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With upland hunting numbers dwindling, upland habitat disappearing and upland bird species in danger, there has never been a more important time for substantive conservation measures. The Extreme Upland Media Group is launching the first of its three-phased conservation initiative focused on saving all things upland.
The decline of upland hunter participants harbingers the potential future extinction of more than just a long iconic traditioned pastime. Without adequate upland hunting participation, critical habitat measures will naturally degenerate the ability to resource critical conservation measures.
A Critical Battle is Underway For the Very Survival of Upland Hunting
NEWS PROVIDED BY eXtreme Upland Media March 31st , 2020, Northern Utah, March 31, 2020,/PRNewswire/
Stock Image
Submitted by: TBC Press
Posted on: 04/13/20
News # 13473
Fragile upland species presently holding on to existing precarious footholds will slip to extinction, causing an environmental chain reaction impossible to reverse. Upland eco-systems include habitat protection, species proliferation, and upland hunting dog breeds. All are in present danger without the lifeblood of a robust and growing upland hunter participation.
Why the decline in hunter participation? ?The trend is nationwide,? said Tom Rusch, DNR Wildlife Manager. ?These are societal changes. They have been occurring for decades.? Mr. Rusch is right, 2019 pheasant hunter numbers fell 24 percent below the 10-year average. Recently recorded grouse hunter numbers were 67,765, the lowest on record, spanning over the last than 40 years.
While there are some states, such as Idaho, Alaska and Oregon, holding their own where it comes to upland hunting participation, the bulk of the country is experiencing a steady and dramatic decline in upland hunting numbers.
(1) The most recent small game hunter survey from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources revealed the fewest number of hunters pursuing species like grouse, waterfowl, and squirrels since the DNR began keeping track of those types of figures in 1969. Small game license sales have been trending lower for the past 20 years.
(2) The highest recorded hunting participation was in 1982 when almost 17 million hunters purchased 28.3 million licenses. Since upland hunting numbers have steadily reported a decline of 2.2 million hunters lost between 2011 and 2016 alone. Baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) are nearly a third of all hunters nationally.
(3) In 1991 upland hunters totaled 7.6 million but today only 3.5 million upland hunters exist. The domino effect of upland hunting participation decline The decline of upland hunting participation is more than just the loss of licensing fees. Hunters spend money on a host of industry-specific businesses such as clothing, guns, and ammunition, but also upland hunters have been a significant source of income for auxiliary industries such as food vendors, hotel/motel accommodations and financial boosters for other local economies. When upland hunting participation declines, economies focus less on upland hunting needs. Financial constraints require wildlife officials and other commercial interests to focus on where dollars are most effectively spent, meaning fewer resources for the continuation of upland hunting conservation. Why is Upland Hunting participation dwindling? National hunter demographics provide our first real clue to diminishing upland participation. Baby boomers (folks in their 70s and beyond) far outrank any other generation when it comes to upland hunting participation. As the numbers demonstrate, with each younger proceeding generation, declining participation levels are the trend. The attrition of baby boomers is far outpacing younger generation upland hunting recruitment. Younger generations have progressively experienced more activities competing for their time. A contributing factor is the shift in population(s) from rural America to urban areas, larger cities and suburbs. The population shift makes hunting dog ownership significantly more challenging. Geographical living areas naturally constrain the activities available. Larger urban areas provide considerably less nearby upland hunting land access or areas to work a hunting dog. Younger generations are increasingly growing up within homes void of upland hunting opportunities or upland hunting dogs. Because contemporary upland hunting time requirements are a more daunting equation than it was traditionally, potential upland hunters are simply not getting in the game. Race and gender does and will play a major factor Historically upland hunters have been white men; today, more than 90 percent of hunters are Caucasian, and more than 70 percent are male. It is projected that in 2044,
(4) Caucasians will make up less than half the U.S. population. Rural populations were historically responsible for producing the bulk of upland hunters. Non-Caucasian persons were less likely to be exposed to upland hunting and are therefore less likely to have ties or a passion for the sport. Recruiting non-Caucasian upland hunting participation is vital as well as a focus on female hunter participation. While rural populations are remaining comparatively stable, urban populations are increasing.
