Examining the effects of the annual youth hunt

A couple weekends back the state held its annual youth deer hunt. For two days each fall the hunters under the age of 17 are allowed to hunt for deer with a rifle, or a bow if they choose. I’ve never heard of anyone choosing a bow over a rifle during this hunt, but I’m sure it’s happened.

I didn’t hear a lot of shooting. After comparing notes, only three shots around our place were heard that could be attributed to youth deer hunters. Some years there are more youth hunters than other years within earshot; some years those young hunters shoot more deer than others.

The youth hunters must have a valid authorization for the deer they shoot in the zone they hunt in. Calling it an “authorization” brings a smile to my face, because we used to call them “tags” and everyone knew exactly what you were talking about. Still do, I think.

All hunters, except waterfowl, must wear at least 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink, including their hat, if they wear something on their head. I’ve had more than one bow hunter and fall turkey hunter tell me this takes away a weekend of hunting for them.

I’m usually hunting grouse or waterfowl those two days, so it doesn’t affect me. But I get how it affects bow and turkey hunters. I hunted grouse in two counties that weekend and to be honest, I didn’t see a single youth deer hunter in either area.

This begs a lot of questions from a lot of hunters with concerns about having to wear blaze orange, essentially losing a weekend. Other hunters feel the hunt stirs up the movement of game too much – there are a lot of things that change the movement of game so . . .

Other hunters have told me they question why they need to wear blaze when there are no youth deer hunters for miles. I kind of feel like thinking about this for about six seconds and most people can come up with at least three reasons why, so . . . . I’ll concede, that for the most part, the youth deer hunt takes place on private lands. Yet, I know of a youth hunter that was out with his dad on public land and I know he’s not the only one. It’s an opportunity for the mentor to coach the youth hunter through their first shot at a deer, the field dressing, the sitting a stand, etc. The youth hunt hopes to reduce pressure and provide more favorable hunting conditions. This hunt creates a lot of opportunities that hunters in their 40s and above didn’t have when we were the age of youth hunters. Yet those who have had this opportunity haven’t continued to hunt as long as those of us who didn’t. Don’t think so? Well, consider that the average age of a Wisconsin hunter is 60 years old now. 60 and up is an age group of high attrition rate for hunters and always has been. I don’t see many duck hunters my age anymore and I’m not 60 yet. Yet I keep getting asked if I want my senior discount. I don’t think I look that old, maybe I have to shave the beard – but I digress.

So, what gives? I know of no magic bullets. I have talked to many hunters from those age groups that have dropped out. Some of them still consider themselves hunters, but they haven’t hunted in many years. The reasons range from going through a time period when the action was low to non-existent and the weather was cold, to just plain lack of moxie. In between, there is also being too busy. In other words – life. Society changed over the last 50 years.

I’ve done a deep dive into the specifics many times. It boils down to that there needs to be more squirrel hunting with kids going on than chasing big horns during the rut. We don’t need to like hearing it, I don’t care if you don’t or do, the statistics don’t lie. And trust me, when I saw that first scrape ten days ago, I could taste fresh venison tenderloin.

Government isn’t going to solve this. It’ll be us as a society starting in our own homes. Just like it always has been and always will be.

Good luck and please remember, Safe Hunting is No Accident!

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