Digital platforms are increasingly used as tools for education and socialization. To engage with people who are new to hunting, state fish and wildlife agencies and R3 practitioners may benefit from using online resources. This project sought to identify which resources novice hunters turn to when trying to learn about hunting or obtain social support from other hunters. Through focus groups and a cross-regional survey administered in 2025, Southwick Associates and DJ Case & Associates explored the role that online/social media resources and communities play in the hunting journeys of new hunters. Key takeaways from this work include the top hunting information that novice hunters look for online, the frequency of their usage on different platforms per hunting season, and the features that they would like to see on social media and online community resources used for hunting.

Read the full report here to learn more about the details of the study and actionable recommendations!