Over the past several years, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) has been working with resident sporting groups and other interested organizations to take an innovative and proactive approach to combating the decline in hunter and angler participation. Through the Hunting and Angling Heritage Working Group (HAHWG), the AGFD has organized the leadership of various, sometimes diverse, user groups into a cohesive program of outdoor activities, particularly aimed at youth and other potential new hunters and anglers. The Wildlife Management Institute participated in this year's HAHWG annual retreat where every year, new and different ideas are brought forth and debated by the group.

The approach of the HAHWG is to organize the leaders of conservation groups, outdoor industry representatives, youth organizations, and wildlife professionals in order to synergistically preserve and protect the hunting and angling tradition, under the guidance of the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation. By their nature, each representative of the member groups has a different perspective not only on how to approach the loss of hunters and anglers, but also on how they define and measure success. It is truly a venue where egos are checked at the door, and where the only bad idea is the one that isn't offered up to the group.

Working together, partners in the HAHWG all benefit from helping to stabilize or even increase the numbers of angling, boating, hunting, and shooting participants. Conservation organizations benefit by increasing membership rosters and in turn building support for large-scale habitat projects. The state agency benefits by increasing license sales and from the influx of additional excise tax dollars from the sale of angling and hunting gear. The outdoor industry benefits by increasing sales of outdoor equipment, and youth organizations gain by increasing the number of youth involved in healthy outdoor activities.

The coordinators and participants in the HAHWG focus on providing hands-on introductory mentored events that are tailored for success. From basic firearms handling skills to sporting clays and marksmanship to hunting small (and sometimes large) game, the events follow standards and best practices and match beginners with experienced mentors who teach the outdoor skills needed to hunt, fish, or trap on their own. The events are made possible by the dozens of participating groups, grant programs, and coordination with the AGFD

Ultimately, the HAHWG hopes to assist the AGFD pass on outdoor traditions and keep hunting and fishing relevant in an ever-changing world. Other states would do well to examine the HAHWG program in Arizona and determine if the program, or some modified version of it, would help to stem the ebb of anglers, boaters, hunters and shooters in their state. (jwg)