National Updates
From the August 2nd National (SCI Crosshairs) Update....
Help Needed To Pass Firearms Excise Tax Reform
Safari Club International and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are calling on hunters to ask their Senators to pass Firearms Excise Tax reform before the summer congressional recess. On June 29, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010 (HR 5552) by a vote of 412 to 6. The bill is now pending in the Senate.
This legislation corrects a longstanding inequity in the Internal Revenue Code by permitting firearm and ammunition manufacturers to pay the federal excise tax payment on a quarterly basis. Currently, manufacturers pay this tax on a bi-weekly schedule, forcing many manufacturers to borrow money to ensure on-time payment. Industry members spend thousands of man-hours administering the necessary paperwork to successfully complete the bi-weekly tax payments -- monies that are due to the federal government long before manufacturers are paid by their customers. This excise tax is the major revenue source of wildlife conservation in the United States. This legislation will not increase the federal deficit, nor does it reduce the excise tax rate -- it simply changes the payment schedule to match other industries that support conservation through a federal excise tax.
SCI is asking hunters to call their Senators today at 202-224-3121 and ask them to support Senate passage of H.R. 5552 before Congress adjourns for the summer. http://bit.ly/9YgZAi.
Opportunity For SCI Members To Serve As Volunteers In An Elk Cull On Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Up to 240 volunteers may be selected by the National Park Service to participate in an elk cull to be conducted between Nov. 1, 2010 and Jan. 21, 2011 on Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) in North Dakota. Twenty volunteers will be needed for each of the 12 weeks of the cull. Those selected will participate in a cull and not a hunt. Only cow elk will be taken during the cull. Each volunteer will be entitled to up to one elk at the end of their five-day commitment of volunteer service. Applicants need not possess a hunting license, but must be able to 1) demonstrate a high-level of shooting proficiency using lead-free ammunition, 2) self-certify fitness for rigorous activity, 3) be able to legally possess a firearm and 4) be willing to sign a volunteer agreement after arriving at the park. Volunteers will be selected at random from qualified applicants. Applications must be made on-line, by going to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park website: http://www.nps.gov/thro/naturescience/upload/Application_Instructions.pdf. All applications must be made no later than Aug. 9, 2010.
During TRNP’s elk management planning process, Safari Club International strongly supported TRNP’s use of volunteers for the cull. SCI is currently involved in litigation to defend a similar program being conducted at Rocky Mountain National Park. We encourage SCI members to apply and would like to know about any SCI members who apply and/or who are selected to volunteer. Please contact Anna Seidman, Director of Litigation, aseidman@safariclub.org or 202-543-8733. For additional information about the cull, please consult: http://www.nps.gov/thro/naturescience/elk-management.htm.
SCI To Defend Against Another Wild Horse Gather Lawsuit
A U.S. District Court has granted SCI’s request to help defend against another lawsuit challenging a wild horse and burro gather designed to restore balance to the range and benefit other wildlife, including game animals and birds. Horse advocacy groups want to stop a planned gather of wild horses and burros from the Twin Peaks horse management area in northeast California/northwest Nevada. The gather is planned to start on Aug. 9. The horse groups have filed for a preliminary injunction to halt the gather despite the fact that every day that excess horses are on the range means more damage to the ecosystem and other wildlife. SCI has filed a brief in opposition to the injunction request. The Court will hold a hearing on Aug. 5 in Sacramento. Help SCI to continue defending sound wildlife management.
Of Windmills And Wildlife
“If wind farms get contracts to build on large tracts of federal lands, could public areas become de facto no-hunting areas? Walk onto a modern wind farm and you’ll feel like an ant in a field of sunflowers. Modern wind turbines stand 30-50 stories tall. Their blades swinging high above can be more than 130 feet long. Their steel towers are anchored in platforms of more than a thousand tons of cement and steel rebar, which are typically 30 to 50 feet across and anywhere from 6 to 30 feet deep.” (American Hunter Online) http://bit.ly/coGFmD.
