educate themselves about hunting and fishing and realize that it is still needed in this ever changing world that we live in.