So how to reverse the trend? - It all starts with enabled opportunity.
The Extreme Upland Media group believes the very survival of our time-honored upland hunting tradition necessitates sustainable conservation enabled opportunities. Enabled opportunities first require upland hunters have access to upland hunting areas to hunt, to train dogs and to focus their passions.
Upland hunting dogs are an essential symbiotic part of the equation. ?Where our hearts are, so too will be our treasure.? When a hunter engages the companionship of a hunting dog, they need the ability to be successful in the upland hunting partnership. Opportunity for access to upland hunting habitat is essential. While enabling upland hunting opportunity can be a bit of a ?chicken and egg? conundrum, concerted efforts to foster upland hunting access is the primary driving impetus of the equation.
It is to that end that The Extreme Upland Media Group unleashes a three-phase conservation initiative: Phase One Extremeupland.com is being launched as a landing site, providing original content published on the web, and within social media efforts, centered on ?all things upland?. The content is developed so as to promote and envelope all other like-minded upland hunting efforts.
For example, -unlike Facebook, where users are not allowed to post hunting dog litters, dogs for sale or upland hunting gear, extremeupland.com provides a free platform for doing so, enabling the different respective upland hunting groups to link and utilize extremeupland.com in conjunction with their present efforts. The extreme upland hunting media hopes to work together to envelop all other upland efforts individually. Phase Two The Extreme Upland Media Group and its partners will launch a regional beta test of its proprietary digital technology designed purposely to increase upland hunting participation.
The technology relies heavily on sustainability capacities as the core element of the model. While details regarding the proprietary digital technology have not yet been released, model designers tell us the technology will directly and within a shorter time frame, positively impact upland hunting participation. Phase Three Following a regional beta test, Extreme Upland hopes to work with strategic partnerships to launch a national landmark upland hunting initiative designed to work in perpetuity by fostering a unique ongoing sustainable participation growth model. The proprietary technology was developed through other commercial discipline efforts and is now being applied to turn the tide in the battle for upland hunting. There is nothing less at stake than the very essence and survival of our rich upland hunting heritage.
Readers interested in participating in this tremendous work are encouraged to engage. There is really something everyone can do to help,? said Media Spokesman Todd Marriott, ? participation in the battle to save our beloved upland hunting legacy will require all of us, contact us and join in the very worthwhile fight for all things upland.?
Editor's Note: To arrange an interview, contact Todd Marriott at [email protected] or +1 801-557-2228 About The Extreme Upland Media Group eXtreme Upland?s dedicated purpose furthers passion and conservation for upland hunting.
We define upland hunting as weaving time-honored upland experiences from the heroes who have gone before us, through you and me, continued to the youth of today. Upland hunting passion is defined as a deep-seated love specifically about family, particularly to the dogs we adore and our consecration to nature. We see genuine upland hunting roots embedded in a timeless symbiotic companionship between man/woman and their canine best friends. The successful pursuit of upland game is the ultimate realization between such partnerships.
Our upland heroes are those who dedicate their passion, their livelihoods and their commitments towards all things upland. It is the caretakers of hunting dog breeds, the protectors of habitat and upland bird species. Our heroes are those of us that seek a sustainable upland future. You make every difference!
Please unite with our eXtreme Upland community in the pursuit of an enduring sustainable legacy. Please share your journey with us as we share ours with you, for each upland hunting experience is unique. From the pointers to the flushers and retrievers, to the purists to hobbyists, we must all respect the individual rights of passage. What we collectively share is the love of God, country, family and a tenacious passion for our dogs. We guard a deep-rooted yearning to the upland experience. For upland hunting to realize the measure of its creation, we need each of you, and every other similar and worthwhile effort. We wish to thank you in advance for your contributions to the various efforts we will put forward, and the encouragement we will need from you to further our collective upland love and passion.
The Extreme Upland Media Group Related Links: http://www.extremeupland.com and https://issuu.com/outdoornews/docs/wi06. The complete small game hunter survey report is on the Minnesota DNR website at https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/2019/10/08/downward-trend-hunter-participation-continues-small-game-hunting
