I don’t have any stats but anecdotally we will run out of access to huntable lands before we run out of willing hunters. Meaning I don’t ever envision a day where hunting land doesn’t have a “consumer”.
well, I am in PA< we have tons of public land, and you can often find it empty, even opening day of rifle deer season, there are tons of p[laces NO one goes near, and after opening day anymore, its almost empty all over! the land is locked up tight to remain public land too, so never developed(well as things are now any how)
I used to hunt 7 states or so a yr, and I never ever had a issue finding public land without crowds
yes i fully get some states are way different, but, there not that way every where!
the hunters i do encounter are NEVER young one's either, and I mean teens and early 20's
I just DON"T see them any more
when I had my gun shop, the only guns sold to younger guys were more NON hunting type guns,. as well!, and the more MOVIE like they looked the faster they sold for me!, was very little interest o talk about HUNTING, or traditions
as a FACT, when talking public lands, here in PA< most will BASH them and out right refuse to use them, which just leaves more acres open to those willing to put forth effort
it seems most YOUNG hunters only want to hunt private lands here, or that's all I ever hear them talk about!
and even of the private lands, they DON"T normally own them, but family does, and when they loose that land, they QUIT hunting, or a lot of them have I have talked with!, the drive to HUNT isn;t there, they just go out opening days and such, cause its like something to do, but no real passion in them for it!
Archery hunters are more dedicated these days than Gun hunters IMO as well!
there is some die hards left in the archery world ,or seems like way more there, than in the gun seasons
small game hunters are RARE any more in all but the best states with Pheasants left!
was a time when almost every hunter had a bird dog, now??
honestly how many actually have one? and HUNT it on UPLAND game
still some die hard waterfowl hunters in SOME states, just like good pheasant dogs in some sates, but over all across the USA< bid dogs that HUNT are also a dying breed! literally!