2014: The Year of the Ballot Issue?

This from the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance…

As sportsmen and women are gearing up for the year ahead, the fight for the future of hunting appears headed for the ballot box next fall as ballot issues are popping up from coast to coast.  While the November election might seem far off, hunters and trappers across the country are hard at work preparing for the upcoming battles.

In July, we reported on the ongoing fight over Michigan’s wolf management program.   Now, sportsmen are staring down the barrel of two ballot initiatives that seek to bar the state from designating wolves as a game species.  Sportsmen, not willing to sit idly by, have begun to fight back – and are circulating petitions for a citizen-initiated law to counter the anti’s efforts.  If successful, the law would ensure the ability of the state’s Natural Resources Commission to designate game species. Read more

HSUS Solicitation Campaigns a Net Negative for Animals

This from www.HumaneWatch.org…
In November the Massachusetts attorney general’s office released a report of professional solicitation campaigns conducted in the state. Charitable solicitation has been in the news recently after a report last year fingering the 50 worst charities in America based on 10 years’ worth of telemarketing campaign data.

According to the report, telemarketers kept two-thirds of the money that Massachusetts residents gave, or $175.7 million out of $266.6 million. In other words, according to the report, a good deal of charity fundraising actually “benefits principally the owners and staff of for-profit professional solicitors.” Read more

Rhino Auction, Hunt Praised by Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont.–Controversy surrounds an upcoming fundraiser and hunt for a black rhinoceros, but the Boone and Crockett Club is praising both as positive moves for the future of a critically endangered game species.
During its Jan. 9-12 convention, Dallas Safari Club (DSC) will auction a rhino-hunting permit prescribed by biologists in Namibia. The hunt will be for an old, post-breeding, aggressive bull known to charge and kill younger bulls, cows and calves in Mangetti National Park. Removing these animals increases herd survival and productivity.
DSC expects the permit to bring at least $250,000, perhaps up to $1 million–with 100 percent of proceeds earmarked for Namibia’s rhino conservation efforts including anti-poaching patrols. Read more

Michigan: Governor Signs House Bill 4993 into Law

House Bill 4993 (now Public Act 246) was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder (R) on December 21.  HB 4993 creates a Wildlife Management Public Education Fund to be managed by the Michigan Wildlife Council.  This nine-member council will be responsible for establishing a comprehensive media-based public information program aimed at promoting Michigan’s abundant wildlife resources and educating the general public on the role that sportsmen play in the conservation of these resources. Read more

HSUS is Not Your Local Humane Society

From HumaneWatch.org

There’s widespread confusion among the public about the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and local humane societies. Public polling has found that people are widely confused about what HSUS is and isn’t. And surveys have found that HSUS donors are confused. Even HSUS’s CEO admits this—at least, privately.
Here are the facts:

We’re releasing a new report showing just how little HSUS gives to your state. You can read it here, and we’ve boiled the numbers down to a state-by-state basis on this chart. Feel free to print this and disseminate it as you see fit at trade shows, events, and so forth.

Hunters in the Crosshairs

From USSA…

Posted on December 20, 2013

Recent studies show a steady increase of hunting and fishing participants since 2006.  Couple that with the public’s approval of hunting at 79 percent and wildlife populations abundant and growing, things seem to be looking up for sportsmen.  Unfortunately, these facts have not deterred the animal rights lobby and sportsmen are finding themselves in the crosshairs now more than ever.

Why are sportsmen facing more opposition considering these facts?

“It really comes down to some segments of the public not understanding why all hunting is important and key to conservation programs here and abroad.” said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA President and CEO. “Hunters are providing vital funds and services to protect wildlife globally and are also the most effective and efficient group to control burgeoning wildlife populations.  That fact has been lost to the general public to some degree.  Simply put, a lack of education is at fault.” Read more

USSAF Files Comments on Proposal to Delist Gray Wolves

On Tuesday, December 17th, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) filed comments with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) over a proposal to remove Gray Wolves from protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Wolves continue to remain at the forefront of the issues facing the sportsmen’s community today.   While the Western Great Lakes and Rocky Mountain populations of wolves have already been removed from ESA protection (“delisted”), this latest proposed rule would delist the remaining wolf populations across the country (with narrow exceptions for Mexican wolves in the Southwest and Red wolves in the Southeast).   In addition, USSAF and our partners are currently engaged in lawsuits in Wisconsin over their wolf hunting season and in a lawsuit in federal district court in which the Humane Society of the United States is asking a judge to again overturn the delisting of wolves in the Western Great Lakes.

Of particular concern with the latest proposal is the potential for the Service to recognize two separate wolf species.  Read more

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