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Privately owned hunting land is contributing to the death of the great sport and tradition of hunting. I am approaching the age of thirty, and in my life time as a hunter, I have seen more and more land closed to the public. Ugly yellow "POSTED" signs are popping up everywhere.
Jealousy and greed are two driving forces behind the privatization of hunting land. Everyone wants to shoot a trophy, and because of that, a profit can be made by owning prime hunting land. Land leases to hunting outfitters is constantly growing in popularity. Smaller land owners closing their land to others and hoping to keep the trophies for themselves is another growing trend. As more land is being closed to the public, the remaining open areas are becoming more crowded. As the public land becomes more crowded, the game becomes less available. Soon, all us paupers will be once again "shooting the king's deer."

My family has hunted for generations. On our own land, on the land of others, anywhere that it was safe and game could be found. Now, we are being pushed into a corner. Limited access to land is putting a pinch on a long-lasting family tradition. Some family members have booked trips with outfitters, hunting leased land, buying into the growing system of paying to hunt. I will pay no more than my license fee to hunt. It would be immoral. My license fee goes to manage the game that is on the privately owned and "POSTED" land, and I believe I should have the right to hunt what I pay to preserve.
If the "pay to hunt" trend continues, hunting will once again be the sport of kings, enjoyed only by wealthy trophy-seekers. The backbone of the hunting community, generations that hunted for the meat as well as the sport, the camaraderie as well as competition, and simply for the joy of being out in nature, will be slowly extinguished until there are no more. And when they are gone, the great sport and tradition won't be far behind.

Learn more about this author, Greg Rogers.
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