Another Public Lands Omnibus Bill Coming Soon, Maybe
“The 111th Congress could come up with another massive public lands omnibus bill before convening in January. Congressman Mike Simpson's (R-ID) Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act and Senator Jon Tester's (D-MT) Forest Jobs and Recreation Act could be included, or not. With the severe escalation of partisan politics and divisiveness in recent years, it has become basically impossible to pass a Wilderness bill or any other type of public lands or outdoor recreation legislation on its own. Time on the Senate and House floor is so scarce and closely guarded and partisanship so bitter that the only way public lands legislation has any realistic chance is a relatively new invention called the omnibus bill.” Full Article at http://bit.ly/92KH66.
From the July 9th National Update....
SCI President’s Message Now Available Online
SCI President Dr. Larry Rudolph is now posting his President’s Message on the SCI Website. Please take a few minutes to read this month’s message and look for upcoming messages that will be posted regularly. Also take the time to view his recent speech to the United Nations via this link: http://bit.ly/cwbWc8. President Rudolph addressed the UN on June 16, explaining the important role that sustainable hunting plays in sustaining rural economies around the world. (VIDEO)
California SCI Chapters Help Defeat Lead Ban Legislation
California Assembly Bill 2223, introduced by Assembly Member Pedro Nava, would have stopped the use of lead shotgun ammunition for hunting of small mammals and game birds, and for recreational shooting, in all State Wildlife Management Areas. If passed, AB 2223 would have been another major step toward banning the use of all lead ammunition of any type statewide for hunting, target practice and other legitimate purposes. SCI’s California Chapter members were instrumental in creating a groundswell of opposition to this onerous legislation. Thanks to all those SCI CA Members who took time to contact their members of the state legislature. Unfortunately, the State Fish and Game Commission is considering a similar ban on lead ammunition in State Wildlife Management Areas. The Commission is scheduled to consider this issue at both of its next two meetings, in August and September.
SCIF AWLS Program In Full Summer Swing
The SCIF AWLS ranch has already hosted a slew of students who were eager to learn more about sustainable wildlife conservation, hunting and outdoor education. Testimonials are received nearly each week from students and educators who have participated in their eight days of classes. Take a minute to see the website below and read about all of the important work SCIF has done to make sure outdoor education is part of the education heritage that teachers take home from AWLS. http://bit.ly/duhkEP
Montana FWP Approves Increased Wolf-Hunt Quota
HELENA – “Montana hunters will be able to take more than twice as many wolves in the upcoming hunting season as were allowed last year. The five-member Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission decided unanimously this morning [July 8] to increase the number of wolves that can be harvested this fall to 186, up from 75 last year. … The commission decided to increase the number of wolves allowed for harvest and require harvests to be distributed evenly among three regions. So far, said Ken McDonald, chief of the agency's Wildlife Bureau, wolf depredations in 2010 are far outpacing those of last year. … The discussion of Montana's wolf season continues even as U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy is debating re-listing the species in response to a lawsuit brought by Defenders of Wildlife, a Washington, D.C.-based group. [Judge] Molloy has promised to make his final decision soon.” ARTICLE.
Safari Club International is participating as a defendant-intervenor to defend the current delisted status of Montana’s and Idaho’s wolves in the case now before Judge Molloy.
Humanitarian Services Quarterly Newsletter Now Available
SCIF Humanitarian Services has posted online the 3-D version of SCIF’s July 2010 Quarterly Newsletter. Please click here to read about a few of the varied projects undertaken recently by chapters and by individual SCI members in the realm of the Disabled Hunter, SafariCare/SafariWish, Sensory Safari and Sportsmen Against Hunger programs. Feel free to share these projects by forwarding this newsletter to friends and family. For a thermal-bound hard copy of the newsletter (published each January, April, July and October), contact SCIF Humanitarian Services at 520-620-1220. SCIF Newsletter.
