31 Major Hunting and Wildlife Organizations Representing Tens of Millions of Americans Oppose Universal Background Checks

From the NRA- The National Rifle Association, with 30 other prominent hunting and wildlife preservation organizations which represent tens of millions of Americans, sent the following letter to the leadership in the United States Senate. This letter lays out a 5-point plan to make our communities safer. The organizations strongly oppose unnecessary restrictions which would not reduce crime or prevent tragedy, such as universal background checks.

April 4, 2013 

Dear Senators: 

Our organizations, which represent millions of Americans who actively support professional 

wildlife management and the advancement of our nation’s hunting and recreational shooting 

heritage, are writing to express our sincere hope that your upcoming gun control debate will be 

constructive.   

Like you, we were devastated by the recent tragedy in Connecticut, and we share your goal of 

ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to prevent similar acts of senseless violence in the 

future.  We believe an opportunity exists to enact legislation that addresses the causative agents 

of this and similar tragic events. Specifically we support:  

●National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) improvement measures that

will effectively prevent access to firearms by those not legally qualified to possess them, 

without criminalizing private transfers; 

● Vigorous enforcement of existing federal firearms laws; 

● Efforts to improve security in our nation’s schools; 

● A comprehensive process to review, evaluate and recommend changes to our nation’s 

treatment of the mentally ill before their actions result in these devastating consequences; 

and 

● The development and implementation of a community based “family watch” program 

that helps families with concerns that an immediate family member who they believe has 

the potential to become a societal danger is afforded the assistance that they need to 

intervene before a tragedy occurs.  

As much as we support this five point plan that responds to the causative agents that could have 

potentially avoided this tragedy, we oppose unnecessary restrictions of our ability to attain and 

possess legal firearms and that have no foundation in addressing the factors that led to this 

tragedy or like tragedies.  

In addition, the signatories to this letter are proud of our hunting and recreational shooting 

heritage and the support that our activities contribute to our nation’s conservation, economic and 

societal interests.  

Specifically, shooting sports participants are the largest financial supporters of wildlife 

conservation throughout the United States, having contributed over $5.4 billion to the 

management of our nation’s wildlife, recreational shooting and hunter education through 
Pittman-Robertson excise tax payments since 1991. This uniquely American System of 
Conservation Funding – a “user pays-public benefits” system - is heralded internationally as the 
most successful wildlife management program in the world.  

Economically, the companies in the United States that manufacture, distribute and sell firearms, 
ammunition and hunting equipment employ as many as 98,752 people in the country and 
generate an additional 110,998 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries.  In 2012 alone the 
firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $31.84 billion in total 
economic activity in the United States. The significant contributions these companies are making 
to our nation’s economic recovery should not be sacrificed to unnecessary and ineffective 
restrictions and bans, no matter how well-intended their proponents may be.   

These lawful recreational activities provide untold hours of benefits to our nation’s families and 
their friend and neighbors that should not be unnecessarily impinged upon.  

For these reasons, the undersigned organizations respectfully request that you continue to work 
collectively, as the voice of sportsmen and recreational shooters in Congress, toward pragmatic 
bipartisan solutions in a manner that enhances wildlife conservation, benefits the economy and 
protects America’s rich hunting and shooting heritage, while not impeding the Second 
Amendment rights of our members.  Thank you for your ongoing service to our nation and future 
generations of sportsmen and women conservationists.  

Sincerely, 

Archery Trade Association 

Boone and Crockett Club 

Campfire Club of America 

Catch-A-Dream Foundation 

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation 

Conservation Force 

Dallas Safari Club 

Delta Waterfowl 

Masters of Foxhounds 

Mule Deer Foundation 

National Rifle Association 

National Shooting Sports Foundation 

National Trappers Association 

National Wild Turkey Federation 

North American Bear Foundation 

North American Grouse Partnership 

Orion, The Hunter’s Institute 

Pheasants Forever 

Pope & Young Club 

Quail Forever 

Quality Deer Management Association 

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 

Ruffed Grouse Society 

Safari Club International 

Texas Wildlife Association 

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance   

Whitetails Unlimited 

Wild Sheep Foundation 

Wildlife Forever 

Wildlife Management Institute 

Wildlife Mississippi 

CC: The Honorable Patrick Leahy 

The Honorable Chuck Grassley 

RMEF, Colorado Landowners Conserve 2,520 Acres of Prime Elk Habitat

MISSOULA, Mont.—The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation teamed up with conservation-minded landowners and several other partners to conserve 2,520 acres of key habitat and migratory corridors in southwestern Colorado.

“We appreciate working with a family like the Schirard brothers, who recognize the importance of maintaining quality habitat for elk and other wildlife species such as mule deer, black bear, mountain lion and turkey,” said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of Lands and Conservation. “This action by Jack, Duke and Brantley, honoring their father, John, with a conservation easement speaks volumes about the Schirards, their respect for their father, and their dedication to conservation.”

The acreage is located in La Plata County and will now be referred to as the John R. Schirard Conservation Project—Alkali Gulch. Funding for the project came via Great Outdoors Colorado, a conservation initiative using lottery dollars to fund wildlife, parks, rivers, trails and open space projects throughout the state, acting through the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW). It is in a portion of the state CPW targeted as high priority for habitat acquisition.

