Thanks guys. I appreciate the information.
Here in the US we seem to have much easier access to hunting and guns. It varies based on state. I live in NY, which is one of the most restrictive states in terms of firearms.
Even in my area though, there is a good amount of public land for hunting. A lot of people hunt private land because it is easier to access. Game is regulated by season (which is different for each state depending on the different populations of the particular game animal). We also have some restrictions on what can be used to hunt certain animals (mostly for fair chase reasons). For example, in my state I can only hunt turkey with shotgun. For waterfowl you can only use a shotgun and can only load two shells in the tube and one in the chamber (Federal regulation). A lot of predators you can hunt at night, but other game is typically during daylight only.
To get a hunting license you have to take a free 2 day Hunter Safety class. After that you can just buy your license from the store. In my state you can get small game license, and big game license, which comes with two deer tags, one bear tag and four turkey tags (two Spring and two Fall). Other states tend to have more relaxed regulations and allow elk and moose hunting as well. You can bow hunt, which offers you an extended hunting season, but you need to take another Hunter Safety class that is specific to bow hunting. You can then buy a bow hunting license.
Firearm laws are separate from the hunting regulations. My state being one of the most restrictive ones when it comes to guns, I need a special permit for a handgun. Otherwise, for shotguns and rifles I can just go to the store and buy them. The hunting regulations on the weapons don't actually apply to ownership of the firearms. While I can only hunt waterfowl with a shotgun that is limited to two rounds in the tube, I can own a shotgun with as much ammunition capacity as I want. They sell plugs for the tube which will make it hunting legal.
Hunting seems to be much more accepted and widely spread here in the US than it is in the UK. Unfortunately, even here, as more people move into the cities, fewer people hunt. I fear that it is a skill that will be lost to future generations.