Conserving Wildlife, Forests With People's Support
“Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania — Few villagers today conduct indiscriminate hunting of wildlife in national parks in their neighborhood after the government started rigorous programs to involve them in wildlife conservation exercise. The exercise may have begun decades ago, but the last five years have seen more efforts by the government to reap the wealth potential that has been in the wild from time immemorial. Tourism as one of the sources of revenues from the wildlife and other natural resources has as a result attracted much attention of the state to give the people education about the potential wealth buried in their surrounding area. Awareness of how to exploit their environment with only some care and a little love, has drawn much effort and enthusiasm from them, resulting in big rewards.” (AllAfrica.com) http://bit.ly/9ArtXC
African Hunting Bodies Parry Accusations
“Hunting organizations have questioned a report by Animal Rights Africa (ARA) which refers to South Africa's hunting industry as ‘bloody and ruthless.’ Professional Hunters' Association of SA (PHASA) president Eduard Katzke on Wednesday rejected as false ARA's portrayal of hunting as destructive. ‘To use the terms ”poaching” and ”hunt” in the same context indicates how uninformed ARA is on the role the hunting industry plays in conservation and wildlife management,’ he said.” (The Independent Online) http://bit.ly/9cScla
Supporting SCI Foundation – Wildlife Conservation, Outdoor Education, Humanitarian Programs
GOODSEARCH – If you do any kind of online searching (and who doesn’t these days?) this is a unique way to support SCIF and it doesn’t cost you a penny. Use GOODSEARCH as your search engine and SCIF will receive a contribution from the folks at GOODSEARCH each and every time you make a search online. There is also a feature for Shopping Online using the same Search Site. The GOODSEARCH site can be accessed by going to SCI’s online home page: www.safariclub.org.
From the May 7th National Update....
SCI Peru Chapter Helps Country Open First Big Game Hunting Season
This year will mark the first international hunting season in Peru in more than 40 years and this is thanks to the efforts of SCI, the International Affairs and Development Committed and the SCI Peru Chapter and local sport hunting organizations, all of whom are affiliated with SCI. The season goes from May 1, 2010 to Nov. 30, but while this is very limited season in regards to the number of species, it is a big step forward for conservation and sustainable management. A national conservation fee will be applied to all species taken by each hunter. For those interested in traveling to Peru, it is strongly encouraged that hunters contact the Peru Chapter to learn more about outfitters and huntable species. www.sciperu.org. The full listing of hunting regulations can be found at www.sciperu.org/documents/anuarioperu2010.pdf or www.cazaperu.com.
Space Available For AWLS 2010 Summer Workshops
Educators Learning about the Role of Hunters in Conservation: Consider sponsoring an educator to the SCIF American Wilderness Leadership School this summer. Tuition for an 8-day conservation/shooting sports program is $900 per person includes instruction, lodging, food and ground transportation to and from the airport. Sponsor educators working in parks and recreation programs, nature centers, elementary or secondary school teachers, librarians, or anyone working with youth. Each educator can reach thousands of students with the SCI conservation message. A recent survey of 2009 AWLS graduates demonstrates that they shared the SCI conservation message with their students, they participated in one or more shooting sports activity and they gained an understanding of how hunters’ license fees pay for wildlife management programs. Many said AWLS was a life-changing experience. Click here for an application: or call the SCIF Education Department at 1-877-877-3265.
Shooters Given Nine Tips To Tread Lightly On Public And Private Land
Ogden, UT – (AmmoLand.com) The nonprofit organization Tread Lightly!, in partnership with some of the nation’s most influential shooting sports organizations, has released nine tips to help shooters minimize their impact on the environment. The tips are part of a recent public awareness campaign developed to help shooters and hunters keep their access open by encouraging proper environmental and social behaviors. The multifaceted campaign is called Respected Access is Open Access. http://bit.ly/a5lIc2.
Uganda Wildlife Authority Confirms Sitatunga Hunting
(EturboNews.com) – Recent reports about the Sitatunga gazelle now being officially on the hunting list were confirmed last week by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), causing the predictable outcry among conservationists on one side, while those in favor of hunting considered it a step to open up hunting in the entire country and hoped for hunting blocks or areas to be established as concessions. There is among the more mature conservationists, however, still the concern about game numbers, which prompted at least some of them in communications to voice their concern, if not outright demand, that this MUST be ascertained first before hunting for any species should be granted. There is also a group categorically opposed to the consumptive use of wildlife, despite this being embedded in the amended Wildlife Act under "wildlife use rights." http://bit.ly/9W6tat.
