Data compiled in 2011 indicated that the number of hunters in the U.S. continues to rise slowly, perhaps ending a 35-year-long decline. In an excellent piece, Patrick Durkin of the greenbaypressgazette.com speculates on whether this is a long-term trend, and on why this is happening now.

"If you’re hoping for simple answers, forget it. It’s likely a combination of several social and economic factors, such as more free time for some to hunt because of higher unemployment, and more opportunities to hunt for those with more expendable income. Perhaps the most interesting factor, however, is a noticeable increase in people who hunt “to obtain a natural or ‘green’ food, as well as to supplement food budgets.”

Silver linings can be thin, but Durkin references Michael Pollan’s 2006 book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” as a great molder of the "locavore" movement, then juxtaposes this with Stephen Kellert's Yale University study on the motivations of hunters, showing "meat" as the second biggest motivator of hunters, behind "sport and recreation." (Some years earlier, it ranked last in the Kellert's list of motivators.) And the profile of the hunter has changed. Other research indicated "today’s new hunters are slightly more often female, younger, suburban and in college or the military." (my emphasis)

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20130928/GPG0204/309280418/Patrick-Durkin-column-More-people-hunting-legitimate-way-obtain-meat
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This article confirms the changing face of hunters in the United States that has been going on for several years. Other studies and anecdotal evidence indicates that females come to the sport at older ages than males; the latter being inculcated at a very young age by (usually) the father; the former as a teen or young adult, through the tutelage of a male family member or SO. But to this has to be added the growing number of single head-of-households where the mother may be taking on the socialization duties.
The Hunger Games has a basis in reality after all.

Got a good buck early November in Coryell Co., and will try to add to it over the holiday. The area along the Nueces River is lousy with turkeys, so I'm taking an 870 and a box of #6s as well. Beautiful foothills of the SW Hill Country is a game corridor. The folks at Bouldin Creek Cafe (vegetarian restaurant!) in Austin have already placed their "orders" for any excess, horns & turkey feathers. My freezer is already loaded up, so late gifts are in the offing! Have a good Christmas, everyone.

Run ads by gun safe/lock box companies.

Millions of folks can tune in and get a message that can "save lives" by encouraging safe firearm storage. Some DU gun controllers have advocated laws requiring safe storage. But why wait for the machinations of politics to run its course state-by-state? In effect, a national campaign can be started, appealing to a huge demographically viable audience with little delay and zero -0- cost to taxpayers.

What do you think?

The top two major-party candidates for state-wide office of any state are women? It's happening now.

In Texas.

Can anyone think of another instance?

as per Skinner's ATA response on Monday. During the exception period, for the most part the stuff in GD amounted to local stories of shootings & misadventures posted as an excuse to condemn, smear and encourage male anatomy criticisms of gun-owners in general and DU members in particular. Though late in coming, this decision may improve the overall atmosphere of DU, and might lead to a more respectable dialog regarding the Second Amendment.

this Friday her intentions to run for office. In the same manner as Wendy Davis, Van de Putte will "announce when she will announce." It is widely expected she will seek the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor, a powerful office in the state of Texas.

Sen. Van de Putte famously "adjusted" a Grover Norquist expression to say the GOP wanted to "shrink Texas government so it would fit inside a woman's vagina," referencing the ultra sound legislation passed in the state.

Edit to add source (not linked) KUT.org

BBC JUST NOW: Nadya is out if contact with her husband and friends. The state claims she is in "transit" to another prison, but her supporters worry due to her poor health after going on a hunger strikes.

One of the "ranchita's" owners will get the pre-dawn start, I'll get the p.m. time up on the mesa. Looking for 71° high, sunny, NE wind. As I write this, the rain in Austin has been non-stop since midnight; nice light show. Rain tapers on Halloween. Between deer both stuffing their guts after the rain and looking to get laid, I should stumble onto something to fill the freezer!

Starry, starry night.

There are many reasons why the Navy Yard shootings did not resonate with the public as the Sandy Hook tragedy did; I have speculated & posted on this previously. But another possible reason came into focus during discussions: Any call for bans was throttled because the banner belief system ran head-long into gun-owner "buying" activism.

Specifically, if controller/banners truly believe that "more guns = more crime," and any calls by elites in office and in MSM for gun bans & restrictions spur more gun/ammo purchasing (as happened after Sandy Hook), then the constructive thing to do is to zip it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there were no wrap-around-the-block lines at gun shows, no runs on ammunition, after the Navy Yard killings. And there were no calls for banning anything, either.

This could be a curious but fundamental turn in the "gun debate" where one side has to mute its most impassioned calls for bans lest they start "putting out the fire with gasoline." (Apologies to David Bowie)

Right now on NPR. Fallows argues that much of MSM's approach to the shutdown reflects their fears of being attacked for having a liberal bias, and will not see the crisis as essentially the politics of the GOP's right wing. This is the second day in which Fallow's commentary has been carried by NPR.