| State Agencies Receive Grants Through Hunting Heritage Partnership
NEWTOWN, Conn.—As it has done for the past two years, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has again awarded nearly a half-million dollars in grants to help state agencies expand hunting opportunities. The grants were made through NSSF’s Hunting Heritage Partnership program.
America continues to depend on hunters as the primary funding source for most wildlife and habitat conservation programs. The Hunting Heritage Partnership was established by NSSF, the trade association for the firearm industry, to help state wildlife agencies enhance opportunities for hunting, thus positively affecting conservation for the future.
“Grant recipients in each of these states have designed unique and dynamic recruitment tools that will help carry-on America’s hunting legacy and the conservation funding that relies on it. These are exactly the kind of creative program development concepts that agencies in other states can look to as models to help preserve our hunting and conservation traditions,” said Doug Painter, president of NSSF.
This year, a total of 15 state agencies received $422,868.50 in grant awards from NSSF. The following states were recognized:
Alaska: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game received two grants for two separate hunter recruitment efforts: one for $15,296 and one for $15,000. The first will be used to help identify strategies to recruit new hunters—particularly from the state’s urban areas—and to develop a network of experienced hunters to take newcomers into the field and mentor them. The second will help fund a series of hunting clinics aimed at recruiting new small-game hunters. A brochure promoting small-game hunting opportunities in the state will also be created.
Connecticut: The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection received $11,562.50 to help increase participation of private hunting clubs in the state’s “Junior Pheasant Hunting Day” program. Connecticut officials said 25 more clubs can be added to the program this year because of the grant. This year, the program will give 625 young, beginner hunters the opportunity to hunt in a controlled environment in the company of experienced adult mentors.
Florida: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received $15,000 to help fund a survey and planning efforts for the 2005 Summit on the Future of Hunting in Florida. The survey’s results will play a key role at the summit by asking Florida’s licensed hunters to identify major issues facing the future of hunting in the state. The summit will take place Aug. 11-13 and will bring hunters and organizations together to help secure the state’s hunting heritage.
Indiana: The Indiana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee received $18,110 to create an annual small-game hunting day for Indiana youths. The event will be a first for the state. The program will initially focus on finding organizations willing to participate. Secondarily, it will supply them with the resources to get involved. Pre-hunt and post-hunt analyses will help measure the event’s successes.
Montana: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks received $55,000 for a project designed to enhance waterfowl hunter retention and recruitment. The goal is better understanding the relationship between hunting regulations and hunter participation and satisfaction. Identifying trends associated with regulations and participation, officials said, will be key in making more informed and effective management decisions and will provide a stronger platform for retaining existing hunters and recruiting new hunters.
Nebraska: The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission received $45,000 to develop a “Youth Mentored Hunt Access and Management Program.” The program will provide accessible lands specifically for youth hunting. A Web site will be created to provide a reliable source for youths and their parents and mentors to find locations, schedule site use and determine suitability for specific hunting needs. Once up and running, state officials said, the program would be available as a model for use by other state agencies.
New Hampshire: The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received $32,000 for an advertising campaign aimed at increasing hunter education attendees and awareness of hunting in the state. The state plans to use NSSF’s “Original Outdoor Challenge” advertising campaign on cable television networks, in selected print media and along the Interstate 93 corridor south of Manchester. The campaign is geared toward potential hunters ages 18-35. The state will also conduct follow-up surveys with recent hunter education graduates to gain an understanding of barriers facing the new hunter in New Hampshire and develop and distribute a publication to the graduates about the next steps in becoming a hunter.
North Carolina: The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission received $15,000 to conduct a two-day symposium aimed at increasing hunter participation and retaining existing hunters in the state. During the event, a group of people with wildlife, education and hunting backgrounds will come together to discuss potential solutions, which will ultimately be used to develop a “Hunter Recruitment and Retention Program” tailored to the state of North Carolina.
South Dakota: The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks received $35,000 to increase visibility of the state’s school trust lands available for hunting. The grant will fund the posting of signs on about 700 miles of school trust lands with the greatest hunting-access potential. By marking the boundaries and notifying hunters of the accessible land, state officials said, it will increase hunting opportunities for many species of animals—deer, turkey, antelope and prairie grouse—and will in turn benefit state hunting license sales.
Tennessee: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency received $42,000 to help increase dove hunting opportunities and participation among youths and families in the state. By marketing its Dove Field Lease Program to prospective landowners, the department hopes to increase access for hunters. Also, special dove hunting events for youths and their parents and mentors will be planned, and hunting opportunities will be promoted to recent hunter education graduates as well as youths involved in NSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP).
Texas: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department received $6,000 for hunter education recruitment efforts. The grant will be used to measure the effectiveness of the state’s “Hunter Education Deferral” program, which allows novice hunters ages 17 and older to hunt without completing hunter education for up to one year if they are accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. The grant will also help develop a “Hunter Education Short Course.” The course, to be taught by outside instructors trained by the department’s hunter education staff, would add convenience for potential hunters.
Vermont: The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department received $15,000 to hold a 2-½ day symposium on the future of hunting in Vermont. The project will bring together key organizations and individuals to develop a vision and framework for the recruitment of new hunters, retention of existing hunters and increasing hunting opportunities in the state.
Virginia: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries received $36,400 to create an interactive, Internet-based mapping program that will provide users with all they need to know about hunting opportunities in Virginia. The site will include statewide public hunting land locations, wildlife management areas and leased lands, game species information and densities, historical harvest data, hunting regulations, aerial photography, and topographic and road maps. The grant will also be used to expand outreach and promotional efforts to prospective hunting groups, including youths, novices and female hunters.
Wyoming: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department received $35,000 to supplement its “Private Lands, Public Wildlife” program. Funds will go directly to promotional and educational materials for the program, which works with private landowners to gain access to private or landlocked public lands. Since 1998, the program has added 354 landowners and 482,396 acres for walk-in hunting access, and 578,672 acres in hunter management areas.
Thirty proposals from 21 state agencies were submitted to the Hunting Heritage Partnership.
In 2003 and 2004, the program issued almost $1,000,000 in grants to 25 states.
Receiving grants for a second time are New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming, which were recipients in 2004. Connecticut, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas received grants in 2003.
States receiving grants for the first time are South Dakota, Alaska, Montana, North Carolina and Florida.
On behalf of America's active and inactive hunters, NSSF continues to work with the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and members of Congress to provide states with additional funding opportunities through the Hunting Heritage Partnership.
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