News for Immediate Release
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Steve Wagner
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Firearms Industry Helps Keep Wisconsinites Hunting

NEWTOWN, Conn.—In the presidential election of 1904, hunter Theodore Roosevelt rallied sportsmen with his passion for wildlife and wild places. Exactly one century later, hunter George W. Bush rallied sportsmen through his staunch support of America’s hunting and outdoor heritage.

But, in another hundred years, will there still be sportsmen to rally?

Absolutely, says the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the hunting and shooting sports industry, which is investing heavily in programs to keep outdoor traditions strong. An especially high-profile NSSF initiative is its Hunting Heritage Partnership. Over the past two years, the industry has channeled nearly $1 million through this initiative to state conservation agencies working to recruit and retain hunters, including $17,000 for efforts to keep Wisconsinites going afield.

“I’ll predict that presidential candidates in 2104 will still be avidly courting the sportsmen’s vote. Every survey and social indicator today shows public support for firearms and hunting is growing. Campaign strategists know it. And our industry knows it—now it’s just a matter of maximizing hunting opportunities to align with that cultural expectation,” said Doug Painter, NSSF president.

In Wisconsin, the industry found worthy grantees in leased public hunting access and special youth pheasant hunting programs administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Through the access program, willing landowners were paid to open private grounds for public hunting access, explained Andrea Mezera, assistant upland wildlife ecologist for the agency. In all, 44,000 acres were opened statewide. The Hunting Heritage Partnership grant was used specifically to open more than 18,000 acres in south-central and southeastern regions of Wisconsin.

“Those particular leased lands were popular this year and heavily used for pheasant hunting, deer hunting and duck hunting,” said Mezera. She added that recent budgetary issues at the DNR have placed greater emphasis on private grants and donations to keep the program strong.

The Hunting Heritage Partnership grant also helped fund Wisconsin’s inaugural youth pheasant hunt. Over the long term, this program is expected to increase the number of pheasant hunters by providing a safe introduction to hunting with a high probability of encountering game.

Wisconsin hunting license sales have fluctuated along a generally downward trend over the past 10 years. The most current data (2003) reveal a 3.9 percent decrease from 2002 to 2003. Nationally, hunting license sales have been slumping as well. Between 2002 and 2003, sales across the country declined 1.5 percent. Still, an estimated 18 million hunters were active in 2004.

Mark Damian Duda, executive director of Responsive Management, a survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues, has studied the factors related to hunting participation for the past 20 years.

“Although the American public strongly approves of hunting, it’s a lifestyle that’s being influenced by several complex factors. We’re seeing broad demographic changes related to urbanization—as a society, we’re moving to the cities and away from our rural outdoor heritage. We’re seeing access to hunting lands emerge as a major problem. And hunting participation also relies on a rather fragile social support system. People tend to stop hunting if a hunting buddy moves away, for example, or if their children go off to college,” said Duda.

NSSF’s Hunting Heritage Partnership was implemented to help state conservation agencies address and offset these challenges.

“It’s all about maintaining or expanding opportunities for hunters to thrive in the future. Our partners in grant recipient states are models for creative and diverse solutions. We’re proud to contribute. Together we’re ensuring that America’s hunting legacy and attendant funding for conservation will always be here working for everyone who appreciates wildlife,” said Painter.

In 2004, Wisconsin was one of 13 states receiving an NSSF grant. Applications from 27 states were considered. In 2003, 18 grantees were selected from 36 applicants.

NSSF, formed in 1961, directs a variety of outreach programs to promote greater participation and understanding of shooting sports, emphasizing safe and responsible ownership of firearms. For further information, visit www.nssf.org.