Idaho At Forefront Of Collaboration On Public Land Use
(Idaho Statesman Online) – Private property rights advocate Fred Grant said he lost longtime friends over his willingness to sit down with environmentalists and forge a bill to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands and the ranching culture. But the 2009 law that established a science-review process, money for ranchers, more than 517,000 acres of wilderness and 315 miles of wild rivers was worth the effort, he said. "I don't think there is anybody I trust more than the conservationists on the Owyhee Initiative Board," Grant said. Similar collaborations have changed the dynamics of public land management across the American West, speakers said at a conference Saturday convened by the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University. Successes in the Owyhees and in the Henrys Fork of the Snake River basin, along with ongoing efforts in the Payette and Clearwater national forests and in Lemhi County, are putting Idaho at the forefront of a national shift from confrontational conservation to collaboration. It comes at a time when climate change is causing rapid changes on the land, increasing the call for restoring forests, range and watershed health, said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. For more, read HEREorhttp://bit.ly/a5O7Ho.
From the April 30th National Update....
California Expansion Of Bear Hunting Is Rejected
The state Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously Wednesday not to expand bear hunting grounds in California or eliminate the cap on the number of bears that can be killed each season. The commission decided not to make changes to existing regulations after the Department of Fish and Game, which initially urged the changes, reversed its position Tuesday afternoon because it had been deluged with public comments. Officials said they had not had time to respond to them all. By law, all comments must be answered before changes are made (LA Times Online). http://bit.ly/9q2Rjg
àThis story should highlight the consequences of inaction. The efforts of anti-hunting organizations are real as they continue to thwart state fish and game agencies that attempt to open sustainable hunting seasons. Throughout the year, SCI targets members in various states and congressional districts, calling on them, as hunters, to act on behalf of the sportsmen’s community. Please be a part of advocating for the hunting heritage.
UPDATE: European Union Commission Restricts Carriage Of Ammunition
Last week we reported on a new European Union Commission regulation that could make it very difficult for hunters to travel with ammunition in checked luggage in Europe. That regulation goes into effect today, April 29. SCI has just received new information from our European partners that it is likely that most EU member states will be able obtain an exemption from this regulation. An exemption would allow passengers to continue to carry ammunition in checked baggage. So far, SCI has been notified that Germany will continue to allow ammunition in checked baggage and has not changed its policies in response to the EU Commission regulation. Once SCI can confirm exactly which other countries have received an exemption, we will inform you. Whatever happens, SCI still suggests speaking with your airline or travel agent if you are travelling with ammunition through Europe.
Wisconsin Petitions To Delist Gray Wolves
On April 27, the State of Wisconsin submitted a petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the gray wolf (eastern timber wolf or Minnesota gray wolf) in the State of Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s petition noted that the State was joining the March 15, 2010 wolf delisting petition filed by the State of Minnesota. Wisconsin’s petition starts the clock ticking on the FWS to acknowledge receipt of the petition within 30 days and to publish a determination as to whether the delisting may be warranted within 90 days. If the FWS concludes the petition may be warranted, it must then “promptly commence a review of the status” of the species, to be completed within one year of receiving the petition. Wisconsin’s petition speculates that the state’s wolf population may exceed 700 animals in 2010.
Wisconsin has also filed an application for a permit to remove problem wolves, while the state’s wolves retain their endangered status. Michigan has filed a similar application. The FWS is soliciting comments on the two states’ applications. Comments must be submitted by May 20, 2010. Written comments may be submitted by U.S. Mail to the Regional Director, Attn: Peter Fasbender, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111–4056, or by electronic mail to permitsR3ES@fws.gov. SCI will be submitting comments on the two permit applications.
Nine Great Questions With Safari Club International CITES Delegate
SCI Foundation Conservation Committee Chairman Joe Hosmer sat down with the editor of www.HuntingLife.com recently to provide some highlights on how CITES played out. Please click HEREor go to http://bit.ly/anxLOp to check out the interview.
Judge Sets Hearing On Wolf Delisting In Northern Rocky Mountain Case
A federal court judge in Missoula, Montana has scheduled oral arguments on June 15, 2010 to hear arguments on whether gray wolves in Montana and Idaho should remain off the endangered species list. As a result of the delisting, Idaho and Montana held their first successful wolf harvests in 2009-2010. SCI, together with the NRA, are participating as Defendant-Intervenors in the case and SCI’s lawyers will be present at the hearing to defend the delisting.
