Awards Grants to Eight States

Funds Earmarked for Enlisting and Retaining Hunters

NEWTOWN, Conn. — For the fifth consecutive year, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has awarded grants to states for projects aimed at the recruitment and retention of hunters.

"We awarded these grants based on the strengths of the concepts presented to carry on our hunting traditions, by adding to the ranks of hunters and encouraging current hunters to continue their participation," said Doug Painter, president of the NSSF.

The 2007 Hunting Heritage Partnership grants totaled $466,625. To date, the program has awarded more than $2.1 million to state agencies.

This year's grant recipients include:

Georgia Department of Natural Resources—$35,000

Project: To increase hunting participation by investigating factors related to hunting license sales increases in 1992, 1999 and 2004, against 12 other years of hunting license sales decline, from 1990 to 2005.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks—$45,500

Project: Develop an understanding of landowner attitudes in the populated areas of eastern Kansas, and expand the proven "Walk-in Hunting Access" program to increase opportunities to hunt on private land in that part of the state.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks—$59,000

Project: To increase participation of lapsed big game hunters and youths who have been certified in hunter safety, who live in the same households, through targeted communications.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation—$25,000

Project: To conduct a comprehensive communications campaign aimed at recruiting new hunters, and to encourage them to purchase an Apprentice Hunting License. Goal is to recruit 10,000 new hunters in the first year these licenses are offered.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources—$71,000

Project: To increase hunting license sales through a detailed, integrated hunter recruitment and retention campaign based on comprehensive market research.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

The state received grants for two separate projects.

Project #1--$65,000
Continue to provide thousands of men, women and youths the opportunity to take part in a traditional Tennessee dove hunt. Over the last two years, the agency has made available hundreds of public fields for dove hunting, open multiple days, across the state.

Project #2—$86,125
To increase hunting license sales through implementation of an integrated marketing campaign. Specifically, to encourage lapsed deer hunting license buyers to buy one or more types of deer hunting licenses in 2007. The campaign will also attempt to get 2006 license buyers to upgrade the type of license they buy in 2007.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife—$40,000

Project: To recruit and retain upland bird and waterfowl hunters through improved hunting opportunities. To increase public access to quality small game hunting on public and private land through the newly established "Quality Hunting Sites" program.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department—$40,000

Project: To continue the Private Lands Public Access Program, which maintains or enhances public access to private and landlocked public lands for hunting. The department enrolls private landowners in either a "Walk-in Hunting" or "Hunter Management Area" program.

Twenty-two proposals from 20 states were submitted this year to the Hunting Heritage Partnership judging committee of the NSSF.

Georgia and Kansas received grants for the first time. Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington received grants for the second time. Wyoming received a grant for the fourth time. Tennessee has received a total of six grants.

Formed in 1961, the NSSF's mission is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and in delivering programs and services to meet the identified needs of our members. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.