Evaluating impacts of R3 workshops for first-time hunters at universities across the United States

Richard von Furstenberg; Victoria R. Vayer; Lincoln R. Larson; M. Nils Peterson; Kangjae Jerry Lee; Kathryn Stevenson; Adam A. Ahlers; Christine Anhalt-Depies; Taniya Bethke; Brian Clark; Kiley M. Davan; Ashley A. Dayer; Todd E. Fisher; Benjamin Ghasemi; Larry Gigliotti; Kris Irwin; Samuel J. Keith; Matt Kelly; Gerard Kyle; Elizabeth Metcalf; Mark D. Needham; Neelam C. Poudyal; Michael Quartuch; Shari L. Rodriguez; Chelsie Romulo; Ryan L. Sharp; William Siemer; Matthew T. Springer; Richard Stedman; Taylor Stein; Timothy R. Van Deelen; Richelle L. Winkler; Kyle Maurice Woosnam

doi:10.1002/wsb.1482

Evaluating impacts of R3 workshops for first-time hunters at universities across the United States

Richard von Furstenberg
, Victoria R. Vayer
, Lincoln R. Larson
, M. Nils Peterson
, Kangjae Jerry Lee
, Kathryn Stevenson
, Adam A. Ahlers
, Christine Anhalt-Depies
, Taniya Bethke
, Brian Clark
, Kiley M. Davan
, Ashley A. Dayer
, Todd E. Fisher
, Benjamin Ghasemi
, Larry Gigliotti
, Kris Irwin
, Samuel J. Keith
, Matt Kelly
, Gerard Kyle
, Elizabeth Metcalf

Mark D. Needham, Neelam C. Poudyal, Michael Quartuch, Shari L. Rodriguez, Chelsie Romulo, Ryan L. Sharp, William Siemer, Matthew T. Springer, Richard Stedman, Taylor Stein, Timothy R. Van Deelen, Richelle L. Winkler, Kyle Maurice Woosnam

W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) a high priority for wildlife management. As wildlife management agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek to reach new audiences, college campuses present a unique opportunity to cultivate nontraditional path hunters. Despite recent proliferation of R3 initiatives, little research has evaluated effects of hunting programs on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of new hunters. We designed and implemented Getting Started Outdoors: Hunting 101 workshops specifically targeting college students without previous hunting experience, and we assessed workshop efficacy with a theoretically-grounded approach to workshop evaluation. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys conducted before, shortly after, and 12–18 months after workshops, we assessed impacts of R3 efforts at large public universities in 16 different U.S. states. Across all states, 19 workshops attracted 314 total participants, with 255 completing both pre- and post-workshop assessments and 133 completing the follow-up surveys. Workshops significantly increased participants' confidence in hunting, reduced barriers related to inadequate knowledge and skills, and fostered positive views of hunters and hunting. Immediately after workshops, most participants said they would definitely (50%) or probably (34%) hunt in the future; 82% said they would likely (or very likely) purchase a hunting license. Over one year after the workshops, 34% of workshop participants reported having hunted, and another 45% said they would probably hunt in the future. Overall, workshops attracted a diverse population of potential hunters, increased interest in future hunting, and created hunting advocates. Findings highlight the potentially powerful impact that R3 programs focused on diverse college students can have on the future of hunting across the United States.

Original language	English
Article number	e1482
Journal	Wildlife Society Bulletin
Volume	47
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1482
State	Published - Sep 2023

Funding

We thank all of the collaborators from universities, conservation NGOs, and state wildlife agencies around the United States who assisted with workshop design and implementation, questionnaire design and implementation, and data management and analysis (see Table S7 , available in Supporting Information for full list of collaborators). We also thank all the students who participated in the workshops and the evaluation effort. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request. This research was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Multistate Conservation Grant Program (grant No. F18AP00171 and No. F19AP00094), which is jointly managed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Service's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.

