Is trophy hunting (encouraged by social media) working against us?
- Hypothesis of more recent Huntr podcast (Lindsey episode): Fewer hunters holding more access.
Loss of access due to changes in hunting culture. We all see our parents and grandparents generation centered around deer camps, ..now a thing of the past.. But why?
Welp, sorry cousins and uncles - Mature bucks require seclusion and limited hunter access. Holding mature (trophy) bucks directly works against large party hunting and deer drives.
As hunters, we only want ourselves to have limited, managed excess. Others need to get their own place, or hunt elsewhere.. We're going so far as to own or even lease MULTIPLE other properties to get others "out of the way" to grant ourselves as much individual access to ground looking for the "few" giants. As a result of this culture shift, WE are not shooting as many deer. We're trying to manage for as many deer as possible, and as old as deer as possible. (Remember - We as hunters LIKE seeing deer on our hunts).
Meanwhile the DNR, other agencies are scratching their heads looking at the numbers on the page.. The PAGE says - We're loosing deer hunters, and deer numbers are continuing to rise. Result? Pressure from the Farm Bureau, Auto Insurance Companies = More tags! less restrictions! Open up to any methods!! WE are losing!!
These seasons are becoming more liberal because hunters as a group, are winning.. We are openly defying these game agencies and special interest groups - Managing properties to maximize deer numbers, maximizing access to every property we can find (thereby eliminating hunting competition), being selective about the deer we shoot.. All in an effort to increase trophy opportunities.
But at what cost? Are we our own worst enemy?
Only time will tell.
I have a buddy of mine that never outgrew it. He talks about his bad neighbors and I tell him, you are the bad neighbor
