R3 stands for the recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters, anglers, and outdoor participants. As hunting and angling participation trends decline nationwide, faced with societal changes, and recognizing a need to better connect West Virginias citizens and visitors with the outdoors, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) has developed a Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) Strategic Plan to guide its future efforts and program development.
Get Involved
- Get outside! Enjoy hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, boating and a variety of other activities at one of our West Virginia State Parks or public lands. Need ideas of where to go? Check out the WVDNR Interactive Map!
- Purchase a hunting or fishing license and equipment. Key conservation funding comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, as well as excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, motorboat fuel and fishing equipment. Buy a license today!
- Take someone outside. Introduce a friend or family member to one of the many outdoor activities the state has to offer, such as hunting, fishing or bird watching. Be sure to follow up with them after your experience to see how you can help them continue their journey.
- Share your story. Becoming an outdoor advocate will help inspire others to do the same. Share your story in person or on social media and be sure to tag #wvhunt or #wvfish!
- Try something new. Are you a boater who has never tried fishing? Or a target shooter who has never gone hunting? Now is a great time to learn a new outdoor activity and support conservation in West Virginia.
- Join a conservation organization. By joining an outdoor group or club, you will become a conservation steward while meeting people with similar interests. Check out the partners involved with R3!
Why is R3 Important?
Outdoor recreation is important for the health, well-being and enjoyment of West Virginia residents, and indeed, for all Americans. Hunters, shooters, anglers and boaters also provide important sources of funding through the sale of licenses as well as excise tax revenue allocated to conservation through the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program, fws.gov/wsfrprograms. To increase participation in outdoor recreation, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) developed a R3 Strategic Plan to guide future efforts.
What Have We Done?
In an effort to reverse the decline in participation, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, with help from various partners and consultants, has developed the WVDNR R3 Strategic Plan and Situation Analysis. Through various meetings with staff and stakeholders, we have developed a living document that will guide our future efforts in increase participation in hunting, angling, shooting sports, boating and wildlife viewing.
Increasing outdoor participation is a national movement, and strategic plans have been put in place to help R3 all over the country. In addition to our strategic plan, we will be following guidance from:
• The National Hunting and Shooting Sports Action Plan developed by The Council to
Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, The Wildlife Management Institute and
the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program.
• Recommendations and Strategic Tools for Effective Angler Recruitment, Retention
and Reactivation (R3) efforts developed by the Aquatic Resources Education
Association and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.
Additional Resources
