glostamon
NES Member
Outdoors
Dave Sartwell
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/pusports/local_story_060225346.html
Hunting license sales across the country grew by about 3.5 percent according to a recent study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
"Many factors such as weather and the economy affect hunting license sales in any given year, but in 2009 the economy likely had a more significant effect," said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF's director of industry research and analysis. "While the reasons for the 3.5 percent increase are speculative, past research shows that during slowdowns in the nation's economy it is possible that people have more time to hunt and that hunters take the opportunity to fill their freezers with nutritious, high-protein meat acquired at lower cost than if a similar amount was purchased at the supermarket."
According to Southwick Associates, a research firm that monitored the license sales information, license sales got off to a good start in the first half of 2009. In the key turkey hunting month of April, license sales rose by approximately 17 percent over the same month the previous year.
In June, which is the start of the fiscal year in many states and the month when many annual licenses go on sale, sales increased by 16.2 percent. In the latter half of the year, which is when the bulk of hunting activity occurs and most licenses are sold, August and October sales were down, but September, November and December sales were up.
Curcuruto noted the findings were a bright spot when considering national hunting license sales totals from all 50 states showed little change from 2005 through 2007 (the most recent year that figures are available). During that period, license sales have held at approximately 14.5 million annually, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
It is important to note that this information is based on extrapolations from 12 states and that the totals could vary as the final sales numbers come in. But if this trend continues, it could be the largest increase in sales in 20 years.
Lead shot bans
There has been a move by the Humane Society of the United States to get individual states to ban the use of lead shot in hunting.
Both Montana and California have had efforts to outlaw the use introduced in their legislatures. Because there is absolutely no scientific evidence for this effort, one can only conclude this is just another in a series of moves by the HSUS to continue to attack hunting.
In Montana, the Fish, Wildlife and Parks folks rejected the move because it lacked "biological justification." In California, the proposed ban is being attacked on the same grounds. The ads and propaganda materials being produced remind me of the time that the Massachusetts Audubon Society ran absolutely false and unethical ads around trapping in this state. They showed traps that weren't allowed in this state as if these were what the voters were acting on. When I questioned the then-President of the Mass. Audubon, he said he did not control the ads as they were part of a national campaign.
Expect more of the same soon in Massachusetts.
Deer Harvest for 2009
The deer harvest for the fall season was 10,121. Of this total, 4,869 were taken using a shotgun. There were 3,243 animals taken during the archery season and 2,005 harvested by muzzleloaders.
The numbers reveal a continuing upward trend in the amount of bow and muzzleloading hunters in the field. The sport of bow hunting has increased as the number of acres available to shotgun hunters continues to decrease. Here on the North Shore, for example, many landowners are quite willing to let bow hunters work in closer to buildings and in small pieces of woods where using a firearm would be impractical.
Bear Take
The September and November bear seasons in Massachusetts produced a record number of black bears. The total of 168 broke the 2003 record of 153. There was a 17-day season in September where 140 bears were taken and 28 more were harvested in the 18-day season in November.
The largest bear, taken with a rifle in Blanford, weighed in at a hefty 357 pounds. The next largest weighed in at 301 pounds. He was killed in Otis with a bow and arrow.
Fall turkey harvest count
During the six-day hunt that occurred from Oct. 26-31, there were only 58 turkeys taken. That total included 28 toms and 30 hens.
According to David Scarpetti, the state Turkey Project Leader, the early spring and summer bad weather really affected both the hatch and the survival rates of the poults. If you remember, May and June of last year were exceptionally cold and wet. That combination made it hard on the young birds.
Cod Fishing
The big cod have moved in and the rod and reel commercial guys are just pounding them.
There are some huge fish being taken out on some of the humps. Us recreational guys can't get out there for another month, but if last year was any indication, this year should continue a nice upward trend.
Dave Sartwell
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/pusports/local_story_060225346.html
Hunting license sales across the country grew by about 3.5 percent according to a recent study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
"Many factors such as weather and the economy affect hunting license sales in any given year, but in 2009 the economy likely had a more significant effect," said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF's director of industry research and analysis. "While the reasons for the 3.5 percent increase are speculative, past research shows that during slowdowns in the nation's economy it is possible that people have more time to hunt and that hunters take the opportunity to fill their freezers with nutritious, high-protein meat acquired at lower cost than if a similar amount was purchased at the supermarket."
According to Southwick Associates, a research firm that monitored the license sales information, license sales got off to a good start in the first half of 2009. In the key turkey hunting month of April, license sales rose by approximately 17 percent over the same month the previous year.
In June, which is the start of the fiscal year in many states and the month when many annual licenses go on sale, sales increased by 16.2 percent. In the latter half of the year, which is when the bulk of hunting activity occurs and most licenses are sold, August and October sales were down, but September, November and December sales were up.
Curcuruto noted the findings were a bright spot when considering national hunting license sales totals from all 50 states showed little change from 2005 through 2007 (the most recent year that figures are available). During that period, license sales have held at approximately 14.5 million annually, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
It is important to note that this information is based on extrapolations from 12 states and that the totals could vary as the final sales numbers come in. But if this trend continues, it could be the largest increase in sales in 20 years.
Lead shot bans
There has been a move by the Humane Society of the United States to get individual states to ban the use of lead shot in hunting.
Both Montana and California have had efforts to outlaw the use introduced in their legislatures. Because there is absolutely no scientific evidence for this effort, one can only conclude this is just another in a series of moves by the HSUS to continue to attack hunting.
In Montana, the Fish, Wildlife and Parks folks rejected the move because it lacked "biological justification." In California, the proposed ban is being attacked on the same grounds. The ads and propaganda materials being produced remind me of the time that the Massachusetts Audubon Society ran absolutely false and unethical ads around trapping in this state. They showed traps that weren't allowed in this state as if these were what the voters were acting on. When I questioned the then-President of the Mass. Audubon, he said he did not control the ads as they were part of a national campaign.
Expect more of the same soon in Massachusetts.
Deer Harvest for 2009
The deer harvest for the fall season was 10,121. Of this total, 4,869 were taken using a shotgun. There were 3,243 animals taken during the archery season and 2,005 harvested by muzzleloaders.
The numbers reveal a continuing upward trend in the amount of bow and muzzleloading hunters in the field. The sport of bow hunting has increased as the number of acres available to shotgun hunters continues to decrease. Here on the North Shore, for example, many landowners are quite willing to let bow hunters work in closer to buildings and in small pieces of woods where using a firearm would be impractical.
Bear Take
The September and November bear seasons in Massachusetts produced a record number of black bears. The total of 168 broke the 2003 record of 153. There was a 17-day season in September where 140 bears were taken and 28 more were harvested in the 18-day season in November.
The largest bear, taken with a rifle in Blanford, weighed in at a hefty 357 pounds. The next largest weighed in at 301 pounds. He was killed in Otis with a bow and arrow.
Fall turkey harvest count
During the six-day hunt that occurred from Oct. 26-31, there were only 58 turkeys taken. That total included 28 toms and 30 hens.
According to David Scarpetti, the state Turkey Project Leader, the early spring and summer bad weather really affected both the hatch and the survival rates of the poults. If you remember, May and June of last year were exceptionally cold and wet. That combination made it hard on the young birds.
Cod Fishing
The big cod have moved in and the rod and reel commercial guys are just pounding them.
There are some huge fish being taken out on some of the humps. Us recreational guys can't get out there for another month, but if last year was any indication, this year should continue a nice upward trend.
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