A Word from NSSF's President and CEO

State wildlife agencies have a tremendous resource at their fingertips - hunters. But for well-documented reasons, hunter numbers are stagnating or falling across the United States. At a minimum, license sales are not keeping pace with population growth.

Agencies are seeking new approaches to attract and keep hunters. Unfortunately, most are severely short in resources-money, time and staff.

About the Hunting Heritage Partnership and MEMs

Now is the time to think outside the box! Through the Hunting Heritage Partnership (HHP), you can fund your vision. Using "Most Effective Methods" (MEMs), you can make it happen.

Through the HHP program, industry provides $500,000 annually to state agencies to increase hunting opportunities. MEMs are research-based guidelines to help organize these efforts and make them more effective. States are more likely to receive HHP funds when they use MEMs to develop projects and write proposals. HHP projects that follow these guidelines are more likely to achieve on-the-ground success.

Stepping stones to success

Nevada's Les Smith is quick to paraphrase Walt Kelly's Pogo when describing his state's challenges: "We are faced with insurmountable opportunities." Les has built innovative recruitment and retention projects based on MEMs. He secured $50,000 total in HHP funding in 2003 and 2004. Nevada is one of many HHP success stories.

Successful HHP projects don't happen in a vacuum. Each is a stepping stone, an opportunity to learn and innovate. The goal of this manual is to give you tools to succeed.

There is hope for the future of hunting. Opportunity can start with the Most Effective Methods and the Hunting Heritage Partnership.