The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites the public to attend one of three seminars conducted by renowned researcher, speaker, and writer Mark Damian Duda. The seminars are being hosted by the DNR to discuss the future of hunting and shooting sports participation in the United States.

Duda will address hunting and shooting participation in the United States, trends in participation, the American hunter, the hunting culture, reasons for hunting cessation, hunter satisfaction and ex-hunter dissatisfaction, public opinions on hunting and programs that can be utilized to increase hunting participation.

Each seminar will be conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. July 8-10 at various locations throughout Michigan. The locations are as follows: July 8, the Lansing Center, 333 East Michigan Ave., Lansing; July 9, the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, 104 Conservation Dr., Roscommon; and July 10, the Citizens Forum at Lakeview Arena, 401 East Fair Ave., Marquette. There is no charge to attend the seminars, which are being made possible in part by Safari Club International.

"We are honored to have Mark Duda and his wealth of experience and knowledge come to our state to discuss the important national trends in hunting and shooting sports," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "I encourage anyone interested in sustaining the hunting heritage of our state to attend these presentations."

Duda is the executive director of Responsive Management, an internationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues located in Harrisonburg, VA.

Duda has been conducting research on hunting and shooting participation for more than 20 years. He was a columnist for North American Hunter magazines for seven years and has authored three books including The Future of Hunting and the Shooting Sports in 2008. Mark holds a master's degree from Yale University with a concentration in natural resource policy and planning.

For more information, contact Kevin Frailey at (517) 373-7306 or FraileyKmichigan.gov.