Research shows that what you say and how you say it matters. Individual words and phrases can affect how people perceive archery and bowhunting. Words invoke certain feelings based on cultural or historical associations, whether accurate or not. Some words can resonate with people, while others elicit disapproval or misunderstanding. And unfortunately, a lack of understanding or a negative reaction can have a lasting effect on a nonhunter's opinion and perception of you, your business, and the sport in general. Knowing the difference between words that resonate and words that don't, can help you better connect to newcomers, while convincing them to try archery and bowhunting.

Keywords and Phrases That Work

According to Frank Luntz's book “Words That Work,” the following words may be particularly relevant to conversations about hunting. This list was also compiled using examples from the “How to Talk About Hunting” book by Mark Damian Duda and the NRA Hunters' Leadership Forum.

• Legal, Regulated Hunting: Duda's book compares studies using similar but different terms regarding how people hunt. In the first study, 61% of respondents expressed approval of “regulated hunting” compared with 79% who expressed approval of “legal hunting.” When the terms were combined into “legal, regulated hunting” in a third survey, 88% of respondents expressed approval for the activity. In other words, saying “legal, regulated hunting” is the best way to describe how hunters hunt because it lets nonhunters know that hunting is controlled and helps lead to healthy wildlife populations.
• Lifestyle: Hunting is an example of a lifestyle choice with social, biological, nutritional, and economic benefits. Explaining what the “hunting lifestyle” looks like can help nonhunters understand how hunters view the sport.
• Independent: Luntz said this concept appeals to those who want to be self-sufficient and self-reliant since a hunter's success requires individual strength and knowledge.
• Efficient: People tend to associate efficiency with the idea of getting more for less or wisely using resources. Hunting is associated with self-sufficiency, and in turn it's an efficient use of resources because the venison from a single deer yields enough meat to sustain an individual or family for several months. It can also be gifted to friends or donated to charitable organizations, further increasing the activity's efficiency.
• Investment: Purchasing a hunting license can be seen as an investment in the future of America's natural resources, thanks to the funding it provides for essential conservation and wildlife management work. Therefore, the act of learning to hunt marks an important personal and social investment, which most people approve of.
• Organic, All-Natural and Free-Range: Research has found these words to be particularly effective when talking about the food-related benefits of hunting. People like the idea of obtaining meat that is organic, all-natural and free-range.
• Healthy: Many people strive to be healthy so when you use the word in relation to hunting, people tend to listen. Explain that hunting creates healthy habitats, wildlife, food, and people.
• Children and Family: Connecting the idea of archery and bowhunting to kids and family members makes people see how inclusive and welcoming the activities can be for people of all ages. Therefore, they become more willing to support and participate.
• Humane: Nowadays consumers have ethical concerns about the origins of the meat they consume. Some despise the factory farming practices of the industrial meat market and desire a more humane alternative to meat production, which is great for bowhunting.
• Does Not Use Taxpayer Dollars: Many Americans have concerns about taxes and government spending in today's world. Thankfully, few state wildlife agencies receive funding from general taxpayers. Instead, agencies rely primarily on two funding sources: hunting and fishing license fees; and federal excise taxes, which are paid on firearms, ammunition and archery gear through the Pittman-Robertson Act. Sharing this sentiment is often well received by the public and garners additional support for and acceptance of hunting.

Being intentional and mindful of your language and approach when talking to newcomers can help them better connect and relate to archery and bowhunting, which increases the chances that they will try — and get hooked on — shooting a bow and arrow.

Portions of this article originally appeared on the HuntingRetailer.com website.