Academics Afield
Academics Afield – A Collegiate Hunting Community
Academics Afield is a college learn-to-hunt program initiated and supported by GWF and the Georgia R3 Initiative. Academics Afield is focused on removing participation barriers while providing training and opportunities to students new to target shooting and hunting. Game species biology, hunting strategy, firearm training, a guided hunt, animal processing and a wild game meal are a component of every workshop. There are internships and volunteer opportunities at each participating school. In Georgia, programs are active at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Albany State University, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Southern University, and the University of Georgia. If you attend one of these colleges and are interested in participating, email Bre@gwf.org.
Goals
1) Engage folks from non-traditional backgrounds in hunting and shooting sports
2) Increase societal acceptance and support of hunting and shooting sports
The Academics Afield program began in 2019 at two colleges in Georgia. Since then, it has expanded across the United States to include programs in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In 2022, Georgia schools saw 190 participations at 46 events. Across all institutions, 57% of participants were women, 29% of participants were BIPOC, 53% of participants came from a medium to a large city, and 100% of participants now agree that hunters contribute to wildlife conservation. The Academics Afield program is an R3 effort to recruit, retain, and reactivate hunters and target shooters. After participating in the program, 90% of participants said they will probably or will definitely hunt in the future.
As of 2024, five programs across the southeast have been launched at Historically Black Colleges and Universities with the goal of enhancing diversity, inclusion, and equity in the hunting and shooting community. The program strives to help underrepresented communities forge stronger relationships with the outdoors and our natural resources. Visit our Guide and Toolkit to learn more about R3 for College Students and the Academics Afield model.
Career Series
The Career Series, funded by National Shoot Sports Foundation, was hosted for students interested in the firearm industry or wildlife management field. Guest speakers from the firearm industry and wildlife management field present information about their jobs. They also speak about their journeys into the career field and provide tips and tricks to pursue similar careers. View recordings of the professional insight below:
Alan Vestal: Owner of Alan’s Armory
Alan discusses why and how he got into the firearm industry, what he sells and how he sells it…
Dr. JT Pynne: Private Lands Biologist with Georgia Wildlife Federation
JT has a passion for learning about wildlife and habitat, and he is particularly interested in teaching others about biodiversity…
Sergeant William Freeman: Collegiate Conservation Outreach Coordinator at Alabama Department of Conservation Natural Resources
During his talk, Sergeant Freeman will focus on providing pathways to careers and opportunities across a very diverse conservation landscape…
Phillip Harding: National Training Manager at Burris/Steiner Optics
Phillip Harding from Burris Optics discusses his path into the industry and lessons learned along the way…
Donation Efforts for the Gear Locker
We strive to remove barriers that prevent individuals from learning to hunt. Georgia Wildlife Federation hosts a gear loaner program for our students, Academics Afield Gear Locker, that includes clothing, headlamps, gloves, and backpacks that students participating in our college learn-to-hunt program may borrow. If you want to donate new or lightly used hunting gear or clothing to this cause email Coral Minchey (cminchey@gwf.org).
Academics Afield is Supported By:
Student Testimonials
As a newcomer to UGA and the Athens area, the Academics Afield program has been an exciting way for me to meet new people with similar interests and gain knowledge and experience I’d be hard-pressed to encounter elsewhere in my busy life. Like most people, I imagine, I was not raised in a hunting or gun-owning household. Prior to getting involved in this program, I had absolutely no experience with hunting and only a basic knowledge of safe firearm handling and use due to personal interest. Through the program, I’ve learned so much in a very short time about responsibly hunting a variety of game and the firearms, techniques, and regulations involved. I’ve been able to meet people and go places I’d never know or have access to on my own. I possess skills I never thought I’d have or even need, and the program still has so much more to offer. I am grateful to Georgia Wildlife Foundation, Academics Afield and those involved and look forward to the opportunity to give back in the future.
Tristan Green-TagalogI was interested in participating in Academics Afield because it was able to give me as a student the opportunity to learn and try hunting firsthand under experienced hunters’ supervision. I also enjoyed that these workshops were free for students to participate in and gain a lot of knowledge in a variety of topics related to hunting and nature.
Tyra DoweryGallery
Resources
Bre Bashford
R3 Coordinator
303.330.9885
bre@gwf.org
Learn to Hunt!
Georgia Wildlife Federation,
–Artemis Georgia (Women’s Initiative)
Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Wildlife Resources Division
–Get Started
–Calendar of Events
–Regulations
–State Land Access
–Private Land Access
–Federal Land Access
–Hunter Resources
National Wild Turkey Federation
Program Accomplishments
Articles, Blogs, and Videos
Albany State University’s New Hunters Visit Mike Commander Archer Range
ALBANY, GEORGIA – On October 12, six students from Albany State University’s Academics Afield chapter, along with three mentors visited Mike Commander Archery Range on Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area in Dougherty County to develop their skills as accurate...
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Georgia Wildlife Federation Receives Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation State Grant
Covington, GA – The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) recently funded Georgia Wildlife Federation’s 2024-2025 SY project titled “Fort Valley State University Academics Afield: Connecting Underrepresented College Students to Conservation through Hunting”. Academics...
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Sometimes Lightning Strikes and We Get Thunder… A Non-Traditional Path into Hunting
Sometimes lightning strikes, and we get thunder... A non-traditional path into hunting Sometimes lightning strikes, and we get thunder. No, I’m not referring to electricity and sonic booms. I’m making a comparison to the specific set of conditions that need to be met...
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Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Academics Afield Program Receives SITKA Ecosystem Grant
Covington, GA – The Academics Afield Program, operated by Georgia Wildlife Federation, was recently awarded $10,000 from the SITKA Ecosystem Grant for encouraging the hunting experience. The Academics Afield program aims to address the need for increased access and...
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