Illinois Launches New Learn to Hunt Program

The Illinois Learn to Hunt, a partnership between the Illinois Natural History Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is a program for adults (age 18+) that teaches why, how and where to hunt in Illinois. Because hunter numbers are declining statewide and nationally, this program was created to introduce people to hunting who have never tried it before, to reengage hunters who have lapsed out of active hunting, and to keep current hunters educated and learning. Many people who are interested in getting into hunting do not know where or how to begin. Skills gained from the workshops allow participants to learn and get comfortable with the essential knowledge needed for their first hunt. Illinois Learn to Hunt hosts four types of workshops (deer, turkey, small game and waterfowl) designed to teach participants the different methods of hunting for each specific type of game.

Hunting also provides many benefits directly for conservation. Due to the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, an 11 percent excise tax placed on hunting and shooting equipment, funding is provided for shooting ranges, hunter education courses, purchase and restoration of wildlife habitat, and maintenance of many public recreation areas. Bird watchers, hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor recreation participants benefit from the funding provided by hunters, and most are not aware of the impact hunters have on the community and economy. The hunting industry encourages tourism, creating a need for many jobs and bringing money into the area, which often goes toward local taxes, public schools and other public projects.

The recent trend toward healthy and organic living has given rise to the locavore movement, creating a market for knowledge about how natural food can be obtained. We teach participants why, how and where to harvest game locally, humanely and efficiently. One thing most participants enjoy about the workshops is that we also teach them how to process game meat, allowing them to become more comfortable providing for themselves and their families directly from the field to the table.

The Illinois Learn to Hunt program is still young and will continue to grow with about 50 events over the next year. This is a great way for people to gain a soft introduction to hunting, the culture and the impacts on conservation. More hunters create more revenue, allowing for the purchase of more public land, more recreation, and more conservation opportunities.

Testimonials from Learn to Hunt (LTH) participants

• The LTH Workshops have shown me how important hunting is to wildlife conservation while also showing me that eating wild game is an ethical alternative to traditional meats. Alexandria Blaylock-Buchanan
• It opened my eyes to how easy it can be to get out and hunt. Not every hunt needs to be a week-long trip in the mountains. Harvey Watts
• It helped me better understand the need for hunting in the ecosystem. Antonio Palomino
• This class reinforced a lot of my desire to hunt my own food. Jay Ward
• The program reinforced the idea that I want to eat more wild game rather than processed food or feedlot beef. Cassandra Wilcoxen

Kristen Black is from Fayetteville, GA, earned her BSFR from the University of Georgia, MS from University of North Dakota, is an Associate Wildlife Biologist ®, IDNR Certified Wingshooting Instructor, and serves as a Hunter Recruitment Specialist for the Illinois Learn to Hunt Program. Dan Stephens is from O’Fallon, MO, earned his BS from Murray State University in 2013, is an IDNR Certified Wingshooting Instructor, and now serves as a Hunter Recruitment Specialist for the Illinois Learn to Hunt Program. Adam Wojciechowski is a fourth-year Fish and Wildlife student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and serves as a technician with the Illinois Learn to Hunt Program.