Modern Sporting Rifle Owners Are Most Active Shooters
The first comprehensive survey to look at ownership and use of modern sporting rifles reveals that 8.9 million Americans went target shooting with AR-style rifles in 2009 and that participants using this type of rifle were the most active among all types of sport shooters. "These findings underscore that modern sporting rifles are becoming commonplace in America and are among the most desired firearms by sport shooters," said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, trade association of the firearms industry. "Those who want to ban these civilian sporting rifles simply because they look like military rifles must acknowledge after seeing this study that AR-style rifles are exceedingly popular with millions of Americans. These rifles are our industry's high-tech, cutting-edge product -- rugged, accurate, versatile, fun to shoot and easily accessorized -- and they're here to stay." (NSSF Press Release) Full release available at http://bit.ly/akCrsp
Severe Pneumonia Outbreak Kills Bighorn Sheep
Wildlife officials say an outbreak of bacterial pneumonia killing bighorn sheep herds in five Western states is without precedent. Every year, a small number of bighorn sheep succumb to pneumonia, but this winter Montana, Washington, Utah, Wyoming and Nevada all have reported unusually high incidences of sickness and death among their wild sheep populations. The outbreak's toll is difficult to determine, since bighorn sheep roam remote locations, but officials estimate 1,000 sheep in nine wild herds had died as of early April. Some 300 of those deaths represented sick animals that were culled—a measure adopted by three states to prevent the disease from infecting other herds. (AVMA Online) Read the full story at http://bit.ly/bV7q9E.
Senate Hearing Establishing New Guidelines For Filming Hunting Programs On Federal Lands
The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing on April 28, concerning S. 1241, sponsored by CSC Member Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and co-sponsored by CSC Co-Chair Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and CSC Vice-Chair Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT). This legislation would establish new guidelines for filming hunting and fishing programs on federal lands. CSF, along with 32 other organizations, sent a letter last week expressing support for this legislation that will direct the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to require annual permits and assess annual fees for commercial filming activities on Federal lands and waterways for film crews of five persons or fewer. (Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Newsletter) Letter available here: http://bit.ly/cX2plT
New Jersey Holds Public Hearing On Proposed Black Bear Policy
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has published a proposed Comprehensive Black Bear Policy that includes a black bear season for the fall of 2010. Written comments on the proposed policy may be submitted through June 18, 2010. The policy and comment information are accessible from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife site at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearpolicy10.htm. A public hearing on the policy is scheduled for May, 11, 2010 at 6 p.m. at the New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08625. SCI will attend the hearing to present oral testimony in support of the policy and will also be submitting a set of written comments.
SCI Announces Opposition to Proposed Montana Ballot Measures I-161 and I-160
February 24, 2010. I-161 would eliminate all “outfitter-sponsored” big game hunting licenses that are issued annually within Montana, and would instead return these tags into the pool of general non-resident licenses. All non-resident tags would then be available only via the draw system, and the cost of the deer-elk combination license would increase from $628 to $897, and the deer-only license would increase from $328 to $527.
It is unfortunate that some in the hunting community feel compelled to pit hunter against hunter on ballot issues. SCI would prefer that all hunters band together to fight against common threats, of which there are many. SCI also believes that the state legislatures and their duly-empowered game management agencies are best equipped to decide resource management issues.
From the January 15th National Update....
SCI President Larry Rudolph Speaks At Sportsmen’s Rally
On Jan. 12 New York sportsmen and women descended on the state’s Capitol building to remind all the state’s legislators that the voice of American hunters and anglers will be heard. SCI President Larry Rudolph addressed the nearly 2,000 hunters, stating:
With 12.5 million hunters in the United States, our outdoor community has a real opportunity to help elect legislators who support our hunting heritage and shape the legislative agenda both here at the state level and in the halls of Congress. I want to talk today about a subject that every lawmaker can understand – money. The economy is down, states are facing shortfalls, and programs and benefits are getting cut in state capitals across the country. There’s only one funding source that’s bringing in more revenue today than ever before – and that’s hunters.
Other event speakers included NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre, Ken Mathison, president of the Shooter's Committee on Political Education (SCOPE); James Rabbia, plant manager for Remington Arms in Ilion, NY; and New York State Rifle and Pistol Association president Tom King. The impressive showing of support for hunting and the Second Amendment was organized by state Assemblyman & Republican Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R-Canandagua). Read more about the event here.
