Here in Nova Scotia, doubles are scarce. Of the younger generation, many don't know they exist. At the gun store in my area there isn't a double on the racks. The owner says he couldn't sell one if he had one.
Recruiting? My nephew, an experienced goose and duck hunter, is in his mid-40s and sort of coming around to doubles, asking questions about steel shot, etcetera, inquiring about costs. I've baptised no one.
There are few young gunners, most are in the mid 50s to 70-some around here. No fault of the birds, there are plenty to go around. But gunning is tough going around here and most would rather sleep in the morning.
Another factor is consumerism, that the new and bigger is better. Gander at the length of shotshells and those new rifle calibres in the gun magazines. Ask if they're better than the old 2 3/4 standard and 250 Savage and 7 X 57.
A great grandfather in my 80s, I have a fair few good guns and none of my large family is interested in them. They're not for killing. I'm something to be tolerated, the last of the line who make no apologies for killing.
So, Adam, make what you will of it. All I can say is nothing is certain and things change on a dime these days. I don't think there will be another golden age of gunning. I've seen the best of it. Tomorrow I'll be checking fox and coyote snares. And that's going, too.
