It's certainly on the decline in Georgia. Every season fewer hunting licenses are sold, and the average age of the Georgia hunter increases (50 plus at the moment). I personally attribute this decline to the fact that hunting opportunities nowadays are so hard to come by. Only the most successful individuals who can afford land tracts, or those who have inherited a tract, or who have owned a large tract for a number of years have access to a place to hunt without leasing (most folks are a little shy of our public hunting areas). Every year land leases become more expensive because the amount of land that can be leased has decreased. Small game hunting always driven license sales in Georgia; and, with small game populations on the decline and few places to go, the younger crowd can easily find more exciting and less expensive things to do with their time. But if things don't change, fewer hunters equals fewer voters favorable to the rights and needs of hunters and wildlife. I often wonder if the likes of PETA will soon realize the majority of their objectives just thru attrition. In many ways I'm glad that I am unable to know the future; I've too many worries already.
