If you’ve been involved in the hunting community for a long time—or even a short time—you’ve likely heard the term R3 when the topic turns to growing the sport. R3 stands for recruitment, retention and reactivation. The concept emerged in the 1980s as participation in hunting and shooting sports declined and has remained a central call to action for organizations focused on protecting and growing hunting.
Today, R3 continues to play a critical role by bringing in new hunters and encouraging past hunters to return to the field. It is also frequently referenced by hunting and conservation organizations when discussing the need for increased funding, as hunters are the largest contributors through the purchase of licenses, tags and equipment.
While recruitment, retention and reactivation remain a primary focus, there is now an added challenge: countering growing anti-hunting sentiment and organizations working to end the tradition of hunting. This evolving pressure has shifted the importance of R3 from simply growing participation for funding to helping ensure the future of hunting itself. Without continued growth, hunters risk becoming further outnumbered, which could lead to policy changes through legislation or ballot initiatives that affect the right to hunt.
This is not a distant concern. In Oregon, Initiative Petition 28 (IP28), also known as the PEACE Act (People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions), would place hunting, fishing, trapping and farming under the state’s animal abuse statutes—effectively banning these practices. The petition has already gathered nearly 100,000 of the 117,173 signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot, where Oregon voters will decide its fate.
Despite these challenges, there are also positive developments recognizing hunting. In Idaho, House Bill 652 was recently passed and signed into law, designating hunting as the official state sport. Idaho has a long-standing hunting tradition and one of the highest participation rates in the country, making it a strong example for R3 efforts in other states. The bill originated from grassroots engagement after 9-year-old Betty Grandy of Twin Falls asked readers of her self-published newspaper about their favorite outdoor activities. When hunting emerged as the clear favorite, she was posed a simple question in an interview: Is hunting a sport? She answered emphatically, “Yes,” which helped grow the idea into a legislative effort that ultimately became law.
This outcome highlights why R3 efforts are so important and should continue in response to anti-hunting sentiment. The actions of lawmakers and residents in Idaho demonstrate that when hunters of all generations come together, meaningful outcomes are possible. It also serves as a reminder that engaging new participants—especially younger ones—is key to protecting and advancing the future of hunting in the United States.
