Hunting for Sustainability Conservation and local, free-range protein. Keith Warnke WDNR

Transcription

1 Hunting for Sustainability Conservation and local, free-range protein Keith Warnke WDNR

2 Why Hunt? Sustainable, free-range protein is available through hunting Conservation Connection Think about the food!

3 Where are we headed? - Predictions Trends Hunter Projection: Expecting a 27% decline 650, , , , , , , ,

4 What to do? Standard model: Reach out with youth programs

5 Hunting motivations

6

7 Where is the interest? CSA programs Farmers markets Slow Food movement

8 Resources Where are we going to get NEW hunters? From NEW sources outside the box ADAPT!

9 What did we do? Food as an universal motivation to hunt

10 Hunting For Sustainability Trying to reach a new audience and rebrand hunting

11 How do we reach out to people who appreciate this

12 but need a mentor to show them?

13 In a classroom? With a group of adults?

14 5 week course with 3 field trips Week 1 - History, demographics, ethics, and green eating. Note: Always serve food at class!

15 Week 2 - Wildlife Management, public lands, scouting, and Hunting regulations.

16 Week 3 - Hunting for health and wellness, Hunting skills and equipment

17 Week 4 - Agricultural damage program and discussion

18 Week 5 Wrap up, focus on hunting field trip

19 Gun handling Each week we ended with 30 minutes of safe gun handling where everyone became familiar with and used all the action types in a controlled setting

20 Field Trips

21 The Hunt Ten hunters Twelve mentors* Deer camp style

22 Goals Provide tools, knowledge, and experience Follow up offer assistance where possible Set systems in place to see if they become long term hunters

23 Results Too early Several bought guns and taken hunter ed Nine of ten participants bought deer hunting licenses Several are returning for more

24 Next Steps Repeated contacts More experiences rabbit, turkey, pheasant, etc. More courses Define effective Track and evaluate Adapt

25 The finished recruit Young adult LTH turkey and deer Hunting for Sustainability HE test out Purchased firearm $5 first time license Hunted on MFL land Killed his first deer Home butchering I believe one could say that I am hooked.

26 Break Slide Questions?

27 What s in a Brand? the name, term, design, or symbol that identifies one s product

28 We certainly have a brand

29 Evolution of hunting brand Market hunting

30 Evolution of hunting brand Sport Hunting Fair chase Self restraint Vigorous life American ethnic identity (Herman, 2001)

31 Evolution of hunting brand Wildlife (game) crops Harvestable surplus Habitat conservation Predator control Stocking

32 Current of Branches of Sport Hunting Brand a tool Controlling populations Disease management Funding Source a recreation Multiple satisfactions Leisure pursuit More than harvest as achievement Big game emphasis Trophies (QDM) Specialization Where the money is

33 Problems with all three branches Hunting as recreation Too many other outlets Trivializes its role and potential importance

34 Problems with management tool branch Not customer focused Runs counter to hunter perceptions What about carnivores? Risky financial strategy

35 Problems with Hunting as achievement Lacks public support Outcome focused Creates competition, jealousy/ greed drives privatization, reduced access May intimidate newcomers

36 Stewardship Brand? Hunting as a means of engaging citizens in participatory, authentic, and sustainable lifestyle that results in a strong connection to conservation. Limiting your footprint Biodiversity focus, not game species focus Caretaker function mentoring others, allowing access (landowners), citizen science, volunteers projects

37 Challenges to overcome Land Access Re-visioning hunting recruitment & socialization Urban epistemology (Muth & Jamieson, 2000) Institutional buy in

38 How to reach the Stewardship brand? Involve and engage sustainable community Own current brand and work to improve it

39 What can you do? Contact me: Thank you!