“While we have a long way to go, we are proud of the successes we have seen these past few years and look forward to what we can accomplish in 2018,” said Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO. “This is not a problem that will be solved by the few. It will take everyone working together to combat those declining numbers.”
The National Hunting and Shooting Sports Plan, facilitated by the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, calls for increased numbers participating in and supporting hunting and the shooting sports.
New target audiences for the NWTF and its partners include families, church groups, millennials, college students, urbanites, professional societies, locavores and farmers’ market shoppers, as research shows involving adults in learn-to-hunt activities is sustainable. Adults have the resources to enable them to hunt, the decision-making power to continue to hunt, likely take more away from each learn-to-hunt encounter and they naturally will bring their children through the process, as well.
Through collaboration with its partners, such as state agencies, Pheasants Forever, Quality Deer Management Association and Ducks Unlimited, the NWTF is expanding its efforts across the country to provide educational events followed by multiple opportunities to hunt as well as mentor training, a major component to providing a social support and educational network for new hunters.
The National R3 Symposium is scheduled for May 21-23 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and will provide a forum for serious discussion and collaboration around the R3 movement.
The National R3 Symposium is the first nation-wide event solely focused on resources and partnerships needed to secure the future of hunting, angling, target shooting, and boating. This meeting is the premier venue for the outdoor community to advance the field of outdoor recreation recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) in the United States.
“The National R3 Symposium will provide an unparalleled opportunity for state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, outdoor recreation industries and conservation organizations to share, learn and develop opportunities for our community to advance and accelerate the current state of R3 efforts,” said John Frampton, President and CEO of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports.
Participation in hunting and recreational shooting has been generally declining since the 1980’s. Hunting license sales produce valuable funding each year for wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, while hunter expenditures generate billions of dollars annually for the national economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Development and use of partnerships and strategic models must continue to be utilized to halt and reverse the declining trend in hunting participation.
If the downward participation trend continues, it will result in diminished capacity to conserve species cherished by hunters and all outdoor enthusiasts. The threat is real. But from the crucible of crisis opportunity emerges — to ensure that wildlife conservation remains fueled by hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts.
RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND REACTIVATION, “R3” is an important issue for anyone concerned about wildlife management, conservation and the future of our hunting traditions. Learn more at www.utnwtf.org.
Come and join in the fun of a local National Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage Super Fundraising Banquet. The NWTF banquets are where you can buy exclusive merchandise, participate in live and silent auctions and have a great time with friends and fellow supporters of the “Great Outdoors”. All the while, you will be raising vital funds for wild turkey conservation and important programs that introduce the outdoors to men, women, children and the disabled. Here is a list of banquets for the NWTF Chapters in Utah:
March 3rd
- Nephi - Lynn Worwood, (801-368-5834) Dave Worwood, (435-580-9004) -- Tags: Wasatch Mountain Bull Elk (A/W), Statewide Turkey, Central Turkey (2).
- Cedar City – Ron MacIntosh, (435-463-0269) – Tags: Patnguitch Lake Elk (A/W), La Sal Bear (Multi-Season), Southern Turkey (2).
March 23rd
- St. George - Kent Danjanovich, (801-231-9838) -- Tags: Bull Elk Beaver East (A/W), Mt. Dutton/Paunsagant Pronghorn Landowner Tag, Southern Turkey.
March 30th
- Roosevelt - Kevin Richens, (435-823-0391) -- Tags: Bull Elk Book Cliffs Bitter Creek/South (A/W), Buck Deer South Slope Diamond Mountain (Season Choice), Yellowstone Bear, Northeastern Turkey (2).
April 6th
- Heber - Chris Bullock, (435-731-0107) -- Tags: Buck Deer Book Cliffs (Archery).
April 7th
- Spanish Fork – Chris Brittain, (801-472-3623) - Tags: Cougar Wasatch Mountain, Currant Creek and Wasatch Mountain West (L/E).
April 20th
- Logan – Jeramy Ellis, (435-230-4672) – Tags: Cougar Chalk Creek/Kamas, East Canyon and Morgan (L/E).
May 5th
- Lehi - Clay Shelton, (801-358-1715) – Tags: Buck Deer Book Cliffs North & South (A/W), Central Turkey, Southern Turkey.
*(A/W) Any weapon
**(L/E) Late or early
Check out the NWTF website at www.nwtf.org for more information on these banquets and many more from around the country. Regional Director, Rick Brittain (801-722-4885). www.utnwtf.org
