doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Running out of places to hunt? Thank Cabela's...

Like I said, Chuck H, you are a fortunate man. And to the prior commentor, I have nothing against Californians as such. My 3 children were born in the Golden state and I like them most of the time. What I am having a problem with is the attitude that loss of hunting land, here and there is inevitable, so roll over and enjoy it. I would never suggest that anyone try to force a landowner/farmer/rancher to make public HIS/HER land.There are a lot of things you/we can do to make it so our friends on the land are not compelled by economics to lease their ground to the few at the detriment of the many. 1)understand the annual "Farm Bill". This is the primary vehicle under which things like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), wetlands creation, habitat restoration etc. are funded. Learn about it, follow it and be vocal to your legislators about what you want them to do.2) Find out, in your state, what incentives are available to Farmer/Ranchers to help them out. Examples: in Ks Walk In Hunting (WIHA) Montana, Block Mgmt. Get to know the landowners and urge them to enroll and get the payment. 3) Talk to USDA and Conservation agencies to find out about grants, cost share programs, tax credits to enhance habitat etc. Then get involved and help wade thru the paperwork to make something happen. 4) Sportsmans associations mostly are active in trying to maintain hunting. Join one or more and dont just put the decal on your window WORK with them. And most of all dont give people this BS about economics, population growth making it impossible. FIGHT IT.

There is no "rights" issue here except for the ability of a consumer of non-necessities to shop wherever and with whomever he or she pleases and for any reason whatsoever!
Maybe Cabela's hired the same guys who advised the former Smith & Wesson owners to sign on to that anti-gun agreement.

Hunting areas are becoming less and less available to people and it will get worse. Corporations/people are buying up more and more property and locking people out. Here in my county, there is no public land left except for one hunting preserve that is state owned. Released birds are the only way to hunt and it is so crowded you are lucky if you don't get shot. You'll see a hunter walking within 100 yards or less. You might have several people shooting at the same bird, then arguing over who it belongs to. It costs a fortune to go out west and stay at a lodge and hunt. One of my friends went pheasant hunting last year and after expenses he figured the pheasants he shot cost him $30.00 a pound. I feel for you younger guys and your kids trying to find some place to hunt. It will surely get worse in the future. Unless you own a chunk of ground somewhere, you could have a hard time.