Outdoor Channel To Exclusively Broadcast 'SCI TV' Exclusively At Safari Club International's 38th Annual Hunters' Convention
For the second consecutive year, Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: OUTD) today announced plans to produce "SCI TV," an entertaining and engaging television production that will air in the Reno Convention Center and area hotels during Safari Club International's (SCI) 38th Annual Hunters' Convention. The premier annual hunting event takes place in Reno, Nevada from Jan. 20-23. This is the second back-to-back year that Outdoor Channel will be producing SCI TV. Mike Rogers of "SCI Expedition Safari," and Larry Rudolph, SCI President, will serve as the hosts. The trade show television production features daily updates from the convention floor; in-depth interviews with the hottest hunting personalities; and segments from Outdoor Channel's best-in-class hunting shows, with special emphasis on "SCI Expedition Safari" and the significant philanthropic contributions SCI makes to wildlife conservation. Streaming Hunters' Convention video updates will also appear in a special dedicated section on OutdoorChannel.com. (PRNewsWire.com) (MORE)
SCI Foundation & The Salvation Army Team Up To Fight Hunger – 8th Annual Feed The Hungry Feast
The Salvation Army and the Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) are inviting the homeless and anyone else who needs a hot meal to attend the 8th annual Feed the Hungry Feast. As many as 1,600 guests are expected at the event from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the downtown Reno Events Center. The dinner is held each year on the eve of SCI’s annual Hunters’ Convention at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center…Eldorado Hotel Executive Chef Troy Cannan and his staff will prepare the game and other food donations into a great meal. Other sponsors assisting The Salvation Army include the RSCVA, C & M Food Distributing, Model Dairy, SportService, Truckee Sourdough Company, Harrah’s Reno and SYSCO. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Department will provide security…More than 150 volunteers are expected to help with the event, including the High Sierra Chefs Association, Wells Fargo, Kiwanis Sunrisers Club, Boy Scout Troop 152, Girl Scout Troop 72, McQueen High School football players, Job Corps students and members of The Salvation Army Advisory Board. The Salvation Army’s religious and social service programs serve millions of men, women and children in 118 nations. The organization has been meeting primary needs in Northern Nevada since 1884. For more information, call 775-688-4555 X 208 or visit our website at www.salvationarmyreno.com.
Safari Club Takes On Yellowstone Grizzly Ruling
Safari Club International is appealing a recent federal court ruling from U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula that returned grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone area to the list of threatened species, according to this AP story via KHQ News. In declaring the region’s roughly 600 grizzlies still at risk, Molloy cited concerns about how the new conservation strategy would be enforced and about how potential climate change might affect one of the bear’s four primary food sources. SCI’s appeal has two primary goals, says Litigation Council Doug Burdin. “First, we want the bears removed from the threatened list so primary management can return to the states, which we believe do a good job of managing the animal’s impact on game species,” he explained. “Second, with delisting, SCI's members could again look forward to a hunting season as soon as the states deem it appropriate.” (Field & Stream Blog) http://bit.ly/6950kK.
Sportsman Channel And Safari Club Launch Second Annual HUNT.FISH.FEED Tour
Sportsman Channel's Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative, a partnership with Safari Club International, announced the start of its 2010 national tour with its second annual event in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 4:30pm at the Shade Tree Shelter's West Owens Avenue location. The Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative is a unique outreach program that taps a new food source-game meat and fish donated by sportsmen-to feed those struggling with hunger across America. Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman will be present to officially kick-off Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM officially. "I'm very pleased that Sportsman Channel is bringing the successful Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM program back to Las Vegas," said Mayor Goodman. "The city of Las Vegas has worked very hard to help people escape the cycle of homelessness, and this program is another resource our care providers can use." (MORE)
2010 Convention – SCIF Conservation Seminars List; Reno, NV
SCIF Conservation Seminar: North American Wildlife: (Friday, Jan. 22 at 1p.m. | RSCC A12)
- Woodland Caribou Project – Shane Mahoney will be presenting a progress report on the Newfoundland Woodland Caribou Strategy to show our members the affects different predators have on caribou and discuss how the Government of Newfoundland is managing the decline.
