Hunting Heritage Partnership - Research

Selected Research, Resources and Programs

This section contains research, resources and programs about hunting, shooting, mentoring, wildlife-related economics, and recruitment and retention. Information is provided through Web sites of the following organizations and agencies. Explanations of documents are provided in cases where topics aren't obvious.

Locations of Web site information are confirmed as of January 1, 2006. Please note that URLs and file locations can change at any time. Additional reports often are located on these sites; we've selected only those documents pertaining to hunting and R&R. The (*) symbol indicates critical information.

Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF)

• "The American Sportsman: Take a Closer Look." 2003. Provides snapshot of the economic clout of hunters and anglers and their strength as a constituency.

Cornell University, Human Dimensions Research Unit

• "Impediments to Youth Participation in Hunting." 1996.
  Contact Human Dimensions Research Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-3001; 607 255-2902; hdru@cornell.edu.

International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA)

Contact IAFWA for the following publications

• *"Potential Costs of Losing Hunting and Trapping as Wildlife Management Methods." Updated 2005. This study explains the types of economic and public impacts that would result if hunting and trapping were unnecessarily curbed. Results are reported regionally, and contain specific examples presented in dollar terms, and more.
• "Economic Importance of Hunting in America." 2002.

International Hunter Education Association (IHEA)

• *"State Examples of Hunting and Shooting Programs." 2004. A partial list of programs nationwide.
• *Hunter education instructor resources: Numerous resources pertaining to safety, ethics, hunter education and wildlife management.
  

National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®)

• Mentoring, Shooting and Hunting Programs, Web Sites, and Resources
  
  Families Afield: In partnership with National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, Families Afield is an education and outreach program to help states create hunting opportunities for youth, so that more families may enjoy America's greatest outdoor tradition together.
• Hunt and Shoot.org: This portal site provides access to helpful hunting and shooting resources and links to searchable state-by-state databases and is designed to make it convenient for hunters and shooters to find new places to enjoy their sports and stay involved with hunting and shooting.
• Huntinfo.org: This site offers one-click access to all 50 state wildlife agency Web sites.
• Scholastic Clay Target ProgramSM: This youth shooting program utilizes a network of volunteer coaches and directors, providing young skeet, trap and sporting clays shooters an opportunity to compete for scholarships while earning state and national recognition.
• *STEP OUTSIDE®: This program encourages outdoor enthusiasts to welcome friends, family and special guests to share hunting and other outdoor experiences such as target shooting, archery and fishing.
• WheretoShoot.org: This site features an on-line directory providing visitors with quick and easy access to target shooting and hunting facilities.
• Wingshooting USA: This is a convenient online directory of more than 1,000 bird hunting preserves across America.
• Industry Research: A one-stop resource for information on hunting and recreational shooting sports.
• A Parent's Guide To Recreational Shooting For Youngsters: Helps parents understand the shooting sports and includes a comprehensive listing of youth shooting programs and personal success stories.
• Safety and Conservation Educational Materials: Numerous resources pertaining to safety, hunter ethics, conservation and wildlife management are available.

*Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF)

• RBFF is a nonprofit organization with a goal of increasing recreational angling, boating and aquatic stewardship. Their groundbreaking research on topics such as evaluation, outreach, and recruitment and retention adapt well to hunting. Many concepts from RBFF's "Best Practices Workbook for Boating, Fishing and Aquatic Resources Stewardship Education"have been adapted to HHP's "Most Effective Methods" manual.

Responsive Management

Responsive Management is an internationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. Many state-specific reports are available as well as a series of reports funded through HHP.

• "Issues Related to Hunting and Fishing Access in the United States"
• "An Inventory and Assessment of State Hunters"
• *"Factors Related to Hunting and Fishing Participation in the United States: Final Report"
• *"Factors Related to Hunting and Fishing Participation Among the Nation's Youth: Final Report"
• "2000 Hunting Participation and Attitude Survey"
• "Bowhunting Participation, Trends, Satisfactions and Marketing Options"
• "Bowhunting in the U.S.: A Market Study"
• "Behavioral, Attitudinal and Demographic Characteristics of Spring Turkey Hunters in the U.S., National Report"
• *"Hunting Ethics/Land Access Project:" This study consisted of a series of nationwide focus groups with hunters and landowners to better understand the causes of shrinking public hunting access on private lands.
• "The Effects of Mandatory Basic Hunter Education and Advanced Hunter Training on Hunter Recruitment, Satisfaction and Retention"
• *"Hunters', Sport Shooters', Archers' and Anglers' Attitudes Toward Messages Encouraging Them to Recruit Others Into Their Sport"
• "Profile of the Shooting Sports:"This synopsis is a brief overview of the current state of the shooting sports. The full report includes participation rates, motivations, reasons for desertion, expenditures and demographics.
• "American Attitudes Toward Scientific Wildlife Management and Human Use of Fish and Wildlife: Implications for Effective Public Relations and Communication Strategies"
• "Youth and Hunting:" This article discusses youth interest in hunting, the importance of introducing youth to hunting, and the importance of familial relationships in recruiting youth hunters.
• "Kids' Attitudes Toward Hunting:" While the majority of youth support hunting, hunting is not necessarily a top-of-the-mind issue for youth. This article discusses youths' support for hunting and the places where they hear information about hunting.
• *"The Effects of Mandatory Basic Hunter Education and Advanced Hunter Training on Hunter Recruitment, Satisfaction and Retention"
• "A Study of Factors Related to Hunting and Fishing Participation in the U.S. Sponsored by Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration"

Southwick Associates  Southwick Associates specializes in helping natural resource agencies and outdoor industries understand the retail sales, economic impacts, and other benefits that businesses and people receive from wildlife and fisheries. A [series of reports] [link to sub-page] are available.

