The last of it?

hathcock

Are we seeing the last of it lads?It seems ours is a dying sport,very few young lads taking up the sport,my own gun club for example has seen numbers decline in recent years from approx 60 members to 22,and no new young members.Of the 22 existing members only 4 actually own a gundog and actually hunt.It seems that young people are now more reliant on anything having a screen for their entertainment,I dare say most of them wouldn't be able to find their way out of a field,let alone know how to hunt.Maybe some of you have a more optimistic view, I'd like to hear your opinions.

dodderangler

Just because lads don't want to join a gun club doesn't mean the sport is dying.
I know more lads who hunt and aren't in a club than ones who Are
Myself included. I won't join one for my own reasons

hathcock

dodderangler wrote: »

Just because lads don't want to join a gun club doesn't mean the sport is dying.
I know more lads who hunt and aren't in a club than ones who Are
Myself included. I won't join one for my own reasons

irrespective of club membership my point is that the young lads are not taking up the sport.

blackpearl

have to agree hathcock when I joined my first gun club their was a load of us the same age 16 to 18 now if you get one lad every 2 years you are lucky, I am big into game shooting and trout fishing have 3 lads from 16 to 30 had them out with me from they were very young all shot pheasants and duck and caught the best of trout but they all lost intrest,I blame it on the number of sports around nowadays,years ago if your father or uncle was going hunting on a sunday you went with him or sat at home,now they are playing the playstation every chance they get,one of my lads use to say when I was going hunting are we going for pheasants or ducks if I said ducks he was ready in a flash pheasants no chance young people are not intrested in tramping long distances for 1 or 2 birds.

Birdnuts

Way more distractions nowadays for the youth. You can now play most sports indoors out of the weather which is something obviously the likes of hunting can't compete with.And thats before you get into the whole area of computer games, various online distractions etc. Add in the costs and difficulties getting into gun clubs and finding permissions etc. then its clear the situation is bleak. I know several gun clubs in my own backyard that sadly folded over the past 20 years due to the aul fellas dying off and no youth to replace them:(

springer man

im only 17 and im mad into hunting. I go out at least twice a week with my own English setter and ive 9 cocks, 2 woodcock, 2 snipe and 4 mallard this season

snipe49

springer man wrote: »

im only 17 and im mad into hunting. I go out at least twice a week with my own English setter and ive 9 cocks, 2 woodcock, 2 snipe and 4 mallard this season

Keep it up pal i starter young too and still love it after 35 years i was out for a night flight tonight got a duck and drake mallard. And while there just me and my dog i was thinking back to the first time i got duck at night on my own stayed to long and got lost coming out no light and back then no mobile. Happy memories

Kevhog1988

26 and hoping to get licence pretty soon.

Tikka391

hathcock wrote: »

irrespective of club membership my point is that the young lads are not taking up the sport.

Hi all, I'm very proud to say that my 14 year old lad has started his first year shooting this season. After 4 years following me round in all weather saying " can I have a shot of your gun dad" he has his 20g now. He applied for and got his training license in time for this season. To date he has 10 pheasants 2 woodcock and a rabbit, a real Good mixed bag for young fella.
He also takes part in all gun club activities/work all year round, really keen and I have another lad (12) cumming up behind him just as keen. It's great to see it.

PDAhunter

springer man wrote: »

im only 17 and im mad into hunting. I go out at least twice a week with my own English setter and ive 9 cocks, 2 woodcock, 2 snipe and 4 mallard this season

Lad your d same as me I'm 16 have my own English pointer, boat, gun all which I bought myself was out today with 3 lads from school out shooting shot 3 woodcock and 8 snipe

gavindublin

I think clubs need to do their own part aswell. If they want members then go looking or advertising.

I could give you 40 names off the top of my head of lads who shoot but don't do it from a club. Myself included.

When I wanted to join one I was told its full. Another one wanted me to sell my soul to become a member. And another was waiting on someones father to die to free up a space. Dinosaurs.

Chiparus

interesting as a someone who was a blowin into an area, it was nearly impossible to even find out who the contact was to join the local gc.

i looked at the nragc site sent off emails , not a single response .

if you want people to join , build a website , so at least oeople who want to join can easily go about it.

glued

I'd love to go out but I dint

Eddie B

I don't think its a dying sport! I know plenty of young lads that have a keen interest in hunting and fishing, my two stepsons included!

The only thing that could put an end to hunting/shooting, is stricter and stricter legislation, some of which is rediculous IMO!

luvhuntin

Shooting as a sport is definitely not a dying sport in fact Id argue that there's more young people in it than ever before. The Clubs are now a dying breed as they tend to be run by idiots who are out for themselves and don't see the bigger picture. I quit my gun club this year after 20 years as they refused to take on new members(locals) and came out with some ridiculous rules. Our club has NO local people in it at all and and apart from myself and one other nobody did any vermin shooting. They brought in a rule that from the end of the season until the start of the next no dogs are allowed on the land?? so basically the farmer is going to see nothing but strangers all over his land on the 1st November shooting pheasants all season and as soon as the season is finished they are all gone and when he wants any vermin shot there's nobody to do it except the "locals". How long do they think that will last?