- EHD Project – Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease is a serious threat to deer populations. Come listen to the current investigation of this disease and how it may threaten white-tailed deer populations.
- SCIF will also provide an in depth look at the various SCIF North America wildlife projects.
SCIF Conservation Seminar: African Wildlife: (Friday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. | RSCC A12)
- Zambia Lion Project – Dr. Paula White will present research on age-based selection of trophy lions in Zambia. Dr. White’s research intends to determine current status and to develop and promote practices that ensure the long term sustainability and health of the African lion.
- SCIF Africa Programs Coordinator George Pangeti will report on the recent accomplishments and ongoing projects in the SCIF Africa Conservation Program.
SCIF Conservation Seminar: Asian Wildlife: (Friday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. | RSCC A12)
- Snow Leopard – The very first presentation of the SCIF snow leopard project will show never before seen pictures of snow leopards in the mountains of Siberia. Come see how we are monitoring this species and see some preliminary results.
- Saiga Antelope – A drastic population crash of the saiga antelope species has occurred in the past 15 years. SCIF Asia research scientist Dr. Andrey Subbotin will present the primary causes of the population crash.
- Argali Sheep – SCIF has been investigating the differences in DNA and body size measurements to properly classify species of argali sheep to validate the extent and composition of surveyed sheep subpopulations.
From the November 11th National Update....
SCIF Receives Top Four-Star Rating By Charity Navigator For Third Consecutive Year
Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) has again received the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator (CN), the independent charity evaluation service, for the third consecutive year. Charity Navigator is a respected guide to charitable organizations in the United States. In determining its rating, CN considers growth in the organization’s ability to raise capital for its charitable purposes, and the efficiency with which its resources are spent. A high rating from CN shows that an organization is effective at attracting donations and at making sure that most of the money is spent on charitable purposes rather than overhead.
“We are proud to announce Safari Club International Foundation has earned our Four-Star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances,” said Ken Berger, President and Chief Executive Officer of CN, in a letter to SCIF. “Only 13% of the charities we rate have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that Safari Club International Foundation consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Safari Club International Foundation from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” MORE.
SCI’s Defense Of Wolf Delisting Joined By NRA
Safari Club International welcomes the National Rifle Association to its defense of the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf delisting. On November 17th, Judge Donald Molloy of the federal district court in Montana granted the NRA’s motion to intervene in collaboration with SCI. The anti-hunting groups that brought the lawsuit, led by Defenders of Wildlife and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, have already filed their opening briefs. SCI and NRA will soon file a joint brief to support the delisting of Montana and Idaho’s wolves. SCI and NRA collaborated in the past in defense of wolf delistings in the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Western Great Lakes.
The delisting has enabled Montana and Idaho to hold their first hunts of their recovered wolf populations. Montana’s season closed after hunters successfully harvested 72 of the state’s conservatively planned 75 wolf harvest quota. Read more about Montana’s decision HERE. In Idaho, the wolf season continues. Hunters have taken 108 of the state’s 220 wolf quota. Read more about Idaho’s actions HERE.
Migratory Eagles Studied For Lead Ingestion
“New research on the impacts of lead bullet fragments in hunter-killed meat could help scientists determine whether Jackson Hole’s gut piles are poisoning eagles from other regions. So far, biologists with Craighead Beringia South have captured three bald eagles and fitted them with transmitters that will enable them to track the movements of the birds once a day. The group plans to attach seven more transmitters for the study in the coming weeks. The new research comes after previous studies that show ravens and eagles have significantly higher concentrations of lead in their blood during hunting season compared to other times of the year.” (Source: Jackson Hole News & Guide) Read the full story here.
Expert: Banning Hunting Is a Mistake
Gaborone — An expert on Friday warned that the banning of hunting in preference to photographic safaris could have a devastating effect on the environment and the wildlife it is expected to preserve. (Source: AllAfrica.com Online) Read the full article HERE.
Become Involved...
Consider joining the Five Valleys Chapter of SCI and become involved today in helping to further our hunting, conservation and education initiatives. If you are already a member and wish to join one of our many committees, you can contact us via this website or phone Five Valleys Chapter President, Chad Bauer at (406) 543-3157.
We welcome your involvement and look forward to getting to know you better!
