What’s Putting U.S. Hunting at Risk

What’s Putting U.S. Hunting at Risk

Hunting’s been a way of life for a lot of us, a tradition that goes back generations. It’s about getting out in the woods, feeling the crisp air, and bringing home a story—maybe even some venison. But the truth is, hunting’s facing some serious challenges that could change the game for good. From losing land to diseases wiping out herds, here’s a rundown of the biggest threats to hunting today, based on what’s been happening out there.

Public Lands Under Fire

Man, nothing gets my blood boiling like hearing about folks trying to sell off our public lands. These are the places we hunt—National Forests, BLM lands, you name it. They’re critical for deer, elk, and even those upland birds we chase. I remember hunting in the Wayne National Forest in Ohio a few years back, and it was a lifeline for me and my buddies since most of the state’s land is private. But some politicians keep pushing to transfer these lands to states or private hands, like that Big Beautiful Bill mess that is currently happening right now. Hunters kicked up a storm and stopped it, but it’s like whack-a-mole—those ideas keep popping back up. If we lose access to these lands, it’s game over for a lot of us.

Diseases Wiping Out Game

Diseases are hammering our game animals, and it’s getting worse. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is the big one—it’s a nasty prion disease that’s spread to deer and elk in 36 states. It’s always fatal, and in places like Wisconsin, it’s already cutting down deer numbers, especially big bucks. I saw it myself last season; a buddy’s hunting spot was a ghost town because CWD hit the herd hard. Then you’ve got stuff like avian flu killing waterfowl and elk hoof rot messing with herds out West. If these diseases keep spreading, we’re looking at fewer animals to hunt, and maybe even stricter rules to slow it down.

Anti-Hunters Gaining Ground

Anti-hunters are out there, and they’re not just yelling from the sidelines—they’re organized and funded. They’ve already banned stuff like bear baiting in California and dove hunting in Michigan through ballot initiatives. These groups know how to spin a story to get non-hunters to vote their way. It’s frustrating, but we’ve had wins, like in Colorado in 2024 when hunters banded together to shut down a mountain lion hunting ban. Problem is, these anti-hunters don’t quit. They’re even getting their people on state wildlife commissions, pushing policies that screw over hunters. We gotta stay loud and show up to those meetings to keep our voice in the game.

Hunters Shooting Themselves in the Foot

Here’s the tough one: sometimes we’re our own worst enemy. I’ve seen guys bicker over dumb stuff—like whether crossbows are “real” hunting or if a kid’s youth season is taking tags from the old-timers. Come on, fellas, we’re all on the same team! I’ll never forget arguing with a guy at camp who said my compound bow was cheating compared to his longbow. That kind of infighting just makes it easier for anti-hunters to pick us apart. Poachers and trespassers don’t help either—they give us all a bad name. We need to stick together, support new hunters, and stop acting like our way’s the only way. Otherwise, we’re handing the antis a win on a silver platter.

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