HHP Grant Recipients

This section features brief descriptions of state agencies' winning HHP proposals. Unless noted, descriptions show what was proposed, not what resulted. We provide no analysis of results. State agencies can use this section to learn about types of HHP projects undertaken nationwide, while giving them a chance to network and discuss projects of interest.

2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

2003: MORE THAN $500,000 AWARDED

Alabama - Youth dove hunting: Alabama received $26,000 for its mentored youth dove hunting program which, before receiving this grant, had introduced more than 778 young people to the excitement and traditions of hunting. With 43 percent of these youth being first-time shooters, the program has been recognized by experts as one of the most successful new hunter recruitment programs in the nation.
Contact: Ericha Shelton-Nix, wildlife biologist, (334) 358-0035, Ericha.Shelton@dcar.alabama.gov, or Gary Moody, chief, Wildlife Section, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, (334) 242-3469, gmoody@dcnr.state.al.us

Connecticut - Funding pheasants: Connecticut received $10,625 to provide pheasants to private fish and game clubs that sponsor special Junior Pheasant Hunting Days. This program, a partnership effort between the state agency and private clubs, allows young Connecticut hunters between the ages of 12 and 16 the opportunity to participate in a pheasant hunt without the pressure of other hunters and provides valuable safety training for junior licensed hunters.
Contact: Dave Kubas, western district coordinator, Conservation Education/Firearm Safety Program, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, (860) 675-8141, david.kubas@po.state.ct.us

Georgia - Direct-mail campaign: Georgia received $2,600 for a special direct mail campaign to remind and encourage current and new hunters to purchase a hunting license and take advantage of the Peach State's many hunting opportunities. This program will include efforts to ascertain the percentage of lapsed hunters and the percentage of hunter education graduates that take up hunting. [NSSF awarded this grant to Georgia, but due to circumstances beyond the agency's control, the agency wasn't able to accept or act on the grant.]
Contact: John W. Bowers, senior wildlife biologist, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, (770) 761-3044

Indiana - Youth pheasant hunts: Indiana received $59,750 to create a pilot program to test effective recruitment and retention strategies for youth through two youth pheasant hunts. The goal is to increase participation among young hunter education course graduates with little or no social support for hunting.
Contact: Mark Reiter, public lands program manager, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, (317) 232-8129, mreiter@dnr.in.gov

Iowa - Hunt Master: Iowa received $7,000 for the Hunt Master program which provides physically challenged sportsmen with greater hunting opportunities through the use of the portable hydraulic hunting blind called a Hunt Master. Grant funds will allow Iowa to double the number of Iowa sportsmen served by the department by making available a second unit covering other areas of the state and reducing transportation time.
Contact: Rod Slings, recreation safety programs supervisor, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, (515) 281-8652, rod.slings@dnr.state.ia.us

Massachusetts - Youth Hunt Program: Massachusetts received $19,000 for the Youth Hunt Program that provides young sportsmen and women hunting opportunities they might not otherwise have. Grant funds will allow the state to double the number of young sportsmen and women taking part in the program and fund development of a Youth Hunt Kit, which will be used to promote youth hunts through partnerships with sportsmen's clubs.
Contact: Mark Tisa, assistant director of fisheries, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, (508) 792-7270, mark.tisa@state.ma.us

Minnesota - PSA radio campaign: Minnesota received $15,000 for a PSA radio campaign that will promote hunting in the state with the goal of increasing hunter participation. The campaign will emphasize not just the benefits of hunting but also the resulting conservation impact of sportsmen and women.
Contact: Ryan Bronson, hunter education coordinator, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, (651) 296-0776, Ryan.Bronson@dnr.state.mn.us

Nebraska - Communications campaign: Nebraska received $30,000 for a communications effort, with key partners, promoting hunting in the state with the goal of increasing hunter participation. The campaign will emphasize not just the benefits of hunting but also the resulting conservation impact of sportsmen and women.
Contact: Jeff Rawlinson, outdoor specialist, Nebraska Game and Park Commission, (402) 471-6133, rawlinson@ngpc.state.ne.us

Nevada - Family Hunt Opportunity: Nevada received $25,000 for the Family Hunt Opportunity program, which offers clinics teaching hunter safety and responsibility, landowner relations, finding game and shooting skills practice. The clinics will be coupled with an agency-sponsored hunt for hunter education graduates and their parents, providing a trial hunting experience and social support for new hunters.
Contact: Les Smith, outdoor education coordinator, Nevada Department of Wildlife, (775) 688-1553, lcsmith@ndow.org

