Last week, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies announced the solicitation of applications for grants to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) hunters and recreational target shooters through the Multistate Conservation Grant Program.
As a result of efforts by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), a historic bill known as Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for Tomorrow’s Needs Act (P-R Mod) was signed into law in December 2019. This legislation recognizes the financial contributions of America’s hunters, recreational shooters, and archery enthusiasts by amending the Pittman-Robertson Fund to allow for state fish and wildlife agencies to promote hunting and recreational shooting. Successful passage of P-R Mod provides for $5 million of sporting-generated funds to be available annually in a subaccount of the Pittman-Robertson Fund known as the Multistate Conservation Grant Program for the specific purpose of R3 efforts.
As America’s hunting license purchases have significantly decreased over the last decade, it is now more important than ever to ensure that state fish and wildlife agencies have the necessary resources and flexibility for R3 as well as on-the-ground conservation and public access projects. Without America’s next generation of sportsmen and women purchasing equipment to generate this fund, this highly successful program is in jeopardy.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure the future of America’s next generation of sportsmen and women. The application period for grant submissions closes on May 22.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
