California Hunting and Fishing Number Increase

     A report released by the California Dept. of Fish and Game, stated that the number of people enjoying thre great outdoors has increased in the last two years.  Fishing licnese sales have increased 5% and hunting license sales have increased 3%.

      This recent increase has also been seen in the state of Alabama.  Along with the recent legislation in several states to implement programs to help youth get out and enjoy the outdoors at a younger age, there is also a growing number of people retiring.   This allows more time for the older population of hunters and anglers to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

     A story on the sacbee.com website also refered to the report by the Dept. of Fish and Game.  They mentioned the recent upswing in women hunters and anglers.  With recent programs such as Becoming an Outdoors Women, and Women in the Outdoors, among others, we see a sharp rise in women participation also.

     But the story did mention one other reason for the possible upswing in hunter numbers in the state of California.  They mentioned it might be the recent popularity of buying and eating locally grown and harvested foods.  Since when did enviro friendly people find it in their hearts to change their minds about hunting?  Give me a break!  We have been saying this for years as hunters and anglers.  We get our food from nature not the store, where it has been injected with who knows what along with the fact that it is trucked in from miles away.  If I want my food trucked in I will take my truck up north, shoot my deer and truck it back into my freezer, with no chemicals added!  I really find it hard to believe that these California enviro people have really changed their minds to allow for the possiblility, that hunting is good for the environment!  It goes against all they think and against all they spew out of their mouths, so I don’t buy into this arguement.

     I think that the reason people are hunting and fishing more, is that we have successful groups implementing new groups such as the women hunting organizations, and legislators allowing kids to hunt at younger ages.  Access is the key to getting people involved in the outdoors.  It needs to be accessable, affordable and most importantly fun!  We can only hope that other states follow this popular trend from California!  We have seen other trends from this state do nothing but hurt our hunting and fishing heritage.  It is about time we have a trend that helps it!