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NEWTOWN, CT. - Reflecting a broad range of efforts to stimulate hunter recruitment and retention nationwide, hunting license sales rebounded significantly in 1999, pushing past the 15 million mark for the first time since 1996, according to an analysis by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "This is obviously excellent news but not a total surprise," said Bob Delfay, president and CEO of NSSF. "We believe the turnaround in license sales actually began in 1998. Although sales were down in 1998, the decline was less than one-tenth of one percent and was the smallest decline in six years. This suggests to us that the outreach efforts by many state wildlife agencies had begun to pay off, making this significant increase possible in 1999. We think there is no reason not to expect another increase next year." Thirty states reported increases in the sales of hunting licenses, with several showing dramatic increases. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 15,143,375 hunting licenses were purchased in 1999, an increase of 251,520, or 1.7 percent, from the 14,891,855 licenses purchased in 1998. Opportunities & Outreach In recent years, a number of state wildlife agencies have focused efforts on expanding hunting opportunities and developing outreach efforts to the hunting community. These efforts appear to be influencing hunting participation, and thus license sales, in a positive way, according to several state wildlife officials. "We^re very pleased to see license sales increase this year," said Steve Williams, Secretary of Kansas Wildlife and Parks. "Recruitment and retention efforts have been emphasized by the industry at four Shooting Sports Summits since 1996 and resulting programs are beginning to boost participation and maintain interest by veteran hunters." Kansas was among the states that showed an increase in license sales. States reporting significant increases were Arkansas, Washington, South Carolina, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Idaho. Laurel Steffes, information supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, pointed to several factors that affected license sales. "Our deer herds are extremely healthy now and turkey populations in the state continue to expand. That has resulted in increased interest and participation," she said. "In addition, our new "ALIS" electronic licensing system has made all types of licenses available at every license vendor. This convenience seems to be genuinely appreciated by our license buyers who are able to get the licenses and tags they want." Arkansas reported strong deer, duck and turkey populations. Marcus Kilburn, the state^s Game & Fish Commission spokesman, said, "The combination of good species population and active outreach efforts to inform the public of hunting opportunities have resulted in increased interest and participation in hunting." In South Carolina, the wildlife department saw a two-percent increase in the sale of junior sportsman^s licenses in 1999. John Frampton, assistant director, said, "This increase is clearly related to the increased number of hunts held especially for youth. In 1999, we had 59 youth hunts in South Carolina. We also instituted the ^Take One, Make One^ mentoring program that has served to involve more youth in hunting activities and significantly increased the visibility of hunting to our young citizens." The "Take One, Make One" program was one of several outreach programs promoted at the most recent Shooting Sports Summit. In South Dakota, two mild winters in a row have benefited pheasant populations, and officials report abundant waterfowl and big game species. In addition to these factors, the wildlife department, as part of its customer service efforts, has established a very active and comprehensive Web site that lists species population data. It^s the most visited of all the state^s Web addresses. Nationwide Roundup States reporting the largest increases were Arkansas, with a 81,425-hunter increase, or 19.7 percent; Washington, with a 66,705-hunter increase, or 30 percent; South Carolina, with a 38,838-hunter increase, or 14.7 percent; Wisconsin, with a 26,761-hunter increase, or 3.5 percent; Idaho, with a 22,349-hunter increase, or 9 percent; and South Dakota, which increased by 19,762 license sales, or 10 percent. Increases in some cases were partially due to modifications in license sales accounting methods. Of the Top Ten, or "core," hunting states, eight showed increases and two reported declines. The states with increases were Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Minnesota and Missouri. The core states with falloffs were Michigan and Ohio. License sales figures are compiled annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from information supplied by state fish and wildlife agencies. Besides gauging hunter participation, license sales totals affect federal funding to each state. Through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, funding is apportioned in part by the number of paid hunting license holders in each state. At the most recent Shooting Sports Summit, attendees pledged to work toward a goal of "no net loss" of hunters and hunting opportunities. "Little did they realize that some of their objective would be met so soon," said Delfay.

Uploaded: 12/14/2000