“This is a wonderful example of landowners who truly are conservation-minded and who are willing to look beyond their own ownership interests to protect beautiful and valuable habitat forever for the benefit of the people of Colorado,” said Jay Cooper, CPW real estate specialist. “The Schirard brothers have been long-time supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and CPW is looking forward to partnering with the Elk Foundation to protect habitat in the future.”

“This conservation easement will provide protection from development and conserve existing big game migration patterns through the property,” added Henning.

In addition to a small resident elk herd, the property is also home to falcons, eagles, cranes and various song birds. It is primarily covered by pinyon-juniper shrubs and includes gamble oak, sagebrush ponderosa pine and riparian habitat.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that protected or enhanced habitat on more than 6.2 million acres—an area larger than Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Researchers Track Canada Lynx in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom

Canada lynx are appearing in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Although only four confirmed sightings occurred in the state from the late 1700s to the early 2000s, lynx sightings have been on the increase every year since 2003. The department is conducting surveys to determine the full extent and distribution of lynx in Vermont.

A large, carnivorous feline species, Canada lynx are rarely seen because they are nocturnal and secretive. They are similar to bobcats in appearance, but lynx have larger bodies and longer ear tufts than bobcats. The easiest way to distinguish a lynx from a bobcat is by the lynx’s solid black-tipped tail and enormous, furry paws.

According to Chris Bernier, biologist for Vermont Fish & Wildlife and the lynx survey leader, most confirmed lynx sightings have been on publicly owned lands in the Nulhegan Basin at Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. “Lynx require specific habitat to thrive,” said Bernier. “These large, unbroken tracts of mixed-conifer forest are perfect for this species and their primary prey, the snowshoe hare. We were all very excited when lynx sightings started popping up again in Vermont.”

Lynx are listed as ‘threatened’ under the Federal Endangered Species Act and as ‘endangered’ under Vermont’s Endangered Species Law. State and federal biologists elsewhere in the country have worked to stop the loss of quality lynx habitat that was driving local population declines, so Vermont’s biologists were encouraged to see lynx recolonize the state naturally. “It speaks to the success of our habitat conservation efforts in the state,” said Bernier.

The surveys are being conducted in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and include the help of volunteers including members of the Vermont Trappers Association. “The support and participation of Vermont’s trappers have been invaluable in this effort,” said Bernier. “They are our eyes and ears on the landscape. We’re working with the Vermont Trappers Association to identify appropriate conservation measures for this species in the state.”

Bernier believes the Nulhegan Basin lynx have formed a reproducing, resident population that likely dispersed from Maine following a boom in the lynx population in that state. His team has also conducted surveys in similar habitat in nearby Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area but has not detected lynx there.

Fish & Wildlife Department Deputy Commissioner Kim Royar, who previously led the furbearer project, says that the department is also partnering with New Hampshire Fish & Game, in addition to wildlife agencies in Ontario and Quebec. “We view lynx conservation as a regional effort,” she said. “To move freely, wide-ranging species such as lynx require the conservation of large blocks of forested habitat connected by travel corridors. They range across several states and provinces, transcending political boundaries.”

Wildlife Officials to Euthanize Diseased Bighorn Sheep

OLYMPIA – State wildlife officials will take steps this week to curb the spread of a deadly pneumonia outbreak by euthanizing wild bighorn sheep in the Naches area.

Biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services will spend the next several weeks removing sheep from the Tieton herd, about 10 miles west of Naches.

Because most of the sheep are believed to be infected with a disease that causes pneumonia, almost all of the animals will likely need to be euthanized, said Richard Harris, wildlife manager for WDFW.

“A majority of the live bighorn sheep spotted during recent surveys looked to be in poor condition, with about a third of those animals coughing or showing other signs of the disease,” Harris said. “We hate to have to take this action, but we believe it’s necessary to stop the spread of a disease that could devastate adjacent herds of wild bighorn sheep in the area.”

The disease has already significantly reduced the herd, which is currently estimated at between 35 to 50 animals, said Harris. In recent years, the Tieton herd has numbered as many as 200 animals.

So far, no dead or sick bighorn sheep have been found outside the Tieton herd.

Earlier this year, wildlife managers received reports of sick and dead sheep along the Tieton River. To date, about 25 dead sheep have been found by WDFW biologists conducting aerial and ground surveys.

Carcasses tested at Washington State University’s veterinary laboratory were found to have pneumonia, caused by Mycoplasma bacteria.

The disease is often fatal in wild bighorn sheep and can affect the survival rate of lambs later born to animals that survive the disease, Harris said. There is no treatment for bighorns with pneumonia and there is no preventative vaccine for the disease.

Pneumonia in wild bighorn sheep is not transmissible to humans or domestic livestock, said Harris, who noted that the department is exploring options for how the meat may be used.

Heads and other biological samples from euthanized sheep will be removed from the area, Harris said.

The Yakima area is home to about a third of the state’s 2,000 wild bighorn sheep, with herds totaling nearly 700 animals. Other bighorn sheep herds in the area include the Quilomene, Cleman Mountain and Umtanum/Selah Butte.

In 2010, state and federal wildlife managers took similar action and successfully stopped the spread of the disease in the Yakima River Canyon. Since then, lamb survival has increased and the population in the canyon is recovering.

Past outbreaks among bighorn sheep in Washington and other parts of the western United States have been linked to contact between wild sheep and domestic sheep or goats that carry Mycoplasma but are unaffected by the bacteria. However, there is currently no evidence that there was contact between domestic and wild sheep in the Naches area, said Harris.