September 26, 2008 "In The Crosshairs"

September 26, 2008

 
Vote for a Safari Club International Member for Budweiser Conservationist of the Year

Two outstanding Safari Club International members have been selected as finalists for the 2009 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year contest. You have the opportunity to vote to make sure that an SCI member wins this prestigious award for 2009. SCI is fortunate to have two members as finalist, Cliff McDonald and Phil Taunton, who demonstrate the best that SCI’s membership has to offer. Success by one of these members would make it the second year in a row that an SCI member won this prestigious award. Last year, the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year was SCI member Lowell Baier, a founding member of the Chesapeake Chapter and who currently serves as President of the Boone and Crocket Club. The winner of the Conservationist of the Year contest will receive a $50,000 grant and the three runners-up will each receive $5,000, all to donate to on-the-ground conservation efforts.

Please take the time to vote for one of these SCI members and make sure to encourage your family, friends and co-workers to do the same. To vote for Cliff McDonald or Phil Taunton, please go to the Budweiser website at www.budweiser.com. After entering the site by inserting your birth date, you then click on the Budweiser button and from the dropdown list, choose “Great Outdoors.” Click the “Vote for Conservationist of the Year” button. Locate either Cliff McDonald or Phil Taunton’s bio and vote for your choice. Alternatively, you can vote by mailing a 3” X 5” card or paper to Budweiser. Cards should be addressed to “2009 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year; P.O. Box 750088, El Paso, TX 88575-0088.” The card should include your name, age, address and the name of the candidate for whom you are voting. The voting deadline is Nov. 30. Persons voting must be 21 years old or older and there is a limit of one vote per person.

 
Sportsmen, Industry, Agencies and Members of Caucus Gather

“Washington, DC - The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) recently convened the largest inside the beltway gathering of conservation organizations, outdoor industry, state fish and wildlife agencies, federal agency heads and members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to discuss bipartisan policy initiatives that will shape the future of hunting and wildlife conservation in the 21st century… The common acknowledgement among the speakers and attendees was that the challenges facing fish and wildlife and sportsmen are significant and that each organization, state and federal agency, industry and the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus are willing and ready to pull together to chart the course into the future. Underlying that acknowledgement was the realization that bi-partisanship would be the lifeline that will breed conservation success into the next century…The briefing was organized to discuss the development of a comprehensive Recreational and Wildlife Conservation Plan and build momentum leading up to the White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy that will be held October 1-3 in Reno, Nevada. The goal of the conference as prescribed in the Executive Order entitled "Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation" is to establish a 10-year plan to improve wildlife conservation and boost hunting opportunity on public lands.” (Source: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation) http://www.sportsmenslink.org/media_room/Press-Releases/sportsmen-industry-agencies-and-members-of-caucus-gather.html

 
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks to Re-List Northern Rocky Mountain Wolves

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has decided to withdraw the rule that delisted the wolves of the Northern Rocky Mountain states. The FWS has asked a federal District Court in Montana to allow the agency to relist the species as “endangered.” Earlier this year, the Montana court issued a preliminary injunction against the delisting, temporarily placing the wolves back on the endangered species list. The court expressed concern over whether the wolves of the Northern Rocky Mountain states traveled adequately between their individual populations to maintain genetic diversity. In addition, the court questioned the adequacy of Wyoming ’s wolf management strategies. The FWS has told the court that it wishes to re-examine the status of wolves in Montana , Idaho and Wyoming and that it intends to issue a new rule based on that status.

The FWS’s decision to withdraw the delisting rule coincides with mid-year reports that estimate that Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population growth has slowed or stabilized. However mid-year population estimates are historically recognized to be of poor accuracy when compared to year-end estimates that are conducted via aerial counts when wolves are on the snow.

SCI and SCIF will continue to actively participate in the efforts to remove gray wolves from the “endangered” species list and will update Crosshairs readers as new developments arise.

 
New Network for SCI’s Expedition Safari Television Program

In case you missed the announcement in Safari Times, SCI’s Expedition Safari television program moves to Outdoor Channel on September 30th. The show is scheduled to air Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays this season. Check your local listings or program guide for times in your area.

Any questions or comments about Expedition Safari can be sent to estv@safariclub.org