[OldBaldGuy]

At their March meeting, NGPC commissioners approved a “20-Year Plan for Hunter/Angler Recruitment, Development and Retention in Nebraska,” making our state one of the few to develop a formal plan to address the declining numbers of hunters and fishermen.

“Since 1997, declining participation rates for hunters and anglers threaten what were once family traditions, and jeopardize the future of fish and wildlife conservation by reducing social, political, biological and financial support,” according to the Plan.

Although printed copies of the 22-page booklet were in short supply, I recently noticed the plan has been published on the NGPC website:
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/admin/RDRPlan.pdf

The document lists all those who worked on its development, explains the rationale for why it’s needed, and provides a timetable for the first five years (which, incidentally, began last Tuesday). It defines several “Participation Stages” as (1) Awareness, (2) Interest, (3) Trial, (4) Continuation with Support, (5) Continuation without Support, and (6) Permanent Participation.

Its five “Goals” and numerous “Objectives” lead to an “Action Plan” with 38 elements. Many, if not the majority, of those plans involve “partnering” relationships with groups and individuals around the state.

And that’s where the nearly 2,000 members of NEFGA come in. Or do we? It’s hard for me to read the plan and not see it as a challenge to those of us who care about the future of fishing around here.

I’ve plucked out the specific plans that relate primarily to fishing -- even more relate to hunting, but I don't know beans about hunting – and suggest you read through them. If you’re like me, you’re not going to agree with everything you read. If you disagree, what’s a better solution? What did they leave out of the plan?

Do you see any opportunities here, personally, or by groups you’re involved with, or through our virtual fishing community?

What, if anything, should we try to do with this?

PLAN #1
Develop and/or Enhance Statewide Family Hunting/Fishing Involvement

By creating and implementing species-specific weekend camps or workshops for families, especially within our state parks, this plan provides hunting and fishing social support within the family. Such efforts can be had with church groups and other nontraditional institutions. These include family skills camps, family outdoor education programs in the state parks and family-oriented hunting/outdoor workships.
Participation Stage = Participation with Support
Cost = >$100K, FTE = 0, Staff = >12

PLAN #2
Group/Personal Development Through Fishing

Advocates fishing as a healthy outdoor activity that benefits individuals and relationships by: Include fishing as a participatory activity for groups utilizing existing park amenities.

Create Noncomptetive Fishing Clubs. Get more casual anglers involved in fishing clubs as a social rather than competitive, activity – a place to go and socialize, tell stories, make friends, and set up fishing trips. Club members become fishing buddies and share expenses, boats, travel, etc.

Market fishing as a family-oriented activity, suitable for all generations.

Promote fishing in non-traditional outlets.
Participation Stage = Awareness/Interest
Cost = >$100K, FTE = 0, Staff = 1-2

PLAN #4
Urban Fishing Program/Mentored Youth Fishing Course

The intent of the course is to restructure the current Urban Fishing Program to be a more intensive course that generates interest and skills to go fishing. Fishing clinics will be six-week events and include a mentor.
Participation Stage = Permanent Participation
Cost = >10K - $25K, FTE = 0, Staff = 3-5

PLAN #6
Angler Development and Retention

Develop species-specific angling seminars, workshops, Web pages and publications to reach current and lapsed anglers designed to educate anglers on new skills, oportunities and techniques to enhance their ability to embrace new activities and their success in doing so.
Participation Stage = Participation with Support
Cost = >$25K - $50K, FTE = 0, Staff = 6-12

PLAN #7
The Open Fields and Public Anglng Access Program

Open Fields is a component in both the Senate and House versions of the 2007 Farm Bill. As written, the language would provide up to $20 million per year for access to private lands for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation. For Nebraska, Open Fields would augment the CRP-MAP program and could serve to expand and enhance the program to allow simultaneously for more hunting access and the addition of fishing access and access for wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Participation Stage = Awareness/Interest
Cost = >$100K, FTE = Partners, Staff = 3-5

PLAN #11
Significantly Expand Reach of Education Staff Across Nebraska by Developing and Hiring One New Outdoor Education Specialist in Each District

Many state that have shown great successes in enhancing the number of youth hunters and anglers maintain a large presence of education staff throughout the state. Having education professionals “on the ground” is a critical step in changing public behavior by coordinating regional educational programs aligned with local schools, church groups, etc., that have real impacts to Nebraska families.
Participation State = Awareness/Interest
Cost = >$100K, FTE = 6, Staff = 1-2

