An American perspective.

[Apthorpe]

Massively out of touch, if only you knew. I’ll leave you to patronise others with your single example

How many examples do you want? The pattern across the board is the same, with the possible exception of the homeless, and I was guilty of assuming you're not homeless.

 

[Robinson]

Maybe you British should look to Norway? Out of our population of around 5 million, we have about 500.000 registered hunters, that is people who have passed the hunters exam, because they want to hunt. Not all of them hunt every year, but around 200.000 of them actually hunted last year. Hunting has a very high popular acceptance here with us. We dont have any political party with "stop hunting " on their program. Even our Green Party (MDG) says with a shy smile that, "no we are not opposed to hunting, but we will restrict hunting in some of our national parks". Even though I guess they hate our guts, but they dont dare say so. If you think about it, every 10th Norwegian male, female, child, toddler or old person in nursery homes, is a hunter. If one looks in to the demographic, it mean that about every 3. Norwegian voter is or want to be a hunter. It takes a very courageous politician to want to alienate them. Do you know any courageous politicians? Neither do I. All this is because hunting is accessible for all. Wether you drive a bus or run a Fortune 500 company, there will be hunting available that you can afford. No elitism. At the shooting range I frekvent for training I meet mostly working guys who show up in their working clothes, some bringing a kid or two along. And having fun. Make hunting popular and accessible, and no politician would want to anger you...

 

[Mr Tree]

This is just another consequence of demographic changes caused by excessive immigration. The cohort of people who are now, say, 70 years old are 90% British and cohorts of younger people are only 60% according to the census (which is bound to be a significant overestimate, as is typically the case). It's obvious that participation will fall drastically and that will also go for other rural activities like conservation volunteering and so on. It's another facet of how we've ruined the country with excessive immigration.

Perhaps rewilding is a sensible policy given how many of the younger cohorts don't give a fig for the environment save seeing it as a place to build over.

As a bright spot, I run a small shoot which has very healthy levels of young participation. The last day had four guns under 25 and we usually a range of young beaters from age 4 upwards. Stalking requires people to be a bit older.
Lots of shooters are old because younger adults don't have the time or money - owing to excessive tax levels which older people don't pay.

I have always been surprised by the reaction of Turks & Asians particularly the Syrians Pakistanis & Indian that once they know I am a farmer, almost immediately ask if I go hunting. They are very interested in dogs, shooting & hunting, it is part of their culture. Not only that they are particularly interested in the food side, asking a lot of questions about various meats & their flavours. The shame being that they are probably never asked to go on a days beating,or have access to firearms, or land to enjoy our sport. To blame the situation on excessive immigration is absolute nonsense. On the other hand, most white privileged youngsters are now brainwashed in a peer pressure existence, & regard shooting as unacceptable & barbaric. You need to talk more to some of these people before making claims like this. Take them a brace of pheasants or some venison, they will probably snatch your hand off, & be extremely grateful.

 

[Dunwaters]

Have you heard about the Fenian wars? Irish american attacs on Canadian farmers as being the closest British citisens then Ireland and Britain were in war. It led to setting up local Canadian militias separate from British army and were instrumental then Canada became a national state. Strangely US government let their citizens attack an other nation they were in peace with.

I’m not too well versed in the Canadian chapter. Our Fenian uprising was in 1798 and wasn’t well received by the authorities here.
The French involvement may have had something to do with it.

 

[Apthorpe]

I have always been surprised by the reaction of Turks & Asians particularly the Syrians Pakistanis & Indian that once they know I am a farmer, almost immediately ask if I go hunting. They are very interested in dogs, shooting & hunting, it is part of their culture. Not only that they are particularly interested in the food side, asking a lot of questions about various meats & their flavours. The shame being that they are probably never asked to go on a days beating,or have access to firearms, or land to enjoy our sport. To blame the situation on excessive immigration is absolute nonsense.

Your previous sentence showed that it is not nonsense.

On the other hand, most white privileged youngsters are now brainwashed in a peer pressure existence, & regard shooting as unacceptable & barbaric.

Some, but no more than was always the case.

You need to talk more to some of these people before making claims like this.

I am fairly confident I spend more time interacting with them than you do.

Take them a brace of pheasants or some venison, they will probably snatch your hand off, & be extremely grateful.

Cloud cuckoo land.

 

[GBR66]

Have pals who moved to NI (yep not Eire) due to concerns over losing their hobby by remaining here. Seems extreme but they have no regrets.

I moved to the Republic, not the North. Much more rural than UK and although some political pressure as everywhere, fox hunting and otter hunting are still allowed, deer are a major problem, horse racing is endemic, and the people are thoroughly solid, love it.

 

[steve19]

As daft as it sounds being the "stalking directory" I've never shot a single animal in 10 years of shooting, I must add, this isn't through lack of trying.

i tried for at least 3 years to get some experience and offered my time/labour in exchange for someone showing me the basics, offered to do the shitty jobs that people would put off. I can weld/fabricate and I'm fairly handy with most things.

I gave up trying about 3 years ago as nobody would even entertain an offer, from what I experienced the gatekeeping and fear of loosing permissions was ridiculous. Theres younger people that want to go out and learn and don't mind putting in the effort, it was the older generation that weren't willing to help/teach them.

I met people that shoot on land that borders each other and they're not willing to help each other out, it was honestly like being in a primary school with kids not wanting to share.

 

[alberta boy]

As daft as it sounds being the "stalking directory" I've never shot a single animal in 10 years of shooting, I must add, this isn't through lack of trying.

i tried for at least 3 years to get some experience and offered my time/labour in exchange for someone showing me the basics, offered to do the shitty jobs that people would put off. I can weld/fabricate and I'm fairly handy with most things.

