I remember my first deer like it was yesterday. I shot that buck with my .243 Win, and watched as it disappeared into the brambles. An hour later, moving on hands and knees, I followed drops of blood until I seen a tail, body, and eventually a rack up ahead. I shed a tear as I shared in the moment with my father and grandfather.
It saddens me so few experience that today. Unfortunately, the winds are changing. Fewer people are hunting. Even fewer are helping to introduce new hunters to the sport. Many challenges are to blame. People have no shortage of activities to choose from. More people are staying indoors. American demographics are changing. For many reasons, we can no longer recruit hunters the way we once did.
So, how do we define Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3)? That’s a big question. But there are certain programs that are trying to overcome the challenges. Here are some of the most successful hunter recruitment Programs and resources in the country.
1. National Archery in the Schools (NASP)
The National Archery in the Schools (NASP) program is one of the most successful youth-based programs in the country. It doesn’t focus on hunting, mind you, but it does introduce people to the outdoor lifestyle. Oftentimes, those who enter this program later find hunting.
Learn more: https://www.naspschools.org
2. Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP)
Another youth-based effort, the Scholastic Clay Target Program is an excellent avenue to introduce young shooters to shotguns. This program is ideal for engaging them in shooting sports, safe gun handling, and more.
Learn more: https://mysctp.com
3. Let’s Go Shooting
The Let’s Go Shooting program by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is another great asset. This program helps others to learn about numerous things, including gun safety, shooting, hunting and more. This is part of the +ONE Movement.
Learn more: https://www.letsgoshooting.org
4. Let’s Go Hunting
Similarly, the NSSF hosts the Let’s Go Hunting initiative, too. It helps teach all aspects of hunting, including small game, big game, upland birds, waterfowl, and more. It also places emphasis on wild game as a good food source. This too is part of the +ONE Movement.
Learn more: https://www.letsgohunting.org
5. Field to Fork
The Field to Fork program, hosted by the National Deer Association (NDA), is a significant asset to R3. This is a food-focused hunter recruitment initiative that caters to non-hunting adults who come from non-hunting backgrounds.
Learn more: https://deerassociation.com/field-to-fork/
spaces is a big focus in the future of R3.
6. Staying on Target Program
Driven by Whitetails Unlimited, the Staying on Target Program is designed to introduce youth to archery and keep them engaged in the sport. This effort’s goal is to create long-term shooters, and eventually, hunters.
Learn more: https://www.whitetailsunlimited.com/conservation/staying-on-target/index.phtml
7. M.U.L.E.Y Program
A great work by the Mule Deer Foundation, the M.U.L.E.Y. Program works to accomplish several important goals. Some of these include teaching respect for wildlife, proper understanding of shooting and hunting, legal hunting, ethical hunting, and more.
Learn more: https://muledeer.org/outreach/
8. JAKES Program
The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is the proud parent of the JAKES program. Born in 1981, it helps pass on the ways of safe and ethical hunting, as well as habitat management. It’s focus is young hunters.
Learn more: https://www.nwtf.org/programs/jakes-program
9. Learn to Hunt and Field-to-Fork Clinics
The NWTF also hosts Learn to Hunt and Field-to-Fork clinics. These former options focus on educating people on how to hunt. The latter places an emphasis on turning harvested game into healthy, locally sourced meat.
Learn more: https://www.nwtf.org/programs/learn-to-hunt-field-to-fork-clinics
10. Wheelin’ Sportsmen
The Wheelin’ Sportsmen program is an NWTF effort to provide hunting and other outdoors opportunities to those who are mobility impaired and who need additional assistance to engage with the outdoors.
Learn More: https://www.nwtf.org/programs/wheelin-sportsmen
11. Women in the Outdoors
Another NWTF special, the Women in the Outdoors program provides outreach for women who are aspiring to the outdoor lifestyle. This program offers events and resources to help women engage with hunting and conservation.
