June 16, 2011 "In The Crosshairs"
June 24, 2011
SCIF Partners With
The International Conservation Caucus Foundation
Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) is honored to
announce their new partnership with the International Conservation
Caucus Foundation (ICCF). SCIF has joined the ICCF as a member of
the prestigious ICCF Conservation Council. “SCIF is extremely
excited to join as a leading partner with a foundation so completely
dedicated to conservation like the ICCF,” said SCIF President Joseph
Hosmer. “SCIF is proud to represent the sustainable-use community on
the Conservation Council. With ICCF’s emphasis on market-based
solutions to our global conservation challenges, we believe that we
are natural partners to promote the sustained-use and management of
natural resources.” (Source: SCI Press Release)
http://bit.ly/j5pWlB
Safari
Club International Continues Fight To Keep Wolves Delisted
Safari Club International (SCI) moved forward late last
week in its fight to represent hunters in the constitutional
challenge to wolf delisting legislation. SCI, joined by the
National Rifle Association (NRA), filed a motion asking Judge Donald
Molloy of the U.S. District Court for Montana to reconsider his
decision to exclude SCI and NRA from the latest lawsuit over the
status of the wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains. (Source: SCI
Press Release) http://bit.ly/lBIKKe
OR Lawmakers Will Vote On Bill Compensating Ranchers For
Livestock Killed By Wolves
A bill that will compensate ranchers for livestock killed
by wolves is being sent to the Oregon House of Representatives for a
vote. The bill would direct the Oregon Department of Agriculture to
establish and implement a wolf depredation fund. State officials
have confirmed 41 cases of livestock being killed by wolves, the
most recent case occurring on June 5, 2011.
http://bit.ly/ii27Ag
Anti-Hunting
Campbell-DeFazio Amendment Voted Down In Congress
“A proposal by Congressmen John Campbell (R-CA) and Peter
DeFazio (D-OR) to prohibit necessary and legal practices used to
effectively manage wildlife and predator species was overwhelmingly
defeated in the House of Representatives. The amendment to H.R.
2112, the Agriculture appropriations bill, was strongly opposed by
the NRA and other pro-hunting organizations. It was pushed by the
Humane Society of the United States and other radical anti-hunting
groups” (Source: nra.com) http://bit.ly/l9OhK4
Wisconsin
State Legislature Passes Landmark Right-To-Carry Legislation
“Both chambers of the Wisconsin state legislature have
voted to approve one of the nation’s strongest Right-to-Carry
license bills, by solid bipartisan margins. Senate Bill 93, which
was strongly backed by the National Rifle Association, now goes to
Governor Scott Walker for his expected signature. When signed, it
will leave Illinois as the only state that provides no way for
citizens to carry concealed firearms for self-protection outside
their homes or places of business.” (Source: nra.com)
http://bit.ly/k5KQWq
SCI
Proudly Announces End To Lawsuit Challenging Refuge Hunting
After eight years of litigation, animal rights groups have
failed to defeat the proud tradition of hunting in National Wildlife
Refuges. Earlier this year, the D.C. federal court delivered a
victory to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its defenders,
including Safari Club International. Plaintiffs had attempted
to interfere with hunting on close to 70 refuges throughout the
system, claiming that the FWS had failed to adequately consider the
environmental consequences of those hunting opportunities.
In April, the court rejected their challenge. The Plaintiffs
had sixty days to appeal the ruling, but did not do so, bringing an
end to a long and contentious battle. SCI was joined in
intervention by U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Ducks Unlimited and other
groups.
Wolf-Control
Funds Will Continue In Minnesota
“Minnesota ranchers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing
that the federal funding for wolf-control measures will continue
through September 30th of this year, when the 2011 budget
cycle ends. The funding for wolf-control in Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan was severely cut by nearly $727,000 back in March. These
ranchers lose hundreds of livestock every year from wolf kills and
are hopeful that Congress will approve new funding to manage these
wolves for the next budget year, which begins in October.” (Source:
AgWeekly.com) Read the full article at
http://bit.ly/kAeZYU
Wolf
Photos – Showing Wolves As Predators
Have you taken any photos of wolves preying on elk, moose
or deer; bearing their teeth; covered with blood; or otherwise
looking aggressive? If so, would you be willing to share them
with SCI’s Litigation team? We are looking for pictures that
our members have taken that show wolves as they really are –
predators. We hope to use those pictures in some presentations
we will be making over the next few weeks about SCI’s efforts in
wolf litigation and legislation. If you have any such pictures
and are willing to let us use them, please send your photos to
media@safariclub.org.
SCI
Thanks Members For Call To Action Response
SCI recently asked you for help and, as expected, you rose
to the occasion. SCI is planning to go to federal court to
oppose a settlement agreement that involves the ESA listing of
hundreds of species, including several game animals. To do so,
SCI needs to show the court that SCI members hunt these
species. More than 100 members enthusiastically responded to an
alert asking about hunts for New England cottontail or plains bison
and if they would be willing to sign a declaration that would help
SCI demonstrate to the court its interest in these species.
From these responses, we found members who could sign strong
declarations demonstrating SCI’s interest in this case. Even
if you were not chosen, SCI greatly appreciates your willingness to
help. Stay tuned to Crosshairs for further developments on
this case.