Press Releases

ALEXANDRIA, VA (December 20, 2007) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today announced that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will all participate in a direct mail marketing effort to increase fishing license sales. Seventeen states have currently signed on to participate in the direct mail marketing initiative, a program designed by RBFF to increase participation in the sport and generate awareness of the connection between fishing license sales and conservation efforts.

“With less than a month until our training workshop, we have 17 states committed to the lapsed angler recruitment program,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “The program aims to increase fishing license sales, a critical source of funding for state agency conservation. We are encouraged by the addition of Arkansas, Missouri and Utah, and look forward to additional participation.”

“The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission jumped at the chance to partner with RBFF on their lapsed angler recruitment program,” said Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Scott Henderson. “Being part of this multi-state effort is a great opportunity to learn from others and focus where we have the best chance of success. With this partnership, we hope to encourage Arkansans to start fishing again and to get their families hooked on this great outdoor activity.”

“By working with RBFF and other states," noted Missouri Department of Conservation Director John Hoskins, "we're able to raise the level of awareness not only in Missouri, but throughout the nation of the important contribution anglers make when they buy fishing permits. I don't think most people realize that each state gets Federal dollars in return for the permits its citizens buy. This all goes directly to keeping our waters and fish healthy."

“Partnering with RBFF to lure back lapsed anglers is exciting,” said Jim Karpowitz, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “Pulling from what has been learned in past direct mail campaigns is a smart move and I anticipate that we’ll see positive results.”

The product includes direct mail templates, instructions to implement a direct mail campaign and marketing assistance from RBFF. A workshop for states that will implement the program will be held January 16-17, 2008 in Dallas, Texas.

About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to increase participation in recreational angling and boating. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing campaign and Anglers’ Legacy.

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