New Hampshire - Direct-mail campaign: New Hampshire received $32,000 for a direct-mail campaign targeting lapsed hunters encouraging them to purchase a hunting license. By communicating directly with lapsed hunters, the state could potentially bring 8,000 to 10,000 sportsmen and women back into the ranks of active hunters. [NSSF awarded this grant to New Hampshire, but due to circumstances beyond the agency's control, the agency wasn't able to accept or act on the grant.] Contact: Judy Stokes, chief, Public Affairs Division, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, (603) 271-3211, jstokes@wildlife.state.nh.us

New Jersey - Outdoor Skills Day: New Jersey received $16,850 for an Outdoor Skills Day program designed to recruit 1,000 new hunters through a one-day event for non-licensed residents. The event will provide attendees with the opportunity to develop their hunting skills to become responsible, ethical sportsmen and women.
Contact: Paul Ritter, hunter education administrator, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, (856) 629-0552, Paul.ritter@dep.state.nj.us

Ohio - Private landowners survey: Ohio received $30,000 for a survey of private landowners that will identify key barriers to accessing prime hunting lands that hunters face. Barriers to access are a major factor impacting hunting participation and state revenue from expenditures by hunters. Ohio's survey will provide valuable insights on how the agency can address these issues in a costeffective manner.
Contact: Dave Scott, wildlife research administrator, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, (614) 265-6338, dave.scott@dnr.state.oh.us

Oklahoma - Marketing campaign: Oklahoma received $20,000 to develop a hunter retention and recruitment marketing campaign utilizing direct mail and the state's databases. The campaign will focus on existing hunters and households with multiple hunters, especially those with children of hunting age. The marketing effort will also identify key messages likely to motivate sportsmen and women to purchase licenses and hunt.
Contact: Andrea Crews, responsive management specialist, (405) 522-0769, acrews@odwc.state.ok.us

Pennsylvania - Sportsmen's survey: Pennsylvania received $74,800 for a comprehensive survey of the state's sportsmen that will help guide decisions by wildlife biologists to provide greater hunting opportunities and better wildlife management for Pennsylvanians. The funds also will help accelerate plans for mapping all hunting areas in the state, which will assist hunters locate open hunting acreage in their vicinity.
Contact: J. Carl Graybill, director, Bureau of Information and Education, Pennsylvania Game Commission, (717) 787-6286, jagraybill@state.pa.us

Tennessee - Walk-in Hunter Access Program: Tennessee received $40,500 to address the need for access to quality hunting lands by using HHP funds to establish a walk-in hunting access pilot program in western Tennessee, increase hunting access on private lands and study the feasibility of establishing a statewide walk-in program.
Contact: Jack Colwick, Walk-in Hunter Access Program west coordinator, Jack Colwick Consulting, (731) 984-7478, jcolwickwlconsul@aol.com

Texas - Youth hunting program: Texas received $38,000 to expand the youth hunting program by offering special 3-day hunts to an additional 250 youth and retain to these new hunters with hunts offered in the later years. The program will also recruit and retain parents and hunters to participate in the program.
Contact: Mike Berger, director, Wildlife Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (512) 389-8092, mike.berger@tpwd.state.tx.us

Washington - GoHunt GIS mapping: Washington received $48,867 for increasing the number of upland gamebird hunters by using the funds to increase access to, and awareness of, quality upland hunting on private lands. The state will look to secure a minimum of 30,000 acres to be leased for the purpose of public hunting access. [The scope of this project expanded and funding was used to develop a GIS mapping system called GoHunt to map and provide information on public and private access areas throughout all of Washington.]
Contact: Mick Cope, upland game section manager, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (360) 902-2691, copemgc@dfw.wa.gov

West Virginia - Equipment for physically challenged: West Virginia received $14,000 to recruit and retain physically challenged hunters through the purchase and use of special adaptive equipment. Additionally, the state will develop a group of instructors with special skills to assist the state's physically challenged residents through the hunter education system and out into the field on hunts.
Contact: Lt. Tim Coleman, regional hunter education coordinator, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources - Law Enforcement, (304) 558-2784, timcoleman@wvdnr.gov