PLAN #12
STEP OUTSIDE Marketing Efforts

The simple marketing effort by the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s STEP OUTSIDE Program aims to push hunters and anglers to ask others to give it a try. This simple mentoring activity has proven effective as studies have shown that the majority of people would try hunting, shooting or fishing if asked by someone they know. This plan encourages this concept and provides for incentives to reward mentors.
Participation Stage = Awareness/Interest
Cost = $25K-$50K, FTE = 0, Staff = 3-5

PLAN #15
Volunteer Youth Fishing Instructor Recruitment and Retention

Volunteer Youth Fishing Instructors (YFIs) lead clinics to teach the fishing heritage to young people. The number of clinics reported should be increased as should the number of Youth Fishing Instructors (YFIs) and incentives should be offered to encourage YFIs.
Participation Stage = Permanent Participation
Cost = <$10K, FTE = 0, Staff = 1-2

PLAN #18
Outdoor Skills Camps Expansion

Expand the offering of Outdoor Skills Camp by forming a training/staff-sharing partnership with the University of Nebraska 4-H. Each camp would be one week in length, open to roughly 100 kids and could offer education in rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, archer, fishing, camping, canoeing, bird watching, hiking, wildlife calling, etc. Youth could choose the workshops they would like to participate in.
Participation Stage = Permanent Participation
Cost = $25K - $50K, FTE = Partners, Staff = 6-12

PLAN #20
Adult Beginner Fishing Seminar

Adult Beginner Fishing Seminars (ABFS) will be held to allow adults (i.e., ages 16 and over) the opportunity to learn the beginning basics of fishing during an approximately 2-3 hour lecture. These would include the distribution of entry-level fishing equipment and instructional materials to Adult Beginning Fishing Seminar participants. NGPC could utilize the participant database to promote fishing and analyze participation with respect to permit sales and retention of anglers.
Participation Stage = Permanent Participation
Cost = >$50K - $100K, FTE = 0, Staff = 3-5

PLAN #21
Beginning Angler Incentive Program

The main focus of the program will be to educate new anglers on how and where to fish, and to provide them with the basic necessary equipment needed to start fishing. Incentives for existing anglers to recruit new anglers to purchase fishing licenses will be in the form of a “buddy permit” system.

In addition, the new angler will be given information on how to receive free fishing equipment (see below). To assist beginning anglers with obtaining the basic gear necessary for catching a variety of species in Nebraska, the Fisheries Division’s Outdoor Education program will assemble “beginner fishing kits” to be given, free of charge, to new anglers who purchase fishing permits.

Staff from the district fisheries offices will install instructional signage at all the beginner fishing lakes.
Participation Stage = Participation with Support
Cost = >$25k - $50K, FTE = 0, Staff = 1-2

PLAN #23
Beginner Fishing Facilities

Secure funding of $750,000 annually to develop Beginner Fishing Facilities at 3-5 ponds, sandpits, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams per year. Identify and develop fishing access points.

Ensure that quality fishing ponds, sandpits, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams are being maintained within 50 miles of population areas (2,000+ people). Sample water bodies on a rotational basis, evaluate stocking regimes, densities and conduct creel surveys.

Develop and enforce fishing regulations on Beginner Fishing Pnds, sandpits, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams by conservation officer presence.

Determine which, if any, of our efforts contribute to an increase in fishing participation by tracking fishing permit sales.

Market restored lakes and new opportunities to former anglers. New lakes are being built as well – lapsed anglers may not know about these new opportunities.
Participation Stage = Participation with Support
Cost = >$100k, FTE = 0, Staff = 6-12

PLAN #32
Hunter/Angler Outdoor Media Events

Utilize large scale media outlets, partners, Expos, media days to showcase and introduce the public to hunting and fishing and the positive, healthy outdoor lifestyle they provide.
Participation Stage = Awareness/Interest
Cost = >$100K, FTE = 1, Staff = >12

PLAN #33
Understanding Nebraska’s Angler

Use NASIS to determine if there are any Nebraska-specific constraints to fishing, beyond what national literature cites (time, social support, etc.) and develop surveys to understand the multiple species avid anglers and what motivates them to fish for multiple species.
Evaluation component
Cost = <$10K, FTE = 0, Staff = 1-2