There are 300K hunters, 800K anglers, 1.71 wildlife watchers in Indiana. https://t.co/XhoU7nahnV

Interesting that the angler numbers are down while hunter numbers are up, although spending by hunters is down considerably. Economic impact is a critical argument by sportsmen so the numbers are a bit troubling.

Well that's easy to understand... I have a LTL and have what I need for hunting so I don't need to spend much from year to year and I would surmise that most others are in the same boat...

Most of the time when hunters spend money on things they are probably replacing old and outdated things...

and yet prime Indiana hunting land is leasing for upwards of $20-30 acre as soon as it is listed online??

Several hunting property groups are selling large tracts of land solely for hunting/recreation properties in Indiana.

A segment of that group of hunters has money and is spending it...

The spending definition is being redefined for sure. Access is being redefined also and it's a little surprising to me to see what guys will spend to shoot a deer. That said though, when you figure the real cost of hunting, it is quite expensive for most who do it and in many ways can typically only be justified as recreation and certainly not need. To me it seems all a bit crazy until I figure up how much I spend on fishing where I have no intent on keeping anything for consumption. The biggest money is spent on the experience, not necessarily just the aspect of hunting.

hunting is cheap to almost free if you want it.
one doesnt NEED to spend hundreds on gear, leases, and driving across the state. you can make your own bow, arrows and heads for free. and hunt just down the road......or you can spend thousands in hopes of being the envy of your friends. lol

I think most spend thousands when you truly add up everything. But your point is a good one

Smart comments, but I spend money because of exactly what Dave mentioned. The experience. The pursuit. The hiking and photography. The puzzle.
To say I or anyone else spends money to be the envy of their friends is horse bleep. I like to hunt. Its where MY discretionary income goes. Its MY choice.
One unforeseen consequence of the one buck rule was that it removed a dedicated, revenue generating source. Once a hunter has filled his buck tag, he is less likely to spend much more money. He won't travel, eat or spend his money in our economy, like he did prior.
This isn't a bash on the OBR, simply a comment on one affect.
I have long said that the only hunters that paid for the OBR, were the ones that hunted all season with multiple weapons. Everyone else has hunted the same.
That's enough from me....need to get to the lease..so I can tell all my friends how lucky I am to work two full time jobs.

Funny you took a general comment as being directed at you. It wasn't. Must be some truth though for it to strike a nerve.

There are many reasons to hunt, and I'm sure what ever reason you choose can be justified. There is a huge difference between hunting and killing, but that has been debated here many times. It's not what you put into it, it's what you get out of it! I wouldn't sell my hunting memories for a thousand times what they cost me in money!

Nope..... It's the lie in your "general comment" that strikes a nerve. There are still plenty of people in this world that stand up against lies and false statements..... And you keep running into them trapperdave, and you will continue to do so.

yeah, ok.


It WAS directed at you, Dew LOL

Those that are driven by envy like yourself trapperdave... and make "envy comments" that you assume others struggle with or are driven by too...is due to your own "envy glasses" you wear each day.....

.....not much others can do about that except point out that what you yourself are familiar with and struggle with ......... may not be what others are driven by, familiar with or struggle with when it comes to simply a sport they love and different appreciations of deer hunting they have for just themselves (which is what makes this sport so great and diversified)...... and that are different from yours.

It's been peaceful up to this point. Take it to PMs fellas...please?

I'll just stick to my tag line at this point.....

ROFLMAO


you da man, Pew