New York is last in recruiting youth hunters
New York Governor Spitzer (who announced his resignation Wednesday) and DEC commissioner Grannis want to reverse the decline of hunting and fishing license sales in the state, or so they’ve said. Considering current regulations, especially those affecting hunting, that could be a tall order. Why? New York is the only state left in the nation that mandates a minimum age of 16 to hunt big game with a firearm, and even youths who may initially be interested in hunting are apt to find other interests by that age.
Hunting is on the decline across the nation as participation has fallen over the last three decades, and states have begun trying to bolster this rural tradition by attracting new and younger people to the sport. In the last two years, 17 states have passed laws to attract younger hunters by creating apprentice hunting licenses that allow people supervised by a trained mentor to sample the sport before completing the required course work, which typically takes 8 to 10 hours and can cost more than $200. Of course, New York is not among them.
Wildlife officials and environmental researchers offer different explanations for the decline in hunting, including rural depopulation, higher gas prices and the increased leasing of land by small exclusive clubs or the posting of “No Hunting” signs by private landowners. Others cite the prevalence of single-parent homes, where the father is not present to pass down the tradition, and the growing popularity of indoor activities that offer immediate gratification, like the Internet, video games and movies.
In New York no one under 12 can hunt at all, and youths have to wait until they turn 16 to hunt big game with a gun. In Fact, New York is the only state left that man dates the minimum age of 16 to hunt big game with a firearm. A study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation found that only 25 percent of youths from hunting families are taking up the sport. And by the time they reach 12 or 14, the chances of them ever taking an interest in hunting are very slim
A 7-year-old from Pennsylvania is reportedly the youngest ever to kill all four subspecies of wild turkeys, know as a Grand Slam. He took his first gobbler when he was 6. An official with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife says it’s not uncommon for children as young as six to carry a rifle during deer season in his home state. Statistically, young hunters are the safest of all age groups, especially children under adult supervision, according to a 2002 study conducted by the International Hunter Education Association.
In West Virginia, state lawmakers have given final approval to a bill that allows hunting education classes in all schools where at least 20 students express interest. The goal is to reverse a 20 percent drop in hunting permits purchased over the last decade, which has caused a loss of more than $1.5 million in state revenue over that period. At least six other states are considering similar legislation.
That New York lags behind all other states in its approach to enticing youths to become involved as hunters and sportsmen is not all that surprising. With more than half the stateís population living in urban and nearby suburban areas of cities, most have limited or little knowledge of rural interests and activities. Also, consider that NYC is home to about 70 percent of the state's African-Americans and over 90 percent of its Spanish-speaking and Asian population. So culturally, there's a void between downstate and upstate interests and attitudes.
As such, the extracurricular activities and related class themes schools offer lean heavily toward non-rural subjects. Many youths (and adults) therefore have very limited knowledge of the outdoor world and natural environments elsewhere in the state. And thanks to the huge advertising and propaganda machinery war chests of the animal rights and anti-hunting organizations, they've been able to place somewhat of a stigma on hunting. As such, many urbanites, including urban politicians, have bought into it, which is translated in law and regulation changes that negatively affect hunting.
The bright spot seems to be that the decline of hunting's (and trapping's) role as a primary wildlife management tool is beginning to have a negative impact on many New York residents who have previously opposed it. Overpopulated deer and increasing bear populations, coupled with increased wildlife diseases, with their up-close-and-personal impacts on people and their property, have caused some to re-think their positions on the need for wildlife management, and the tools used for it is and has been hunting and trapping.
Hunting, much like fishing, really is an activity that participants can remain active in throughout their lives. It’s difficult to find many 55-year-olds that are still playing soccer, basketball or football. But hunting can be enjoyed as an active participant well into a person's 70s and 80s, given good health.
There are signs that New York is grudgingly facing up to the reality that things need to be changed if hunting and wildlife management is to survive. The DEC has submitted for introduction during the 2008 Legislative Session two major bills that would impact hunting. One would establish a junior big-game hunting license and a junior trapper mentoring program.
The junior hunting license would allow 14- and 15-year-olds (who can already hunt small game with a firearm) to obtain a license to hunt big game with a firearm. The junior hunter would have to be accompanied by an adult who a) is 21 years or older and has at least three years of big-game hunting experience and b) exercises control over the junior hunter at all times during hunting. The trapper mentoring program would allow licensed trappers to serve as mentors and allow someone younger than 12 (who doesn’t have a trapping license) to assist with trapping. Another would allow the use of crossbows by seniors and persons with disabilities.
