Fewer deer hunters predicted this year - Opening on a Tuesdays

Fewer hunters predicted this year

This Tuesday marked the opening of deer season in the state of Michigan.  On a Tuesday?  This year would have been the year my kid and I shared opening day together.  Some of the best memories of my life were on opening day with my father and brothers.  But this year on opening day my son would be sitting in school.  I can't tell you how disappointed he was when I finally broke the news to him that opening day was on a Tuesday and he wouldn't be able to participate in it.  They predict fewer deer hunters this year?  I wonder who made that obvious prediction.

I am sure many fathers and sons across the state of Michigan experienced this same type of disappointment and frustration. 

Fewer deer hunters - from 698,000 in 2010 to 675,000 in 2011

The average person may not realize how the 16-day firearm deer season helps boost areas of the Michigan economy.  Hunting licenses cost money, lodging cost money, food hunters eat cost money.  The economy of the state of Michigan is already in rough enough shape.  Why not use a little common sense and foresight.  Hunters love opening day but people also have jobs they need to be at and the fathers who want to take their kids out are stuck with the decision, "do I let my kid skip school?".

So if there are 25,000 fewer hunting licenses being purchased how much will the state of Michigan lose relative to the 2010 season?  If the hunting season opened over the weekend, I think a conservative estimate of how much one hunter would spend on a licenses, lodging, and food is right around $250.  Now times $250 by 25,000 hunters, so the state of Michigan is losing millions.  

Obviously, when the state puts opening day smack in the middle of the week that will only decrease the number of hunters that participate, that means less money put into our states struggling economy.  And it means families are missing out on memories together.

If you are one of the lucky ones who will be hunting check out my hunting apps page.  These are apps for hunters, using iphone or android.  The "game call" app really impressed me