Funders	Funder number
F19AP00094, F18AP00171
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Keywords

attitudes
behaviors
college students
evaluation
hunting
recruitment
retention
university
wildlife management

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10.1002/wsb.1482

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von Furstenberg, R., Vayer, V. R., Larson, L. R., Nils Peterson, M., Lee, K. J., Stevenson, K., Ahlers, A. A., Anhalt-Depies, C., Bethke, T., Clark, B., Davan, K. M., Dayer, A. A., Fisher, T. E., Ghasemi, B., Gigliotti, L., Irwin, K., Keith, S. J., Kelly, M., Kyle, G., ... Woosnam, K. M. (2023). Evaluating impacts of R3 workshops for first-time hunters at universities across the United States. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 47(3), Article e1482. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1482

@article{f89b03c001f64187bf546db7cd49b254,

title = "Evaluating impacts of R3 workshops for first-time hunters at universities across the United States",

abstract = "Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) a high priority for wildlife management. As wildlife management agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek to reach new audiences, college campuses present a unique opportunity to cultivate nontraditional path hunters. Despite recent proliferation of R3 initiatives, little research has evaluated effects of hunting programs on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of new hunters. We designed and implemented Getting Started Outdoors: Hunting 101 workshops specifically targeting college students without previous hunting experience, and we assessed workshop efficacy with a theoretically-grounded approach to workshop evaluation. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys conducted before, shortly after, and 12–18 months after workshops, we assessed impacts of R3 efforts at large public universities in 16 different U.S. states. Across all states, 19 workshops attracted 314 total participants, with 255 completing both pre- and post-workshop assessments and 133 completing the follow-up surveys. Workshops significantly increased participants' confidence in hunting, reduced barriers related to inadequate knowledge and skills, and fostered positive views of hunters and hunting. Immediately after workshops, most participants said they would definitely (50\%) or probably (34\%) hunt in the future; 82\% said they would likely (or very likely) purchase a hunting license. Over one year after the workshops, 34\% of workshop participants reported having hunted, and another 45\% said they would probably hunt in the future. Overall, workshops attracted a diverse population of potential hunters, increased interest in future hunting, and created hunting advocates. Findings highlight the potentially powerful impact that R3 programs focused on diverse college students can have on the future of hunting across the United States.",

keywords = "attitudes, behaviors, college students, evaluation, hunting, recruitment, retention, university, wildlife management",

author = "\{von Furstenberg\}, Richard and Vayer, \{Victoria R.\} and Larson, \{Lincoln R.\} and \{Nils Peterson\}, M. and Lee, \{Kangjae Jerry\} and Kathryn Stevenson and Ahlers, \{Adam A.\} and Christine Anhalt-Depies and Taniya Bethke and Brian Clark and Davan, \{Kiley M.\} and Dayer, \{Ashley A.\} and Fisher, \{Todd E.\} and Benjamin Ghasemi and Larry Gigliotti and Kris Irwin and Keith, \{Samuel J.\} and Matt Kelly and Gerard Kyle and Elizabeth Metcalf and Needham, \{Mark D.\} and Poudyal, \{Neelam C.\} and Michael Quartuch and Rodriguez, \{Shari L.\} and Chelsie Romulo and Sharp, \{Ryan L.\} and William Siemer and Springer, \{Matthew T.\} and Richard Stedman and Taylor Stein and \{Van Deelen\}, \{Timothy R.\} and Winkler, \{Richelle L.\} and Woosnam, \{Kyle Maurice\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1002/wsb.1482",

language = "English",

volume = "47",

journal = "Wildlife Society Bulletin",

issn = "0091-7648",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc.",

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}

von Furstenberg, R, Vayer, VR, Larson, LR, Nils Peterson, M, Lee, KJ, Stevenson, K, Ahlers, AA, Anhalt-Depies, C, Bethke, T, Clark, B, Davan, KM, Dayer, AA, Fisher, TE, Ghasemi, B, Gigliotti, L, Irwin, K, Keith, SJ, Kelly, M, Kyle, G, Metcalf, E, Needham, MD, Poudyal, NC, Quartuch, M, Rodriguez, SL, Romulo, C, Sharp, RL, Siemer, W, Springer, MT, Stedman, R, Stein, T, Van Deelen, TR, Winkler, RL & Woosnam, KM 2023, 'Evaluating impacts of R3 workshops for first-time hunters at universities across the United States', Wildlife Society Bulletin, vol. 47, no. 3, e1482. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1482

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating impacts of R3 workshops for first-time hunters at universities across the United States

AU - von Furstenberg, Richard

AU - Vayer, Victoria R.

AU - Larson, Lincoln R.