I gave up trying about 3 years ago as nobody would even entertain an offer, from what I experienced the gatekeeping and fear of loosing permissions was ridiculous. Theres younger people that want to go out and learn and don't mind putting in the effort, it was the older generation that weren't willing to help/teach them.

I met people that shoot on land that borders each other and they're not willing to help each other out, it was honestly like being in a primary school with kids not wanting to share.

That's terrible . Have you done any paid stalks .
AB

 

[CAVHUNT]

Hi Steve19. That is a terrible but unsurprising reaction from established/experienced stalkers. But don't think it is an issue confined just to your area. Going back 4 or 5 decades sambar in Victoria were in very low numbers with animals mainly being in south east and north east areas. I knew nothing about them but wanted to be involved in hunting them. I lived 400 kilometres from the leading lights of the day sambar hunters so I phoned for advice on how to stalk them only...not locations or 'tagalongs'. The reaction was uniformly unfriendly to outright hostility...from expletives to hanging up on me to strenuous denials of sambar deer being in Victoria. With our hunting freedoms with millions of acres of forest available for hunting 24/7 year round I spent the next 3 years learning by making mistakes until eventually I shot a young stag. With your very restrictive access rules Steve I can only hope some-one on TSD may give you a chance.

Hey...here's a thought...what about emigrating to Oz and chase not only Sambar...but Fallow, Reds, Hog Deer plus the vermin species of pigs, rabbits, foxes, wild dogs etc...? Less people here too - UK = 69 million and AU = 28 million plus
Oz is a bigger country...UK = 0.24 million square kms vs AU = 7.69 million square kms.

 

[John Gryphon]

Some, but no more than was always the case.

Totally disagree,far less of the younger crowd embrace the hunting side these days.

Luuurve the fingernail polish....black powder shooter of course. Fondling that avocado like his boyfriends agate.
I would swim the river of schitt for three days with my gob wide open if this 'young un' has ever touched a firearm.

 

[Apthorpe]

Totally disagree,far less of the younger crowd embrace the hunting side these days.

Luuurve the fingernail polish....black powder shooter of course. Fondling that avocado like his boyfriends agate.
I would swim the river of schitt for three days with my gob wide open if this 'young un' has ever touched a firearm.

View attachment 444655

.People would have said the same im the 60's, 70's, 80s etc. I

 

[Dunwaters]

I moved to the Republic, not the North. Much more rural than UK and although some political pressure as everywhere, fox hunting and otter hunting are still allowed, deer are a major problem, horse racing is endemic, and the people are thoroughly solid, love it.

Otter hunting?
Are you sure it’s legal? I couldn’t get a permit to have a dead one stuffed. Mink hunting and trapping is not an issue with the bounty now E25.

 

[Bo Diddley]

but it often makes me wonder what is being pushed onto them whilst at Uni.

Left wing $hite.
Sorry for the loss of your son. Hopefully, it will resolve itself in time.

 

[John Gryphon]

People would have said the same im the 60's, 70's, 80s etc. I

and a lot of those above did their stints in Vietnam too
I had hair down my back also when younger but I was still sticking wild boars with my dogs.

 

[steve19]

That's terrible . Have you done any paid stalks .
AB

I haven't and I won't. im not paying someone for a trophy or for the meat, for how much paid stalks are these days It would be cheaper going to the butcher and just buying it anyway.
I've got nothing against people who do pay, it's just not what I personally wanted to do.

 

[alberta boy]

I haven't and I won't. im not paying someone for a trophy or for the meat, for how much paid stalks are these days It would be cheaper going to the butcher and just buying it anyway.
I've got nothing against people who do pay, it's just not what I personally wanted to do.

That is the big difference between the UK and Canada . There are millions of square miles of Crown land to hunt on , no permission required . If you do happen to run into another hunter , not likely , they will usually be happy to point you in the direction of good hunting opportunities . A lot of people here count on wild game for meat , I know a number of people who don't eat domestic meat at all . Some by choice , others because of geographic realities ( the Arctic ) . It's not a judgement on the UK hunting situation , it is just the reality of it . There is a limited amount of huntable land , there is fierce competition for it . I feel for you brother, but that is just the way it is .

AB

 

[User00056]

As daft as it sounds being the "stalking directory" I've never shot a single animal in 10 years of shooting, I must add, this isn't through lack of trying.

i tried for at least 3 years to get some experience and offered my time/labour in exchange for someone showing me the basics, offered to do the shitty jobs that people would put off. I can weld/fabricate and I'm fairly handy with most things.

If you ever make it up this way (DD8 area) drop me a line? You can come out with me and we'll see about getting you a roe. We can even butcher it on the farm here, and you can take the meat. All completely FOC

 

[steve19]

If you ever make it up this way (DD8 area) drop me a line? You can come out with me and we'll see about getting you a roe. We can even butcher it on the farm here, and you can take the meat. All completely FOC

What a gent, if I am ill definitely take you up on the offer. All my family are west coast, (PA28) Ive got a cousin in Fraserburgh but he's on the rigs, funerals and weddings are about the only time we see each other.

 

[User00056]

if I am ill definitely take you up on the offer

You'd be very welcome

 

[Bavarianbrit]

I'm not following your point. Can you elaborate?

I was in GM Detroit at their tech center in 1981 and the Americans of Irish descent fellas came collecting money for the boyos back home.
There were too many brits on the project and they got talked to rather enthusiastically outside the office gates that evening.