HHP: What It Is ... And What It Isn't

WHAT HHP IS...

The Hunting Heritage Partnership provides funding to help states jumpstart recruitment and retention efforts. We want to help you grow hunter numbers and hunting opportunities.

$1.5 million and growing: Between 2003 and 2005, NSSF has awarded 48 HHP grants to 31 states. As of January 2006, awards totaled nearly $1.5 million.

In programs tailored to each state's needs, HHP can help:

Increase hunter access on public and private lands
Provide incentives to keep current hunters hunting
Recruit next-generation hunters
Develop programs that create opportunities to hunt
Build communications programs geared toward recruiting and retaining hunters
Evaluate existing programs for return on investment
Provide the opportunity to determine the status of hunting in your state and how to address the issue.

HHP is just one way to address your recruitment and retention challenges. HHP provides funding, partnership and support to test new efforts or sustain existing ones.

... WHAT HHP ISN'T

HHP is not a magic bullet. Myriad factors affect recruitment and retention of hunters, and no one should expect that an HHP grant alone will suddenly turn decreases into increases. What is needed is a systematic, integrated approach across many fronts.

In addition, many HHP projects are pilot projects-designed to test new or existing recruitment techniques at a relatively small scale to see if they are worth the investment. Even if it is 100 percent successful, a pilot program by its nature is not likely to impact license sales or participation at the statewide level. However, if the pilot can demonstrate success, then the state agency and its partners can expand the pilot and integrate it with ongoing efforts to impact results at the state level.

In short, there is no charmed solution. HHP funding is meant to be part of a larger R&R tool kit. Used properly, it can make a difference!