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Step Outside Eyes A Half-Million Newcomers





NEWTOWN, Conn.—STEP OUTSIDE®, the popular National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) program that helps people get started in hunting, shooting, fishing and archery, is poised to reach a milestone: By the end of the year, the program will have reached a half-million newcomers.

NSSF officials aren’t sure where or when in 2006 the milestone will be reached, but are making plans to celebrate the introduction of the 500,000th new hunter, shooter, angler or archer. Special recognition will be given later this year.

To find a STEP OUTSIDE event in your area, visit www.stepoutside.org.

Launched in 1997, STEP OUTSIDE partners with state fish and wildlife agencies, businesses, clubs and other organizations to assist in hosting recruitment activities, which provide newcomers with a hands-on introduction to America’s outdoor traditions and a vehicle to future participation.

“That’s not only 500,000 people who spent a day learning about hunting, shooting, fishing or archery, but potentially a half-million new lifelong participants of these activities,” said Melissa Schilling, STEP OUTSIDE national coordinator.

A survey conducted last year found the STEP OUTSIDE program has made a significant impact on recruiting newcomers to the outdoors.

As a direct result of their STEP OUTSIDE experiences, 58.5 percent of survey respondents said they continue to participate in target shooting (shotgun), 52.9 percent continue to participate in fishing and 48.5 percent have continued to hunt (shotgun). Others said they have continued to participate in archery (35.6 percent), hunting with a rifle (39.2 percent) and target shooting with a rifle (45.2 percent).

The survey also showed that nearly all STEP OUTSIDE participants are purchasing outdoor sports equipment for their next experiences. When asked if they had purchased outdoor sports equipment in the past year, 91 percent said, “yes,” while 93 percent said they plan to purchase equipment in the next year.

“There are 40 million Americans who participate in hunting and the shooting sports each year. If each of them were to take a STEP OUTSIDE with one person, the results would be astounding,” added Schilling.

To learn more about NSSF’s STEP OUTSIDE program, visit www.stepoutside.org.
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