Idaho sees new wave of hunters and anglers in millennials

As they work to recruit the next generation of hunters and anglers, Idaho officials are targeting food-conscious millennials who want to know where the steak they’re grilling comes from.

Many millennials didn’t grow up in a traditional hunting or fishing household, but the idea of eating meat they harvested themselves appeals to them, said Virgil Moore, director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

A couple of years ago, the department started offering “Idaho Wildavore” classes to teach people 18 and older how to scout deer and wild turkeys, and shoot, gut and butcher them. The classes, offered in southern Idaho, also cover hunting ethics.

The classes haven’t been offered in North Idaho, but they could be in the future, said Chip Corsi, Idaho Fish and Game’s regional director in Coeur d’Alene, who sees a potential draw for young adults interested in sustainably harvested meat and the health benefits of eating wild game.

“Elk is actually organic food, and there are a lot of elk,” Corsi said.

The 18- to 34-year-old demographic recently surpassed baby boomers as Idaho’s largest population segment. Moore credits the group for contributing to the state’s recent growth in sales of fishing and hunting licenses.

“We’re one of 15 states in the nation where license sales are still growing,” said Moore, who spoke Tuesday in Coeur d’Alene at a gathering of wildlife biologists from Idaho and Washington.

About 35 percent of Idaho residents have hunted in the past two years, and 53 percent have gone fishing, according to department data. The percentages are much higher than in neighboring Washington, a more urban population where less than 5 percent of state residents hunt and about 15 percent consider themselves anglers.

In addition to recruiting young adults, Idaho Fish and Game has been selling more hunting and fishing licenses to women and Hispanics.

Until recently, most of Idaho’s hunters and anglers were “middle-aged white guys,” Moore said. “We’re starting to see new participation, which is exciting.”

License sales make up a significant portion of Idaho Fish and Game’s annual budget, which is motivating the agency to recruit new hunters and anglers. Along with revenue from a federal excise tax on outdoor equipment, license sales account for about half of the agency’s annual budget.

Sales of Idaho hunting licenses also got a boost from recent mild winters, Moore said. Mild winters increase survival rates for deer and elk, which boosts hunter success rates and strengthens license sales. Meanwhile, a rebounding kokanee population in Lake Pend Oreille has helped drive sales of fishing licenses, he said.