SUWANEE, GA – The Georgia Chapter of Safari Club International (SCI) has renewed its commitment to remain as a supporting partner of Georgia’s R3 Initiative; an effort to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) hunters and recreational target shooters in the Peach State.

“We’re proud to continue our support of the important work being done to recruit, retain, and reactivate new and existing sportsmen and women, which are key components to protecting the future of hunting and wildlife conservation,” said Trevor W. Santos, President of the Georgia Chapter of SCI. “Since 2017, the Georgia Chapter of SCI, along with other conservation and sporting partners, have helped fund the Georgia R3 Initiative, and in doing so, have seen these efforts grow our ranks of hunters across the state.”

The Georgia R3 Initiative is a cooperative sponsored by the Georgia Chapter of SCI, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Wildlife Federation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Ducks Unlimited. The goals associated with the R3 Initiative are simple – increase and diversify participation in hunting and the shooting sports, and through educational efforts, increase public support for hunting and the shooting sports. The strategies and actions to accomplish these goals were development with insight from R3 community members and can be found in the Georgia Hunting Action Plan.

“The efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate hunters, anglers and shooting sport participants are fueled by deep-rooted conservation ethics,” said Breanna Bashford, R3 Coordinator for the Georgia R3 Initiative. “These recreational activities fund habitat management, public access, and wildlife and fisheries conservation. The Georgia Chapter of Safari Club International along with other conservation partners in the Georgia R3 Initiative, strive to integrate more people into our community to ensure the continual support of wild landscapes and wild creatures."

The Georgia R3 Initiative oversees several hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation programs including Academics Afield and Artemis Georgia. Academics Afield focuses on college students at numerous universities reaching new audiences with peer-to-peer mentoring, whereas Artemis Georgia focuses on building community support structures for women across all levels of involvement. The Academics Afield program is currently active at the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Fort Valley State University, Albany State University, Georgia Southern University, and Ogeechee Technical College. Both programs engage new and existing participants who continue to invest and support conservation organizations and policy.