10 Steps to For Starting and Keeping Hunting, Fishing, Birding, and Outdoor Clubs

Delwin E. Benson, Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Colorado State University and Chair of the Center for Conservation Education at Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, Dundee Illinois

The following steps are directed toward state fish and wildlife agencies and could be adopted for planning by other organizations.

1. Agencies/Organizations must seriously want to relate to their customer base and are willing to discuss internally about Recruitment and Retention needs and their roles to nurture, support and to work with their customers.
2. Appoint a leader to move the initiative forward with committee members from appropriate topical and regional subunits (research, I&E, License Sales, Hunter Education, Fish, Wildlife, Nongame, Head Office, Field Offices, etc.).
3. ID existing leaders with clubs and organizations that are nature-related and plan to work with them on a systematic basis just as you would with funding, seasons, and habitat management.
4. ID barriers to working with customers using existing literature, focus groups, and formal studies.
5. Hold a state Summit and ask club leaders to take on roles vital to the state such as R&R generally and specifically: start more local clubs; develop ranges; offer programs for youth, men and women; assist with harvest needs, access, habitat protection; etc.
6. Provide recognition and incentives for existing and new clubs that participate (free subscriptions, patches, money, speakers, special events, etc.).
7. Ask, support and reward your staff to participate with clubs (provide information, help with leadership, give talks, engage members in agency programs, etc.).
8. Assist existing clubs and form new clubs. Help with organizational suggestions. Establish outcomes and action committees. Give financial incentives. Ask clubs for specific help (harvests to reduce deer numbers or monitor herd structure, start an R & R program, etc.
9. Communicate agency/organization wants, needs and functions through a complete network of local clubs which meet often, have numerous functions, and are easily accessible by all.
10. Continuously encourage, prompt, nurture, and ask your customers to be active with nature at home, at work and during recreation.