Presented by
NEBRASKA SAFARI
CLUB INTERNATIONAL
Let's Go Hunting!
SAFARI
CLUB
INTERNATIONAL
DECEMBER 2018 • NEBRASKAland 57
T
he first National R3 Symposium was held in Lincoln
May 21-23, 2018. R3 stands for recruitment, retention
and reactivation. Representatives from 40 state fish and
wildlife agencies and many non-profit and industry members
met at the symposium to discuss the future of hunting.
Many have heard that hunter numbers in the United States
are in a decline. The latest (2016) U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service report released shows hunter numbers are down to
11.5 million in the U.S., which is about 5.6 percent of the
populati on, and new hunter recruitment at about 3.5 percent.
Furthermore, current estimates for 2018 put that number
down to 10 million.
R3 is a national initiative by most state game and fish
agencies to help reverse this trend. Did you know that
approximately 80 percent of all the dollars that go into
wildlife conservation in North America are the result of
various taxes on the sales of hunting, shooting and fishing
related purchases? The North American Conservation Model
depends on this vital income, so every purchase we make is
important to the success of conservation in our country.
The R3 initiative has many state, federal, industry and
NGO members such as Safari Club International, the
National Wild Turkey Federation and Pheasants Forever.
To improve hunter retention, recruitment and reactivation,
these groups are working together to develop strategic short-
term and long-term partnerships to encourage these goals.
Our own Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is
working as stewards of our resources to protect our interests.
They have worked hard to develop hunter education,
making Nebraska a safe and enjoyable hunting experience
for hunters of all ages. They protect our wildlife with
regulations that improve hunting opportunities.
They have worked with private landowners to make
230,000 acres of private lands available for public hunting
through the Open Fields and Waters program. Hunters will
find many opportunities to enjoy the lands enrolled in this
program.
Nebraska is also a member of the Council to Advance
Hunting and Shooting Sports to protect and promote
participation in hunting and the shooting sports for future
generations. Their action plan includes goals to increase
participation in the hunting and shooting sports.
Please join us in supporting all participants in the R3
initiative. The Nebraska Chapter of Safari Club is a proud
supporter. We sponsor and support education and youth
activities with dollars in our state. ■
For more information please contact us at
nebraska.SafariClubInt@gmail.com or by calling
402-214 -8270. You can also visit our website at
nebraskasafariclubint.com
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