Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Shari LeGate The Industry’s Future — Your Help Is Needed! n June 2008, the Sixth Annual ShootSo, the question of “Where are we organizations from six segments of the ining Sports Summit, hosted by the headed?” became “What are we going dustry volunteered their time to tackle that National Shooting Sports Founda- to do?” question and find answers. tion (NSSF), brought together industry Enter Task Force 20/20. Twenty-six “The summit concluded in June, but leaders from the hunting and it didn’t end. It was just shooting sports. They were the beginning,” said Frank there to examine a three-year Briganti, director of indusoutdoor research project and try research and analysis asked the question: “Where at NSSF. “We knew we are we headed?” had to address all the chal“The Future of Hunting lenges facing our industry and Shooting Sports — Reand the summit was the search-Based Recruitment starting point.” and Retention Strategies,” NSSF President Steve a 261-page report, clearly Sanetti said now comes the shows the outdoor sports true test. have taken a significant hit. “We have to meld the That wasn’t a surprise to anyresults of the summit, the one attending the summit. information and suggestions However, the upside: The rewe gleaned, into a coherent, port lists 196 action items to Will there be a hunting and target-shooting heritage to pass on to the next concrete and effective plan generation? Enter Task Force 20/20 — and you. best address those hits. of action,” Sanetti said. I Increase Participation By 20 Percent eeting for the first time in October, the task force set their goal: Increasing hunting and target shooting participation by 20 percent over the next five years using the top six identified action items deemed most important from the report. #1: Youth Programs. Promote and provide youth programs. Hunting and shooting initiation occurs at a young age and easy entry into the sport is critical. #2: Marketing Approach. Identify and establish clearly defined goals and commit those goals to writing. #3: Retention. Keep the aging demographics active and reinvigorate the lapsed shooter, plus create activities to bring in new shooters, such as mentoring. #4: Age & Demographics. Be aware of the effect an aging society has on hunting and shooting. Younger shooters are more M active. Retention program for seniors is vital. #5: Access. Continue to ensure there are available lands for hunting and shooting. #6: Coordinated Efforts. Bring together the efforts of everyone to accomplish one goal. Coordinate available and planned programs with all organizations and agencies. This all presents a daunting challenge, but one that’s already seeing progress, as NSSF Senior Vice President Chris Dolnack pointed out. “With hunting and shooting facing serious challenges in the near future, these individuals checked their hats at the door and, with enthusiasm and optimism, made an auspicious start for Task Force 20/20 and all that it means to the future of hunting and shooting,” Dolnack said. Continued on page 43 National Wild Turkey Federation The Best Practices Workbook presents invaluable information. It is available at www. taskforce2020.org. 40 Read SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.com • SHOT SHOW EXTRA SUPER ISSUE 2009