Is hunting/fishing a “dying sport”?

[Fishing Rhino]

 

Well, I don't know how accurate this is.  But, when I see parking areas at ramps that can accommodate 30 to 40 rigs with only a half dozen of those spaces being used that something is up, or down to be more accurate.  

 

A popular pond, only minutes from my door step is the best indicator I know of.  When the fishing is good the ramp is crowded, even on week days.  The parking area can accommodate maybe ten vehicles, fewer if most of the boats are trailered..  It's an unimproved ramp, but when the fishing is good, cars will be lined up on both sides of the road.  

 

The access to the pond is like riding the jungle cruise at Disney World, but without the tracks.  Mostly car toppers, or boats in the bed of a pickup are used.  The few with trailers use boats that are beaters.  It's all but impossible not to hit a rock or several on the winding channel that gets you to and from the pond.

 

Here's a hint.  To get some indication of how the fishing is, take a ride around the ramps in your neck of the woods and see how many rigs are in the parking areas.  Keep in mind there will  be more cars on the weekends.  If the lot is packed, chances are the fishing is good, or it could also mean there is a tournament(s) on that day.

 

 

 

[Russ E]

I have only lived in Kansas for four years. Not sure what it was like before that, but the lakes I fish  are pretty busy nearly everyday.

Since private land is near impossible to hunt here, the public land gets an orange army invasion every deer season.

 

[Boomstick]

Let's say I am glad I do not live in an urban area. Even some of the lakes in our smaller cities are full, on some days I can't find a spot at a causeway I fish frequently in the summer, although it's real nice real late in the season when hardly anybody shows up (early in the season is another story though). I don't hunt, but the same thing largely applies and there's more pavement and less places to hunt.

[Way2slow]

That's why I loved striper fishing.  They come out of the deep into the shallow creeks when the water gets cold enough.  They can't spawn, but they still go through the process.  Usually about January is when they start getting into the backwaters and the colder and more miserable the weather, the better the fishing.  So, the only other boats you see are going to be doing the same thing you are.  Not wake boarders, jet ski's or those just out for a cruise.  It's just you and a few others looking for the sea gulls. 

[CHIP-MAINE]

i dont hunt anymore but i do take every chance i get to help people out about fishing here in maine. pulled up to the stream one day and the hatchery truck pulled in right behind me. geared up for fly fishing only stream and then checked on what they were putting in. bunch of brookies and 100 bigger brookies. only fisherman there so i was in no hurry. young boy and his grandmother had stopped to see the fish. asked the boy if he would like to catch one. he finally agreed and i took him down to stream edge. he caught a smaller one right off and we let it go. i told him he couldnt leave till he got a big one. right after he tied into one and after a good fight netted it. allowed to keep one there so talked into taking it home to show his dad who was a big fisheman. all this time the hatchery workers were watching and enjoying what they were seeing. kids are our future . have  a special needs step-daughter that i made sure to get a free lifetime fishing license for. most schools and groups dont push these for special needs kids in maine. also help adults on where(except a few special places) and what to use. people that get bored get disappointed in fishing. can hand someone a fish or teach them to fish-lol- have handed out a few too.

[SuperDuty]

Yeah there is no doubt that not as many people hunt that use to. I've got two boys and a girl, my one son has no interest in hunting and my youngest son is very passionate about it. All three of my kids love to fish.  My 20yo daughter got her first bow two years ago for her xmas gift (that's what she asked for) and she does enjoy shooting it but is yet to hunt.