Hunter, angler recruitment gets help from state grants

Our sport’s in trouble, sure, but what are you going to do about it?

Hunting’s been on the decline for decades now. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there were 11.5 million hunters in the nation in 2016, or about 4 percent of the population. Hunting numbers peaked in 1982, when there were about 17 million hunters.

A major factor is that us Baby Boomers (those of us born between 1946 and 1964, when World War II GIs returned home and began making up for lost time) are getting old and abandoning the sport. Those not simply dying of old age are setting their deer rifles and grouse shotguns down because they just can’t get around like they once did.

This is certainly one reason why crossbows are so popular here in Wisconsin and many other states. Some aging hunters can’t draw a vertical bow like they could when they were younger.

Some of us may give back to the sport by simply taking our kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews or neighbor kids hunting with us. This alone is vital and is certain to keep that spark alive. It’s also no secret that America’s reached zero population growth. Slightly more people are dying each year than are being born, at least in those demographics that tend to make up most hunting groups.

I’ve taught hunter safety classes since about 1986 or so, first in Dubuque, Iowa, then in Rock Island, Illinois, for a huge, two-state effort that taught about 250 kids at a time from both Iowa and Illinois, using more than 80 instructors. Students would rotate through about a dozen different stations during the one-day class, meaning each of us instructors had to teach the same lesson 12 times.

Today, I help teach in Waupaca in a similar effort that utilizes about a dozen instructors, with students rotating through many stations. The difference is that our Wisconsin students have already taken an extensive online course, and then take the hands-on field course as the finale to see if they learned well.

Once again, our nearly 600,000 firearms deer hunters had no fatalities during the nine-day season, although there were at least five non-fatal shooting accidents (most were self-inflicted). Mandated hunter safety classes and blaze orange (or blaze pink) clothing are credited for this incredible safety record.

We need to do much more to find and recruit hunters. Hunter safety classes are for those who already show an interest in our sport and have someone to shepherd them into its flock. What about those thousands of kids and adults who would love to try hunting, but don’t know anyone who will take them?

I frequently ask co-workers and acquaintances if they hunt. Many say no, and when they do, I ask if they’ve ever considered it or why they don’t hunt. I offer to take them hunting just to see what it’s all about. I’ve gotten others interested in hunting, but I still don’t think I’m doing nearly what I could to recruit.

I don’t own my own hunting land, but do have access to a muzzleloading club that is hoping to increase its educational outreach. That’s where a grant program comes in, one that’s available to clubs as well as individuals.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has $200,000 in federal Wildlife Restoration Funds from the Pittman-Robertson excise tax on firearms and ammunition for hunter recruitment and $75,000 in Sport Fish Restoration Funds from the Dingell-Johnson or Wallop-Breaux excise tax on fishing equipment, trolling motors and other gear for angler recruitment. The application deadline is Jan. 3.

The Hunter R3 Grant Program, previously called the Hunter Recruitment, Development, Training and Education Grant Program, seeks both proven and new ideas for recruitment, retention and “reactivation” from local clubs, organizations, communities, governments, individuals, tribes, colleges and universities. That’s pretty much anyone who has an idea.

The state will reimburse up to 75% of total eligible project costs. It’s not possible to get the money in advance. Preference is given to projects that seek to increase diversity in the hunting and angling populations (focusing on adults, families, women and minorities). Program coordinator Emily Iehl says novice hunters and fishermen need seasoned sportsmen to teach them.

Visit dnr.wi.gov/aid/hunterrecruit.html for more information.

What can you, your club and your community do to help hunting and fishing? Plenty. Non-hunters and non-anglers will ultimately decide the future of our sports, but if we can raise interest in them, we might just be able to save them.

Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.