Learn more: https://www.nwtf.org/programs/women-in-the-outdoors
12. First Hunt
The largest waterfowl hunter recruitment program in North America, First Hunt by Delta Waterfowl has hosted 271 of these events. These help introduce new hunters to waterfowling and showcase the lifestyle.
Learn more: https://deltawaterfowl.org/first-hunt/
13. University Hunting Program
The University Hunting Program, also ran by Delta Waterfowl, focuses on introducing waterfowl conservation efforts to college students. It also provides a detailed education on waterfowl hunting.
Learn more: https://deltawaterfowl.org/deltas-university-hunting-program/
The Future of R3
Just because certain programs have experienced some success doesn’t mean we’ve perfected the effort. In fact, we have much still to learn, important changes to make, and many things to do differently.
Historically, programs have been one-and-done resources. That’s a mistake. We must continue to nurture new hunters. At least, do so long enough until they can maintain themselves as hunters.
Demographics is an area of concern, too. Maintaining youth programs is important. It can’t be ignored. It should continue. However, strong evidence shows it shouldn’t be the primary focus. According to a report by Delta Waterfowl (https://deltawaterfowl.org/hunter-recruitment-are-we-doing-it-right/), this approach alone will no longer sustain hunter numbers.
Instead, it’s more important, and more effective, to target young adults in their 20s and 30s. Finding these age demographics in areas with attitudes and hearts open to hunting offers the most potential for R3 success.
This is true for several reasons. First, once introduced, they are able to sustain their own hunting efforts, whereas youth hunters cannot do so on their own. They’re reliant on an adult, which creates an obstacle, and sometimes, an all-out barrier.
Focusing more efforts on adults can produce more fruit. Additionally, not only are adults able to sustain themselves as hunters but also have the means to do so. This also increases funding for conservation, which primarily comes from hunting licenses, tags, and excise taxes on certain gun- and hunting-specific goods.
Furthermore, by recruiting adults, you’re might also recruit future youth hunters. Data shows that recruited adults deliver a higher chance of recruiting their own children than existing hunters have of recruiting children with non-hunting parents.”
So, should we cancel youth hunting programs, according to NSSF, (https://www.nssf.org/shooting/youth-college-programs/)? Not at all. Bolster these even more. But it’s crucial to begin offering more college programs and to start ramping up adult programs that are proving to create and retain more hunters now and over the long haul.
Additionally, we must re-think how we do R3. Right now, there are very few parameters to measure success. The effort is very broad-brush, and this must become a micro-tuned effort with clear benchmarks that measure success or failure.
It’s also clear there should be a focus from creating new hunters to instead creating new archers and firearms shooters. Then, with these foundations, they are more likely to turn to hunting. And even if they don’t, they’ll purchase excise-tax goods that in turn fund conservation efforts.
Lastly, businesses in the archery, firearms, and hunting spaces must pick up the baton. Some are engaged in recruitment efforts, but too few are. It’s time businesses that have vested interests (new and more customers) help create that pool of business. It takes all of us, and will continue to in the decades to come. Hunting and conservation depend on it. Wildlife depends on it.
Great R3 Resources
There is an endless supply of Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) resources available to mentors and mentees. Each of the leading conservation organizations offer great tools. Some of these include:
NSSF’s How to Get Started Hunting (https://www.nssf.org/hunting/get-started-hunting/)
NSSF’s Where to Shoot (https://www.nssf.org/shooting/where-to-shoot/)
NSSF’s Where to Hunt (https://www.nssf.org/hunting/where-to-hunt/)
NDA’s Deer Steward Course (https://deerassociation.com/steward/)
NDA’s Deer Hunting 101 Course (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRqSDbpi6cRYjNDg8y-bhKkIaKQS9DATl)
WU’s DEER Program (https://www.whitetailsunlimited.com/conservation/deer-program/)
WU’s HOPE for Wildlife (https://www.whitetailsunlimited.com/conservation/hope-for-wildlife/)
RMEF’s Outdoor Class (https://rmef.org/outdoorclass/)
Today’s Hunter Deer Hunting 101 Online Course (https://www.todayshunter.com/deer101/)
