Hunter Mentor Training Pennsylvania Game Commission

1. Hunter MentorTraining Pennsylvania Game Commission

2. Welcome &Introductions Introduction (Name, Where From, & MentoringExperience) What is your favorite thing about huntingtoday? Please share one of your favorite stories about hunting with another person. What was the one moment where you realized that you truly loved hunting and that you wanted tocontinue? What is your favorite species to hunt andwhy? Please share your favorite story about hunting with adog. Where/who did you get your firstfirearm from? Describe how you acquired the gun and your relationship with the personwho gave it toyou. What is your first huntingmemory?

3. Training Topics Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? The North American Model of WildlifeManagement Outdoor Recreation AdoptionModel MentoringStrategy Adult LearningPrinciples Tips for MentoringWomen HunterResponsibility HunterPreparedness Mentor Benefits &Reporting Wrap-UpDiscussion

4. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram?

5. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? The purpose of the National Huntingand Shooting Sports Action Plan is to identify, coordinate, and align resources available for R3 (recruitment, retention, and reactivation)at local and national levels. Implementing the Plan’srecommendations will help ensure that the hunting and shooting sports heritage of the United States will persist into the future. Creating mentors is a PrimaryStrategy listed in the National Hunting and Shooting Sports ActionPlan http://www.cahss.org/national- hunting-shooting-sports-action-plan/

6. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? Most states only require mentors to have passed HunterSafety and have a current hunting license for thatyear Most complete state background checks aswell Provide a less formal structure to indoctrinate newhunters Trying to limit the barriers to hunting asmuch as possible

7. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? Many people are seeking a more individualized introductionto hunting Prefer learning alone versus being in a classroomsetting Are uncomfortable with traditional classroomaudience Learn better working at their ownpace Schedules could be too busy to accommodateweekend workshops State agencies get 100s ofcalls each year from novicehunters

8. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? Clearly we are trending towards more time onlinebefore potential hunters ever stepoutside Kalkomey is currently developing online Learn to Huntmodules focusing on several differentspecies Folks completing these online LTHs or online Hunter Safety will still need in-person guidance to really develop ashunters A National Hunter Mentor Database will connect new hunters with a certified mentor in their area

9. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? Need to corroborate ideas with other agencies/organizationsto establish a standardizedprogram Train mentors to work with newaudiences Advanced capability to address needs of newhunters Liability Insurance formentors The End Result: A National Hunter MentorDatabase Mentors available for one-on-one hunting trips or for teaching at Hunter Recruitmentworkshops

10. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? Barriers to Becoming a HuntingMentor I think it is more important to introduce kids tohunting I do not know where to find potential newhunters They seem too different fromme I am not as comfortable teaching/instructingadults I am concerned about saying or doing something thatmight offendthem I just do not have enough time to coachanyone I am concerned about liabilityissues I am concerned that morepeople will hunt in my spot or on myland

11. Why a Mentor TrainingProgram? “In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at allwhen preserved bysportsmen.” TheodoreRoosevelt

12. The North AmericanModel

13. The North AmericanModel The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation strives to sustain wildlife species and habitats through sound science and activemanagement. It is comprised of SevenPrimaryPrinciples Wildlife is held in PublicTrust Prohibition on Commerce ofWildlife Democratic Rule ofLaw Hunting Opportunity forAll Non-FrivolousUse InternationalResource ScientificManagement

14. The North AmericanModel The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation strives to sustain wildlife species and habitats through sound science and activemanagement. The two main points of the modelare: Fish and wildlife belong to allAmericans It is our responsibility to maintain healthy wildlifepopulations

15. The North AmericanModel This is our call to actionfor hunters. We need yourhelp! Since the 1980s, participants in hunting and the shootingsports have been declining, resulting in less funding forconservation. Hunters pay for about 80% of wildlife conservation Federal Excise tax on firearms/archeryequipment HuntingLicenses/Tags Habitat or Species-SpecificStamps NGOs Local HuntingClubs

16. The North AmericanModel In 1970, more than 40 million Americans purchased hunting licenses. Today, that number has plummetedto just 11.5million. Only 5% of allAmericans, 16 years and older, actively participate in huntingtoday. For every 100 hunterswho retire, only 62 take up the activity.

17. The North AmericanModel This is our call to actionfor hunters. We need yourhelp! Even as hunting participants decrease, the United States population continues togrow. USpopulation was 151 millionin1950. It grew to 281 millionin2000. Today it is about 323million. By the year 2050, US populationis projected to reach 439million. Such dramatic population growth—essentially a tripling from1950 to 2050—illustrates whyparticipation rates will likely continue todecline even if hunting license salesincrease.

18. The North AmericanModel This is our call to actionfor hunters. We need yourhelp! Who are today’shunters? 89% male / 11%female 94%Caucasian More than 50% are“middle-aged” 53% have had 1 or more years ofcollege

19. The North AmericanModel As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the decline in hunting participation will become more exacerbated over the next decade.

