Sportsmen Look to White House for Recognition
Wildlife Legislative Fund of America

The group, formed by the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America WLFA), is requesting an Executive Order to direct federal land management agencies to protect sport-hunting opportunities on public land. The request is primarily aimed at lands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

The order would specifically recognize the importance and value of sport hunting on all federal lands as well as insuring access to public lands where hunting is a compatible use.

The administration signed a similar order in 1995 to improve fishing opportunities in U.S. waters. That order also helped insure access to public waters for this nation's approximately 45 million anglers.

Literally thousands of national, state and local conservation groups donate their own time and financial resources to conserve wildlife and enhance habitat on our federal lands," said Bud Pidgeon, president of WLFA. "To continue these unparalleled efforts, it is critical that sporting opportunities be protected and, where compatible, expanded."

This is not a new concept. For several years, moves in Washington have bolstered and recognized the importance of sporting activities on federal land.

One example is the National Wildlife Refuge Reform Act of 1997,

which designated hunting as a "priority public use" on the 93 million-acre refuge system. The WLFA led the coalition of conservation groups that worked to pass that law.

This latest petition presented to President Clinton includes groups representing over one million sportsmen and sportswomen and that number is growing as more groups join the effort.

Some of the national groups include the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, International Bowhunting Organization, Shikar-Safari Club International, Dallas Safari Club, Dallas Ecological Foundation, Houston Safari Club, American Conservation and Education Society, Masters of Foxhounds Association, Mzuri Safari Club, Pope and Young Club, Quail Unlimited, National Field Archery Association, United Kennel Club and Whitetails Unlimited.

America's 14 million hunters provide unmatched conservation leadership annually through $1 billion in license fees, $1 billion in taxes paid on hunting equipment and $21 billion in expenditures for local or rural economies," said Pidgeon. "This shows the dedication to conservation from sportsmen and sportswomen. We now need the president to show his dedication and issue this order."

The WLFA's alliance in support of the national hunting policy is planning to meet in Washington, D.C. in April to discuss this and other issues dealing with hunting, fishing and trapping and scientific wildlife management.

The Wildlife Legislative Fund of America protects the heritage of American sportsmen to hunt, fish and trap. For more information about WLFA and its programs, contact The Wildlife Legislative Fund of America, 801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229. Phone (614) 888-4868.

(posted February 23, 2000)