The scary part is that these bills must get past the state legislature, a group primarily made up of urban-thinking politicians (many from downstate) that, in the past, have been the roadblock to passing legislation that might help reverse the trend of disappearing hunters and the wildlife management value they represent.
Hunting is on the decline across the nation as participation has fallen over the last three decades, and states have begun trying to bolster this rural tradition by attracting new and younger people to the sport. In the last two years, 17 states have passed laws to attract younger hunters by creating apprentice hunting licenses that allow people supervised by a trained mentor to sample the sport before completing the required course work, which typically takes 8 to 10 hours and can cost more than $200. Of course, New York is not among them.
Wildlife officials and environmental researchers offer different explanations for the decline in hunting, including rural depopulation, higher gas prices and the increased leasing of land by small exclusive clubs or the posting of “No Hunting” signs by private landowners. Others cite the prevalence of single-parent homes, where the father is not present to pass down the tradition, and the growing popularity of indoor activities that offer immediate gratification, like the Internet, video games and movies.
In New York no one under 12 can hunt at all, and youths have to wait until they turn 16 to hunt big game with a gun. In Fact, New York is the only state left that man dates the minimum age of 16 to hunt big game with a firearm. A study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation found that only 25 percent of youths from hunting families are taking up the sport. And by the time they reach 12 or 14, the chances of them ever taking an interest in hunting are very slim
A 7-year-old from Pennsylvania is reportedly the youngest ever to kill all four subspecies of wild turkeys, know as a Grand Slam. He took his first gobbler when he was 6. An official with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife says it’s not uncommon for children as young as six to carry a rifle during deer season in his home state. Statistically, young hunters are the safest of all age groups, especially children under adult supervision, according to a 2002 study conducted by the International Hunter Education Association.
In West Virginia, state lawmakers have given final approval to a bill that allows hunting education classes in all schools where at least 20 students express interest. The goal is to reverse a 20 percent drop in hunting permits purchased over the last decade, which has caused a loss of more than $1.5 million in state revenue over that period. At least six other states are considering similar legislation.
That New York lags behind all other states in its approach to enticing youths to become involved as hunters and sportsmen is not all that surprising. With more than half the stateís population living in urban and nearby suburban areas of cities, most have limited or little knowledge of rural interests and activities. Also, consider that NYC is home to about 70 percent of the state's African-Americans and over 90 percent of its Spanish-speaking and Asian population. So culturally, there's a void between downstate and upstate interests and attitudes.
As such, the extracurricular activities and related class themes schools offer lean heavily toward non-rural subjects. Many youths (and adults) therefore have very limited knowledge of the outdoor world and natural environments elsewhere in the state. And thanks to the huge advertising and propaganda machinery war chests of the animal rights and anti-hunting organizations, they've been able to place somewhat of a stigma on hunting. As such, many urbanites, including urban politicians, have bought into it, which is translated in law and regulation changes that negatively affect hunting.
The bright spot seems to be that the decline of hunting's (and trapping's) role as a primary wildlife management tool is beginning to have a negative impact on many New York residents who have previously opposed it. Overpopulated deer and increasing bear populations, coupled with increased wildlife diseases, with their up-close-and-personal impacts on people and their property, have caused some to re-think their positions on the need for wildlife management, and the tools used for it is and has been hunting and trapping.
Hunting, much like fishing, really is an activity that participants can remain active in throughout their lives. It’s difficult to find many 55-year-olds that are still playing soccer, basketball or football. But hunting can be enjoyed as an active participant well into a person's 70s and 80s, given good health.
There are signs that New York is grudgingly facing up to the reality that things need to be changed if hunting and wildlife management is to survive. The DEC has submitted for introduction during the 2008 Legislative Session two major bills that would impact hunting. One would establish a junior big-game hunting license and a junior trapper mentoring program.
The junior hunting license would allow 14- and 15-year-olds (who can already hunt small game with a firearm) to obtain a license to hunt big game with a firearm. The junior hunter would have to be accompanied by an adult who a) is 21 years or older and has at least three years of big-game hunting experience and b) exercises control over the junior hunter at all times during hunting. The trapper mentoring program would allow licensed trappers to serve as mentors and allow someone younger than 12 (who doesn’t have a trapping license) to assist with trapping. Another would allow the use of crossbows by seniors and persons with disabilities.
The scary part is that these bills must get past the state legislature, a group primarily made up of urban-thinking politicians (many from downstate) that, in the past, have been the roadblock to passing legislation that might help reverse the trend of disappearing hunters and the wildlife management value they represent.
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