The following reports are available on the Southwick Associates Web site:

• *"U.S. - 2001 Economic Contributions of Hunting:" Presented here are the detailed economic contributions by state and by type of hunting.
• "U.S. - 2003 Spring Turkey Hunting Economic Impacts:" Produced for the NWTF, this report includes the dollars, jobs and other impacts created by spring turkey hunting nationally, regionally, and for selected states.
• "U.S. - Gamebird Farm and Hunting Preserve Economics:" This 2004 study, produced for the North American Gamebird Association, presents the operational and economic characteristics of the gamebird industry.
• "Bowhunting:" A report is available on the economics of bowhunting and bowhunter attitudes and motivations.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Library (USFWS) provides easy access to curriculum-related materials, historic conservation texts, electronic resources and state-of-the-art delivery services. The following materials are available:

• "Deer Hunting in the United States: An Analysis of Hunter Demographics and Behavior. Addendum to the '2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.'" 2004.
• "Economic Impact of Waterfowl Hunting in the United States: Addendum to the '2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.'" 2005.
• "Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends: Addendum to the '2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.'"2004.
• "Hunting and Migratory Birds: How Hunters Benefit Many Migratory Bird Species." 2000.
• "National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation:" The service sponsors this survey every five years. The questions are developed in concert with technical committee members from every state and with representatives of non-governmental organizations. State specific reports also are available.
• "Participation and Expenditure Patterns of African-American, Hispanic and Female Hunters and Anglers. Addendum to '2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.'" 2004.

Best Practices for Recruitment and Retention: Think Tank Report, May 2007

The goal of this "think tank" meeting was to identify "Best Practices" for developing, enhancing and/or evaluating hunting and shooting recruitment and retention programs and projects. Review an outline of the meeting, which includes a list of participants, an overview of their presentations, and brainstorming ideas from the meeting's roundtable discussions.

If you need assistance...

States are always welcome to contact the National Shooting Sports Foundation for assistance in developing hunter-related proposals or projects. Prospective grantees are also encouraged to contact other organizations involved in the areas of recruitment, retention, research, marketing, communications and land-owner relations for assistance in compiling information and research. Some organizations that can help are:

Not for profit

Becoming an Outdoorswoman: NSSF is an original sponsor and continues support of this recruitment program.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS): NSSF works with this STEP OUTSIDE partner and founder of its Pass It On program.

Delta Waterfowl: Delta Waterfowl and other pro-hunting organizations are battling the declining number of waterfowlers in Canada and the United States through active promotion of youth hunting.

Ducks Unlimited (DU):Through its Greenwing Program for youth, Ducks Unlimited is educating the conservationists of tomorrow and offering information about waterfowl identification, hunting traditions and ethics and the important role of hunters in conservation.

National 4-H Shooting Sports Foundation: The activities of this program and the support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth and conservation ethics. Youth are taught marksmanship skills, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of hunting and archery and much more.

National Rifle Association (NRA): The NRA hosts an array of hunting, safety and shooting programs for hunters and sportsmen, including special programs for women and youth.

National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF): NSSF supports NWTF's two exceptional recruitment programs, Women in the Outdoorsand Wheelin' Sportsmen. NWTF also sponsors youth outreach through Jakes and Xtreme Jakes.

Pheasants Forever (PF): At national and chapter levels, PF invests in young members through a growing variety of activities and events to youth members known as Ringnecks, as well as through the Leopold Education Project to provide conservation education to members.

Quail Forever: Dedicated to the protection and enhancement of quail and other upland wildlife through habitat improvement, public awareness, education and advocacy for sound land management policy.

Quail Unlimited: Dedicated to the wise management of America's wild quail. Many chapters conduct informational and educational programs such as workshops, youth conservation days and other community outreach projects.

Quality Deer Management (QDM): A wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring a high-quality and sustainable future for white-tailed deer and white-tailed deer hunting.

Ruffed Grouse Society: Works to improve woodland habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and many other kinds of forest wildlife.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation: Protects and defends America's wildlife conservation programs and hunting, fishing and trapping through public education, legal defense and research. NSSF supports the groundbreaking introductory outdoor Trailblazer Adventure Program developed for families.

For profit

DJ Case & Associates: Specializes in natural resources communications, working with state and federal natural resource agencies and organizations. The team includes foresters, biologists, marketers, journalists, PR specialists and human dimensions experts. DJ Case's goal is to help implement positive, measurable communications efforts that further natural resource conservation goals.
Contact: info@djcase.com 574-258-0100

Responsive Management: A public-opinion and attitudinal survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. Its mission is to help natural resource and outdoor recreation agencies and organizations better understand and work with its constituents, customers, and the public.
Contact: Mark Damian Duda, executive director, mark@responsivemanagement.com 540-432-1888

Southwick Associates:Specializes in the business side of fish and wildlife. Southwick Associates helps natural resource agencies and the outdoor industries understand the retail sales, economic impacts and other benefits that businesses and people receive from wildlife and fisheries . Contact: Rob Southwick, president, rob@southwickassociates.com 904-277-9765