Tikka391

luvhuntin wrote: »

Shooting as a sport is definitely not a dying sport in fact Id argue that there's more young people in it than ever before. The Clubs are now a dying breed as they tend to be run by idiots who are out for themselves and don't see the bigger picture. I quit my gun club this year after 20 years as they refused to take on new members(locals) and came out with some ridiculous rules. Our club has NO local people in it at all and and apart from myself and one other nobody did any vermin shooting. They brought in a rule that from the end of the season until the start of the next no dogs are allowed on the land?? so basically the farmer is going to see nothing but strangers all over his land on the 1st November shooting pheasants all season and as soon as the season is finished they are all gone and when he wants any vermin shot there's nobody to do it except the "locals". How long do they think that will last?

That no dogs out of season is the most stupid rule ever my " home" club you might say, at my home place, witch I was a member of but had to leave for my own sanity, at witch I was the only local in it at the time used to have that rule. (Maybe one or two old timers from local area too)
I would of thought that more than one club couldn't be that stupid.

Remember me?

PDAhunter wrote: »

Lad your d same as me I'm 16 have my own English pointer, boat, gun all which I bought myself was out today with 3 lads from school out shooting shot 3 woodcock and 8 snipe

Well done lad .you sound like a driven lad keep it up.

vincentf

I have two young lads hunting and fishing now a few years, started out when they were bout ten and twelve years old. First got private permissions for ferrets hunting rabbits. They know all the farmers as they chat to them and give farmers the time of day.The farmers stop to chat in the village, I was suprised to see. They have permission to decoy pigons in the agri college just from who they knew and a good word put in, no one gets permission apparently in the college.
They then got lurchers each and hunt rabbit,hare and fox. The older lad now is in his first season in the G.C and loves rough shooting, the younger lad tags along. Their gone all day from morning till dusk weather permitting. He has shot a lot too. His younger brother will be getting his trainee licence next year.
They got their first digging terrier this year,not too hard of a dog but he won't budge for anything once he's got the fox cornered.
My point is, young lads can graduate from different hunting sports. Mine have.There is a lot of young lads lamping foxes and rabbits in my parish. I'm proposing to the G.C to hold an open day and get these lads
into the club, if possible. I'd say if they felt welcome they might take the plunge and ask their
folks for a shot gun instead of a lurcher.
And there's no play stations or the like used in our home thank God !!!

Sparks

10 years ago the average age in the sport was 49. I think it would be fair to say it's fallen a little since, given that some of - if not *the* - largest clubs in the country all have large junior sections (DURC, UCDRC, and pretty much all of the Pony Club Tetrathlon clubs and the MPAI clubs). Hunting might have a different story though.

Point is, this isn't a recent problem, it's an old one. You want to fix it? Promote getting in new blood to the sport. A club that doesn't have a juniors section isn't healthy and a sport with no juniors is already dead, it just hasn't fallen over yet.

vincentf

Someone mentioned a website for the G.C, how will this help or attract new members, does anyone have experience with their own G.C having a website.
I think I'll propose this too at the next G.C committee meeting. I know rathgormack in Cork have one on YouTube, I think that's the name of it anyway.
It shows hunting, decoying clips. How will it attract new members though ?

Sparks

vincentf wrote: »

It shows hunting, decoying clips. How will it attract new members though ?

You just answered your own question y'know.

It's basicly having something close to television exposure without all the hassle you'd have to go to with RTE and with far more editorial control. And shooting's fairly popular on youtube. From the ISSF website (with permission):

2014 ISSF Media Report unveiled: 240 million TVs and 1.5 billion people reached

...

The TV coverage of the 2014 ISSF World Cup Stages, World Cup Finals and Wolrd Championship reached 240 million viewers in over 100 countries, in 2014.

...

Internet and Social Media have been a key future of the 2014 ISSF communication strategy. More than 200 articles and 2.200 photos were published online on www.issf-sports.org, and the Federations' website recorded 1.6 million visits during the season, 23% more than in 2013.

Videoclips of ISSF World Cups and World Championship were watched 2.8 million times on YouTube, where the International Shooting Sport Federation is offering 1000 videos and interviews recorded on the fields of play. 75.000 Facebook fans interacted with the ISSF throughout the season, and shooting sport content was also offered to thousand of followers on Twitter and Flickr.

...

“Numbers tell us that we're on the right path.” Mr. Franz Schreiber continued. “The communication strategy approved by the ISSF President Olegario Vàzquez Raña tuned out to be successful and effective: indeed we are not spending money, we are investing on the future of our sport, and results are paying off.”

