Salina ? Fewer hunting licenses are being sold each year in Kansas, a decline some outdoorsmen blame on more choices available for younger generations.

Boone Vidricksen hunted with his father and does same with his son. But the Salina businessman said video games and sports have monopolized time earlier generations spent hunting the perfect game bird or erecting a deer blind.

He sees that in his own son, 19-year-old Boone Jr., a freshman at Kansas State University at Salina, and expects that trend to continue.

“I can see, in the future, it will become more difficult for his children,” the senior Vidricksen said.

The numbers back up his claim.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks sold 20,000 fewer hunting licenses last year than it did in 1990.

Wildlife officials said the declines can also be pinned on fewer acres of hunting land available each year. And land that is available is becoming more expensive as landowners increase the amount they charge to lease the property to hunters.

State officials have tried to get more participation from landowners to open to hunters. Most land enrolled in the state program are in remote western counties. Urban areas remain private and charging higher fees to hunters seeking to buy good opportunities to hunt.

Nationally, the number of hunters fell from 14 million to 13 million between 1996 and 2006 according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fewer hunters means fewer dollars for states. Hunters spent $22.7 billion nationally last year, down 14 percent from 1996. Hunting revenue declines cost Kansas $692,000, said Bob Mathews, a spokesman for the state department.

While the number of Kansans buying licenses have declined, nonresident licenses have increased. Mark Miller, Wildlife and Parks public service executive, said increasing other fees, such as nonresident deer tags, offset some of the declines.

“But looking toward the future, we’ve seen a leveling trend,” Miller said. “Basically we’re at a point where revenue from licenses and permit sales are just barely what we need to run current wildlife and fisheries programs.”

Still, the start of pheasant season means big bucks for Kansas communities. Mathews said figures place the economic impact at $245 million in meals, lodging and supplies.

The Super 8 in Beloit was full for the recent start to the season and is already full for 2008.

“It is probably our busiest weekend, with the exception of Memorial weekend. They usually run head-to-head,” assistant manager Autumn Andreasen said.