RAPID CITY, SD (September 16, 2025) – The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) will attend the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Annual Meeting, September 21-24, in Tucson, AZ. The annual conference unites fish and wildlife leaders from across North America to address conservation priorities, science-based management, and R3 (recruitment, retention, reactivation). More than 700 participants from U.S. states, territories, Canada, and Mexico attend to share successes, tackle challenges, and shape policy. Attendees include directors, program managers, law enforcement, legal affairs, professionals representing fisheries, wildlife habitat, industry, and public affairs.

“NBEF welcomes the opportunity to participate in conversations with AWFA conference attendees,” explained Marilyn Bentz, NBEF Executive Director. “The conservation, R3 and hunter safety topics are very important to NBEF and the industry.”

NBEF endeavors to spread NBEF’s message about its safety and success-focused bowhunter ed classes, informational materials and to enthusiastically support the industry.

NBEF helps bowhunters learn to be safe, successful and stewards of the sport. NBEF offers bowhunting instructional items, books, videos, 3-D models, apparel and more at nbef.org.

About NBEF

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation offers instructional content and tools for bowhunter education classes in the US. Helping bowhunters learn to become safe and successful hunters and stewards of the sport is important to the NBEF. NBEF provides the bowhunter certification and class content that some states and certain circumstances require to bow hunt. NBEF provides instructor training and certification.

NBEF oversees the International Bowhunter Education Program and works with the International Hunter Education Association and state agencies to coordinate a unified program. States may have additional requirements. Europe and other countries offer full reciprocity for the NBEF (IBEP) certification and conduct classes.

NBEF also oversees the International Crossbow Education Program and works with state agencies responsible for crossbow education to develop comprehensive online crossbow safety courses that teach students important laws and regulations, game identification, and safe, responsible handling of crossbow equipment.

NBEF is a 501(c)3 corporation that isn’t a membership-based organization. Tax-deductible donations to support this non-profit are welcome.

Learn more at nbef.org.

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NATIONAL BOWHUNTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION MEDIA CONTACT: Kim Emery, Firefly Publicity, kim@fireflypublicity.com