I know, target shooting isn't hunting, but the principle applies across the board...

vincentf

So Facebook, YouTube, website and any other medium to get the message out there. Ok

Sparks

Yup. People are curious, but that curiosity is almost never enough to get past the barrier of walking up to a group of complete strangers who're having a natter and asking questions. You have to push the information out there, instead of hoping that they will come to you to get it (because that's quite rare).

College clubs push and maintain low barriers to entry. They get 2-400 members every year (and that's per club, not an overall total). Kindof speaks volumes really.

blackpearl

Most clubs are closed to outsiders because of greed on behalf of the locals,its all ways been this way,but some of the worst blockers are the odd outsider that is in the club,i have seen it first hand in 2 of the clubs I am in, this year was different they let a few outsiders in, it turned out the best workers the club ever had and loads of new ideas but some of the old die hards wont even talk to them the quicker the better these boys gave up hunting and hunting in Ireland will be better of. Its all right for the country boys to come into town to work but not for the townies to go out to the country to play.

270WIN

Around my way there are too many lads shooting!! Loads of young lads into shooting..my own included. I would agree that most gun clubs are a joke. They will accept members no problem but god forbid anyone tries to get up to the top table. There should be a rule that one lad at top table should be under 25 and try and bring some fresh ideas to the clubs.

Miklos

I'm 26 and getting quite into shooting, having been on driven shoots with my Dad. I want to get into some more affordable shooting for myself but don't really know where to look. Any tips? Based in Dublin.

dodderangler

Well my daughter loves comin hunting and fishing with me. She wants her own gun when she's older.
I know she's only four but it's a good sign already. And with another kid on the way god knows what the future will hold:)

hathcock

NickWray wrote: »

I'm 26 and getting quite into shooting, having been on driven shoots with my Dad. I want to get into some more affordable shooting for myself but don't really know where to look. Any tips? Based in Dublin.

I'm not familiar with the shooting scene in the Dublin area,you may have to travel out and do some door knocking,you may get refused but you might also get a positive response,you only need one to start and when you become a familiar face in the area you will get more permissions.

grassroot1

The problem with rough shooting and few young members is lack of vision on behalf of gun clubs, if clubs could be a little more enlightened and open a non shooting junior section it would be a start. The old mentality of our club is full we don't need any more members is very flawed, without new blood a club gets old and stale and there is no one left to rear bird or run trap lines.
The NARGC will next year be offering under 14 year olds compensation cover for 10 euro, this is a great chance to get a junior section going.
We must all try to get our clubs to adopt this at our next AGM. The future of our sport relies on it.

Gormley85

This year for the first time ever I didnt bother renewing any of my memberships. It was too much hassle and politics involved is just not worth it. I dont even shoot the pheasants, Im more of a fox person and they still keep hassling and threatening to kick me out if I dont pull my weight with the pen and feeders etc So goodluck to them, I went round all the lads on club grounds that keep sheep and asked them for permission to shoot fox on their land and didnt get a single refusal. Thats a nice 210euro for my back pocket this year.

vincentf

I'm a blow in myself and only in the club a couple of years. This year I was voted in as Chairman, so it is different in each club regarding a position or joining clubs. I would not say all clubs prevent new members or blow ins having any say in the actions or direction of a club. My sons and I hunt vermin all summer with Larsen trap too, so maybe it made a good impression on our behalf to the local lads.
A few senior members came to ask me help with training a dog which I did, so I wouldn't type cast all clubs being the same to blow ins

hathcock

vincentf wrote: »

I'm a blow in myself and only in the club a couple of years. This year I was voted in as Chairman, so it is different in each club regarding a position or joining clubs. I would not say all clubs prevent new members or blow ins having any say in the actions or direction of a club. My sons and I hunt vermin all summer with Larsen trap too, so maybe it made a good impression on our behalf to the local lads.
A few senior members came to ask me help with training a dog which I did, so I wouldn't type cast all clubs being the same to blow ins

your'e now an adopted countryman vinny

vincentf

Keep er country ! Hathcock

vincentf

I would like to take this opportunity to tank the man who loaned the Larsen trap to my sons and I.

Tikka391

Gormley85 wrote: »

This year for the first time ever I didnt bother renewing any of my memberships. It was too much hassle and politics involved is just not worth it. I dont even shoot the pheasants, Im more of a fox person and they still keep hassling and threatening to kick me out if I dont pull my weight with the pen and feeders etc So goodluck to them, I went round all the lads on club grounds that keep sheep and asked them for permission to shoot fox on their land and didnt get a single refusal. Thats a nice 210euro for my back pocket this year.

I don't blame you I had to do the same thing myself at home years ago.
The only down side I can see is having no insurance if something happens.
Maybe you have cover somewhere else. It it you don't maybe you should use some of the money you are saving and go to the IFA or someone and get some cover. Apart from that you will have great peace shooting now, you might even end up with more land to shoot over than your clubs did, many lads that I know who did same as you ended up with loads of new permissions. Any just a thought.