|
|
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 21, 2005) — The number of hunters has long been declining. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will try to reverse that trend initially using a $15,000 grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The money will go toward an October symposium of outdoors-minded people and groups. The goal of the meeting is to brainstorm ways to bring more North Carolinians into the hunting fold. “The broad picture is to turn the numbers around,” said Susie Fish, hunting retention and recruitment coordinator for the Wildlife Commission. A 2001 study found that the number of hunters declined nationwide by 7 percent in 10 years, and by 22 percent in North Carolina over the same period. Reasons cited for waning hunter participation range from more dual-income families who work longer hours to greater competition for leisure time. Development trends also play a role, as hunting lands become subdivisions and shopping centers. The Oct. 11-12 symposium will explore what the Commission, and anyone else interested in outdoor recreation, can do to knock down the barriers to hunting. Participants will devise strategies to recruit new hunters from groups who traditionally have been underrepresented — women, minorities and the disabled, for example. Focus will also go toward families, creating programs that will involve all family members in developing not just hunting skills, but also outdoor skills and an appreciation for nature. “How can we attract these groups?” Fish asked. “We have some ideas, but we want statistics and some more information before we do anything. That’s why it’s so important for us to have a good representation from a wide range of groups and longtime holders of hunting licenses.” For more information about participating in the symposium, call Susie Fish at (919) 733-3391, extension 225. The grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade organization, comes from its Hunter Heritage Partnership Grant Program. |