AU - Nils Peterson, M.

AU - Lee, Kangjae Jerry

AU - Stevenson, Kathryn

AU - Ahlers, Adam A.

AU - Anhalt-Depies, Christine

AU - Bethke, Taniya

AU - Clark, Brian

AU - Davan, Kiley M.

AU - Dayer, Ashley A.

AU - Fisher, Todd E.

AU - Ghasemi, Benjamin

AU - Gigliotti, Larry

AU - Irwin, Kris

AU - Keith, Samuel J.

AU - Kelly, Matt

AU - Kyle, Gerard

AU - Metcalf, Elizabeth

AU - Needham, Mark D.

AU - Poudyal, Neelam C.

AU - Quartuch, Michael

AU - Rodriguez, Shari L.

AU - Romulo, Chelsie

AU - Sharp, Ryan L.

AU - Siemer, William

AU - Springer, Matthew T.

AU - Stedman, Richard

AU - Stein, Taylor

AU - Van Deelen, Timothy R.

AU - Winkler, Richelle L.

AU - Woosnam, Kyle Maurice

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) a high priority for wildlife management. As wildlife management agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek to reach new audiences, college campuses present a unique opportunity to cultivate nontraditional path hunters. Despite recent proliferation of R3 initiatives, little research has evaluated effects of hunting programs on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of new hunters. We designed and implemented Getting Started Outdoors: Hunting 101 workshops specifically targeting college students without previous hunting experience, and we assessed workshop efficacy with a theoretically-grounded approach to workshop evaluation. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys conducted before, shortly after, and 12–18 months after workshops, we assessed impacts of R3 efforts at large public universities in 16 different U.S. states. Across all states, 19 workshops attracted 314 total participants, with 255 completing both pre- and post-workshop assessments and 133 completing the follow-up surveys. Workshops significantly increased participants' confidence in hunting, reduced barriers related to inadequate knowledge and skills, and fostered positive views of hunters and hunting. Immediately after workshops, most participants said they would definitely (50%) or probably (34%) hunt in the future; 82% said they would likely (or very likely) purchase a hunting license. Over one year after the workshops, 34% of workshop participants reported having hunted, and another 45% said they would probably hunt in the future. Overall, workshops attracted a diverse population of potential hunters, increased interest in future hunting, and created hunting advocates. Findings highlight the potentially powerful impact that R3 programs focused on diverse college students can have on the future of hunting across the United States.

AB - Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) a high priority for wildlife management. As wildlife management agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek to reach new audiences, college campuses present a unique opportunity to cultivate nontraditional path hunters. Despite recent proliferation of R3 initiatives, little research has evaluated effects of hunting programs on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of new hunters. We designed and implemented Getting Started Outdoors: Hunting 101 workshops specifically targeting college students without previous hunting experience, and we assessed workshop efficacy with a theoretically-grounded approach to workshop evaluation. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys conducted before, shortly after, and 12–18 months after workshops, we assessed impacts of R3 efforts at large public universities in 16 different U.S. states. Across all states, 19 workshops attracted 314 total participants, with 255 completing both pre- and post-workshop assessments and 133 completing the follow-up surveys. Workshops significantly increased participants' confidence in hunting, reduced barriers related to inadequate knowledge and skills, and fostered positive views of hunters and hunting. Immediately after workshops, most participants said they would definitely (50%) or probably (34%) hunt in the future; 82% said they would likely (or very likely) purchase a hunting license. Over one year after the workshops, 34% of workshop participants reported having hunted, and another 45% said they would probably hunt in the future. Overall, workshops attracted a diverse population of potential hunters, increased interest in future hunting, and created hunting advocates. Findings highlight the potentially powerful impact that R3 programs focused on diverse college students can have on the future of hunting across the United States.

KW - attitudes

KW - behaviors

KW - college students

KW - evaluation

KW - hunting

KW - recruitment

KW - retention

KW - university

KW - wildlife management

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85169168923

U2 - 10.1002/wsb.1482

DO - 10.1002/wsb.1482

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85169168923

SN - 0091-7648

VL - 47

JO - Wildlife Society Bulletin

JF - Wildlife Society Bulletin

IS - 3

M1 - e1482

ER -

Evaluating impacts of R3 workshops for first-time hunters at universities across the United States

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