Hunter Recruitment & Retention

[Devil Diver Down]

I've been asked to and have offered to get involved with this issue, on a professional level. I don't know what my commitment level will be yet but I've been doing quite a bit of reading on it the last week or so.

I've seen what the "experts" feel are the major contributing issues. Not too many solutions from them from what I've seen.

I'm a living case study, in some respects, as I'm raising 2 boys who have been exposed to hunting (in varying degrees) their entire childhood and have varying degrees of interest in participating themselves. At their age I couldn't get in the field often enough. Some of their lack of interest may stem from the fact that their mentor is just not a very good hunter.
They've at least been kind enough not to ask if they can go with someone else. Yet.

I have my own ideas about aggravating problems and solutions--some matching the experts, some out of left field--but I'm curious what you guys think about R & R, what experiences you've had (successful or not), what you think the keys are, etc. I'm a lot more interested in those who have experience working with kids other than their own, but since I'm fishing throw a line with whatever spinner you've got.

 

[idnative1948]

Case in point. Very good friend of mine's son was really getting into hunting with his dad when he was younger, but as soon as he got into Jr. High School he got women on his mind and lost interest. The year he was a Soph in high school his friend talked him into going hunting with him and his dad. So last year him and his dad came to camp. He got his first job this year as a Sr. and keeps buying ammo and shooting and shooting. His dad never pushed him so I think that is given as far as recruiting new hunters in concerned. I have coached little league off and on for 30+ years and it's the parents who force their kids to be there that mucks them up because in their mind they think it is good for them whether they are interested or not. JMHO

 

[Oak]

You wouldn't, by chance, be planning to attend the hunter Recruitment and Retention Summit in Colorado Springs in 2 weeks?

 

[Devil Diver Down]

Oak- my involvement will likely take shape this summer. I have other commitments--too many irons in the fire--right now. I am curious what will come out of the summit. It seems such a steep hill, with little traction, to climb here in Arizona. I see numbers from other states and it makes me scratch my head.