Federal Premium Ammunition hosted a gathering of 20 leaders from outdoor mentoring programs from across the country earlier this month, in an effort to bring local and national organizations together to align their work with the National Hunter Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) plan. The event was organized in conjunction with Pass it On Outdoor Mentors and the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports. It was held at Federal's Anoka, Minnesota facility.
“A central part of our commitment to conservation is to attract the next generation of hunters and shooters who are the backbone of conservation funding in America,” said Ryan Bronson, Director of Conservation for Federal Premium Ammunition. “Mentoring programs are helping the hunting conservation community reach a diverse population that includes at-risk kids, urbanites and females who traditionally are under-represented.”
State wildlife agencies from Minnesota, Arizona and Nebraska provided information on government efforts. Private mentoring groups from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, South Dakota, Kansas and Idaho also participated. The National Wild Turkey Federation was in attendance.
The National R3 plan has been developed over several years with the cooperation of wildlife agencies, non-profit hunting and conservation organizations, and the shooting sports industry. The Wildlife Management Institute and CAHSS have led the effort, and their draft plan will be released at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Pittsburgh Wednesday March 16.
