Game Processing Assets and Closing the New Hunter Knowledge Gap

Over the past few years multiple research projects centered around new hunters have uncovered the same five knowledge gaps as barriers to new/potential hunters. International Hunter Education Association’s studies on adult hunter ed graduates, Wildlife Management Incorporated’s work with new hunters seeking mentors and Wildlife Management Incorporated’s studies on new hunter personas and the journey new hunters take to hunting were just a few of the projects to uncover essentially the same list of knowledge gaps:  
1.  Understanding regulations, seasons, and licensing. 
2.  Learning how to field dress and process wild game.  
3.  Learning firearm handling. 
4.  Finding somewhere to hunt and understanding access to hunting areas. 
5.  Understanding general hunting techniques and prey behavior. 
While the individual items are not in the same order for every study or audience segment, these same knowledge gaps prevent new adult hunters from feeling confident enough to actually hunt.  
This project aims to develop video lessons and PowerPoint Decks for live training for the three knowledge gaps as of yet unanswered by the R3 Community.  
1.  Understanding regulations, seasons, and licensing. 
2.  Learning how to field dress and process wild game.  
3.  Finding somewhere to hunt and understanding access to hunting areas 
These lessons will be made available at no cost to state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, outdoor learning centers, and other recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3)-related organizations to use and disseminate among their hunting audiences. And for new/prospective hunters to find on their own on YouTube.
We will also be creating photography assets during the production of game processing videos for sharing with the entire R3 community to assist in telling the story of food as the center of the motivation for hunting.