20. ORAM

21. ORAM Outdoor Recreation AdoptionModel ORAM illustrates, in a linear fashion, the steps an individual moves through as they learn about, try and then adopt a new activity orbehavior ORAM can be used to understand the differencebetween hunter recruitment, retention andreactivation Based on more than fifty years of research documenting why and how certain activities or ideas are adopted by people and cultures

22. ORAM What isR3? HunterRecruitment, Retention, and Reactivation Recruitment Engaging newparticipants in an outdooractivity Recruitment effortsinclude those designed to enhance exposures and reduce barriers to initial participation andtrial

23. ORAM Recruitment Awareness Cultivate awareness &motivation Interest Fostering interests through experiences catering to skill& knowledgedevelopment Build & increase the confidence needed Trial Provides the first opportunity to contrast expectations, assumptions, and evenhesitations with a personalexperience

24. ORAM Decision toContinue The trial of the activity either confirms their expectations or it disappointsthem The personal experience they gainedin the previous step, & the potential self- identity that may have been challenged, provides the perspective necessary for them to decide if this new activity is for them ornot This decision to continue & thepersonal experience that drives it, separates the recruitment stage from the retention stage

25. ORAM Retention Focus on those individuals who have experienced a trial, made the decision to continue pursuing the activity, and/or may have been participating in the activity for sometime Thus, they have been“recruited” These individuals have likelybegun or completed forming a self- identity that embraces the activity and may or may not face multiple challenges to continued participation

26. ORAM Retention Continuation w/Support If the new participant does not have support, they are more likely to dropout Continuation w/oSupport Participants have formed or adjusted their self-identity to accept the activity as a part of their lifestyle and perhaps who they are They still requireresources andinformation

27. ORAM Reactivation Process in which the individual lapses in their participation for a period of time due to a varietyof reasons Reactivation efforts focus on providing a targeted suite of support and resources designed tohelp reactivate and retain an individual in a particular activity

28. ORAM Reactivation Lapse Can occur anytime without Continuation w/Support Short-Term Long-Term Reactivate R3 efforts by an organization or individual are usually needed to get a lapsed participant activeagain Address unique barriers that causedlapsing

29. ORAM SocialSupport Without Social Support, it is highly likely that participants willNOT adopt the activity for the longterm It is critical that we incorporate or address Social Support inEVERY R3 strategy/program Ensure that a social network is available for individuals as theymove through the adoptionprocess

30. ORAM PF Learn to UplandHunt DU GreenwingEvent Becoming an OutdoorsWoman NE/NWTF Collegiate HuntersProgram Pheasant Fest/OutdoorExpos

31. ORAM PF Learn to UplandHunt DU GreenwingEvent Becoming an OutdoorsWoman NE/NWTF Collegiate HuntersProgram Pheasant Fest/OutdoorExpos

32. ORAM TrainedMentors

33. What are we asking ofyou? Remember what we learned earlier today with theORAM Becoming a hunter is a mentoredprocess New hunters need support tocontinue We cannot expect a beginning hunter to take up huntingafter a one-day event orworkshop It is really difficult to gain the skills, knowledge, andconfidence necessary to hunt any new species in a short amount oftime Multiple contacts over time arerequired Those contacts need to changeas the individual gainsexperience

34. What are we asking ofyou? Take 1 new person hunting thisyear You can take a second person if you would like, but one isbetter Plus, you need time to hunt foryourself! No parameters for gender, ethnicity,etc. But must take adults when mentoring in a one-on-onesituation

35. What are we asking ofyou? Select at least 3 different“outings” Trip to the shootingrange Gun dog trainingsession Trip to Cabela’s to purchaseequipment Scouting Hunting Season dates/tag-drawingnotifications

36. What are we asking ofyou? National Hunter MentorDatabase

37. MentoringStrategy

38. MentoringStrategy Nature of AmericansStudy https://natureofamericans.org/ A national initiative to understand and connect Americans andnature Americans are spending more time indoors, and they areusing electronic media more than everbefore At the same time, there is growing evidence that human health and well- being depend on beneficial contact withnature To better understand and foster Americans’ relationship with nature,Dr. Stephen Kellert and DJ Case & Associates conducted an unprecedented study of nearly 12,000 adults, children and parents across the United States in2015-16

39. MentoringStrategy Nature of AmericansStudy The study provides hundreds of insights into adults, children, parents, and key demographic groups on topics suchas: American adults' and children’s interests in nature, values ofnature, and various nature-related behaviors, memories, andinfluences Barriers and facilitators to contact withnature Support for nature-based programming and attitudes toward conservation Variation across race and ethnicity, residential location, age, political views, andmore

40. MentoringTips

46. MentoringStrategy • Nature of Americans StudyRecommendations • Redefine “Connecting withNature” • BeSocial • Focus on theSimilarities • Enjoy nature • Experience it withothers • Affection and attraction towardit • Support for programming &funding • PromoteMulti-Dimensional • Experiences

47. MentoringStrategy Why TargetAdults? Have decision-makingauthority Have greater financialresources Have transportationopportunities Want to learn how to hunt to harvest healthy food and enjoy a nature-based lifestyle If an adult hunts, it increases the likelihood their children willtoo

48. MentoringStrategy Why TargetAdults? Traditional R3 programs typically attract children of existinghunters Millennials ~80 million people (33% of thepopulation) Largestgeneration…EVER Mostdiverse Care about social issues – likefood Quality of life a primaryfocus Interested inhunting

49. MentoringStrategy Why TargetAdults? Women Comprise a largemarket Fastest growing demographic in hunting & shootingsports Heavily influence how family leisure and recreation time isspent Hunters grew 85 percent between 2001 & 2013 (from 1.8 to 3.3million) 11-20% of US hunters are currentlywomen

50. MentoringStrategy Why TargetAdults? DiverseAudiences Have been an under-represented demographic inhunting Lower participation rates in outdoor recreation among racial andethnic minoritygroups The US has been increasing in racial & ethnic diversity over the past 50 years Gives us a growing population of people to introduce tohunting OutdoorAfro