By Joel Hodgdon, Central Midwestern States Coordinator
From June 24-27, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Central Midwestern States Coordinator Joel Hodgdon attended the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) Director’s Annual Meeting in Bismarck, North Dakota. The meeting brought together state fish and wildlife agency directors and staff from across the midwestern region, as well as representatives from various federal agencies, conservation organizations, industry representatives, and local organizations such as the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition and the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust.
“As it is every year, this meeting is a valuable opportunity to connect with the fish and wildlife agency professionals that manage our region’s abundant natural resources,” said Hodgdon.
Sessions during the meeting covered topics such as feral swine management, pollinator conservation, tribal partnerships, electronic licensing and tagging systems, and hunter and angler recruitment, retention, and reactivation, among others.
This meeting was sponsored by many of CSF’s supporters, including the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Archery Trade Association, Bass Pro Shops, Ducks Unlimited, Mule Deer Foundation, the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
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?
