What I have been seeing is very interesting in that at first it flies in the face of logic. With the economy the way it is everyone seems to be cutting back on their expenses. Yet Several of the past Springer trials have had record high entry numbers. This seemed strange until I was talking to several guys at our monthly practice this past weekend. It seems while people are cutting out un-necessary things, they are re-directing that money to things that they can afford. Two of the guys have given up deer leases, citing increasing costs that make it unaffordable. One guy gave up Cowboy's season tickets and he is a diehard fan.
So it seems that people are bargain shopping and the dog games are winning!

I can let the judges use my Gator in a NSTRA trial, and run two days for free. It would be around a $600 weekend if I hunted wild bobwhite quail.

Is David Jones still involved in Springer trials? I've hunted with him.

Exactly what I did. Gave up my deer lease, bought a few more dogs, started guiding, trialing, and hunt testing. No sure I have saved any money overall, but I have year round activity and regular doggie kisses. What a deal, huh?

Bill
David is still around he was from what I saw, inactive for a while with the Springers. He kinda got off on a tangent with Hog hunting and hog dogs. I did see him at the Houston trial back in November running a puppy. I think he was trying to sell pups but hadn't had a title in so long people were questioning his dogs abilities so he jumped back in.

Brian I think you got a bad case of Birddoggitis. The only cure is to go hunting.

I'm going to a field trial next weekend in OK. Trying to get Sparky in better shape, running him about 5-8 miles every other day. This is not running on his own, it's me driving and him hauling arse.

Believe me, he sleeps good on those days. I'll get him a harness next year and tie some weight to it (like a 6-7 foot welding cable) so we don't have to go so far.

That's not the trend in all areas. I know some retriever hunt tests that had to be cancelled due to low entries. I think a lot of it has to do with the area. Some areas/professions have been hit harder than others.

Food for thought... nationwide, hunting license and firearm sales are up significantly. Just another interesting trend.

I think that a large number of ranchers are feeling the crunch of increased expenses. They in turn put the squeeze on the deer hunters. I don't have a lease but know people that do. Many are just giving up their leases. That recreational cash will go somewhere.