Hunter Recruitment

Hunter Recruitment: Not Just for Youth
Molly Norlin
4/13/11

For the past several years there has been a steady decrease in the number of hunters from across the nation. Not only is this alarming for game wardens but also for businesses and other hunters. Hunting is a tradition that has been passed down through the generations for ages and it encourages people to get outside and experience nature. Not only is it an important tradition but it is also a 22.1 billion dollar industry, with 14 million participants and 700,000 jobs created (Department of Fish and Game, 2011).
So the real question is how do we recruit and retain more hunters? It is common knowledge that many states implement youth hunts to get kids interested in hunting. This does recruit some hunters but in many instances it does not retain them. Think about it, how is a kid going to be able to afford all the costs associated with hunting? Yes, their parents can help out but if their parents don’t hunt it is hard for a kid to gain access to land and learn skills necessary for successful hunting. If the young person is persistent enough then yes, they may be able to continue the tradition. It is apparent that there are many challenges for youth to adopt the sport without some sort of parental figure helping them. I’m not saying that they are unwilling or do not have an interest, I am just saying that it is very difficult for them to stay in the sport for the rest of their lives. This is especially true when the child’s parents do not participate in the sport because they have no one to answer their questions or help them when needed. Some children may have other family members, friends or neighbors that could help them but in most cases many children do not have that opportunity.
I believe that states should try to recruit both youth and adults as well. If state programs were created to take adults who have never been hunting or who have been hunting only a few times on a hunt I think there would be a better recruitment and retention rate. Each adult could be mentored by a hunter who would teach them the hunting regulations and techniques. The mentor would also be there to answer any questions that the beginner had. Another reason adults would be a good candidate for hunting is their financial status. Most adults have a better chance at being able to afford the costs of hunting and may have their own land or access to others. By recruiting adults there is also the probability of them passing the tradition down to their children, thus recruiting even more hunters. The great part about hunting is that it is very family oriented and allows the parent to be able to experience the hunt with their child and pass on the tradition.
I strongly believe that the youth hunting program works and that it is a successful and necessary way to recruit hunters, but I also think that there should be hunting programs designed to take adults hunting as well. If a program such as this, along with the youth hunting programs, were implemented I believe that hunter recruitment and retention would increase.
Literature Cited:
“The Economic Importance of Hunting.” Department of Fish and Game. CA.gov. Web. April 12, 2011.