There's no doubt people are getting farther away from hunting here in PA.
Likewise, when I was a kid almost every boy in my school hunted for rabbits and squirrels. I grew up in a small town, not out in the country. Most often they had Dad's gun and only a few shells in the pocket. I often shared guns with my pals, one gun for 2 or 3 kids. No problem walking across town with my shotgun cradeled in my arms.
Wife and I were talking just this morning while on our walk with the dog. It's still deer season here in PA. Time was (not that long ago) when a lot of men took off the entire 2 week deer season for HUNTING, drive hunting was common, and deer hunting took priority over most everthing else. Deer were hung on front porches all over town to age the meat and show them off. Many had rifles, mostly 94 Winchesters, 14 and 141 Remingtons, and cut down Mausers and Jap rifles. Some guys only had a shotgun to hunt with, old 'punkin balls or rifled slugs. Scope sights weren't too common.
Then came TV, videogames, soccer Moms, supermarkets, anti hunting school teachers, steel shot, 2 and 3 car families, etc., etc. 20 years ago when my own kids were young they were in the minority as far as being hunting students. And that was in a rural school district. I'm proud to say both boys and our daughter were and are hunters.
Nowadays it's only the opening day that has a lot of deer hunters in the woods, most of them looking for instant pudding with their stainless Super Magnum rifle and 4-12X scope. Very few hunters out on either of the two Saturdays and almost no one out during the weekdays. Too many other priorities and not enough dumb deer to get one without spending time HUNTING in the woods.
Although I miss the old days, I do like the solitude while hunting on weekdays. Silvers
