News

By Frank Price, Field Services Director

I don’t know about you, but I have to watch the Wizard of Oz with my daughter several times each year.  In fact, it seems like I always have the song, “Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!” swirling around my head.

As I was thinking about e-mail, Facebook, YouTube, texting, blogs, forums and Twitter, a similar tune popped in my head -   “E-mail, Facebook and Twitter…Oh My!” 

I know, it’s silly and I know that all of you rough and tough outdoor guys are going to laugh a little (or maybe a lot), about me watching the Wizard of Oz!  Come on, haven’t YOU ever had to watch it with your kids?  I promise I watch John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies too…

Anyway, who on earth knows what all these funky so-called “social media” things are?

Well, simply put, these are new communications tools helping us all keep up with family, friends and even co-workers.  In a way, they are almost like a “virtual sportsmen’s club.” 

It seems like just yesterday folks were joining a sportsmen’s club to have place to shoot, meet up with other hunters, anglers and shooters to talk about what you did in the field.  Some of the best memories come from shooting the breeze with good friends and talking about the “one that got away” or that impossible shot you pulled off. You could walk in the clubhouse and there would be a pot of coffee brewing, deer heads on the wall, the American flag in the corner and you’d recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” before the meeting.

Of course, this is still what a lot of us do.  Nothing will ever take the place of good, old fashion face to face time at a local sportsmen’s haunt. 

But, social media is providing us with another way to talk to each other.

Think about it, they are now making it easier than ever to post your deer picture or the video showing how hard you fought that Largemouth Bass on YouTube.  Your friends, even the guys you met last year on that hunting trip out west, can comment on it.  You can also e-mail the pictures to tons of friends from around the country or even text your buddy sitting in that duck blind a few hundred yards away to check up on how his day’s going.

While the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is still pretty “old school” on a lot of things (phone calls and personal letters still count in our book), we’re also working hard to get into this new world.

We have a Facebook page, a Twitter page, a YouTube page and a CamoSpace page.  Also, one of our biggest efforts to date is the Sentry program that through email gives you access to important information on how to protect your hunting, fishing and trapping rights.  It also lets you easily pass it all on to lots of others.

We have a Sentry website that’s a one stop shop for things like hunting regulations, maps and weather. There’s contests running now and then and has a place to pin up your photos. Like I said, it’s kind of like a “virtual sportsman club” and its all yours at NO COST. Just need to give us a name, email, zip and phone number at www.ussportsmen.org/beasentry.

Get involved with the group that’s keeping it legal for everyone and check us out at all of our social sites.   Be a part of our virtual sportsman club today! 

By Frank Price, Field Services Director

And boy has the Rushcreek Sportsmen’s Club, nestled in the heart of Hardin County Ohio, stepped up in a big way time and time again.

It has been a part of the Alliance since our beginning.  That means since 1977, when Ohio sportsmen were battling to stop an anti-trapping constitutional amendment.  By the way, sportsmen won that battle by an overwhelming 2-1 margin, the first of many victories won by sportsmen and sportsmen clubs banding together for what is right.

Since the time when we were known as the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America (a name blast from the past!), Rushcreek has always done what was necessary to defend sportsmen’s rights in the Buckeye state.

Almost every year, Rushcreek hosts two events annually to raise much needed funds: their annual Fish Fry in January and their annual Spring Rendezvous shooting event in April. The Spring Rendezvous, in particular, is a collective effort of all the sportsmen’s clubs in Hardin County and another example of folks strapping on their boots and doing good work.

Not only has the club been a financial supporter of the Alliance, they have also been active at the grassroots level fighting for Ohio sportsmen’s rights. 

They were a major player in defeating the 1978 anti-trapping ballot issue that lead to the birth of the USSA, andRushcreek also played an indispensable role defending dove hunting in Ohio when the antis tried to take it away at the voting booth in 1998.  

By showing up in force at the Alliance’s yearly Ohio Legislative Reception in Columbus, Rushcreek stays deeply engaged with their local elected officials.  They do this back home too, always getting local officials to attend club meetings and functions.  At the end of the day, this helps to make certain that the politicians get a taste of what being a sportsman is all about.

Naturally, one might ask what would a sportsmen’s club be without some exciting things to do? 

Well, Rushcreek has tons of things to do for everyone that’s a member.  It features trap, 5 stand, sporting clays, archery, a warm and welcoming clubhouse, wetlands, rifle range and hunter education classes. The club has public sporting clay shoots the first Sunday of every month and a fish fry the third Saturday of every month.

Go to Rushcreek’s website at http://www.rushcreeksportsmen.org/ to learn more about them.

By Bill Horn, Director of Federal Affairs

Hunters, anglers, and trappers lost a great, lifelong friend on Monday.  Former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska died in a plane crash in a remote corner of southwest Alaska. He and a group of friends were flying to the Nushgak River to enjoy fishing for silver salmon. Five of the nine passengers perished in the tragic accident caused by Alaska’s treacherous weather.

A decorated war hero, Stevens had flown the dangerous “Hump” over the Himalayas, while dodging Imperial Japanese Zeros, to deliver war supplies behind Japanese lines in China. It was dangerous work and over 1000 American pilots died.  Young Lt. Stevens survived and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courage and valor.

Ted’s life- long love affair with Alaska began when it was still a Territory.  His leadership skills were recognized and before long he was back in Washington, D.C. as the Department of the Interior’s chief lawyer and point man on Alaska Statehood.  The Statehood Act passed in 1958 and his role in nudging it through Congress remained one of his proudest achievements.

Stevens always loved Alaska fishing.  A photo of him and his boss, Secretary of the Interior Seaton, standing before a big catch of grayling and trout bore an inscription from Seaton: “this is what happens when you open your mouth too often!” Toward the end of his long Senate career, Ted wrestled a monster king salmon out of the Kenai River and mounted the trophy in his DC office.  Many a meeting about appropriations or public lands policy would be interrupted by the tale of catching the big one there on the wall.

He was in the trenches with the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) when hunting was on the line.  In the late 70’s, the Carter Administration had closed millions of acres of Alaska public lands to hunting.  Wonderful opportunities for moose, Dall sheep, caribou, brown bear, and mountain goats were cut off by the stroke of a pen.  Ted fought to reopen many of these lands and did so in 1980.  With President Reagan in office, Stevens led the effort in concert with USSA to reopen additional lands stymied in the House of Representatives.

Ted was a long time member of the powerful Appropriations Committee which writes the government funding bills.  He served as Chairman from 1997-2001 and 2003-05. Always keenly interested in Interior programs and the Fish and Wildlife Service, he was a longtime defender of access to public lands and protection of duck hunting and conservation programs.  When the lead shot/steel shot controversy in the 70’s and early 80’s threatened duck seasons, he made sure hunting remained open.

Years later, he played a key behind-the-scenes role in enactment of the 1997 Refuge Improvement Act.  USSA led the charge for this important law, which makes hunting and fishing “priority public uses” of the Refuge system (and cut off endless anti-hunter lawsuits seeking to terminate hunting on these public lands), and the bill had easily passed the House.  Senate approval was up in the air until an arrangement was made to “hold the bill at the desk” and pass it without going to committee where it could have died.  Ted helped us make that crucial arrangement.

Revered in Alaska, he became “Uncle Ted”. The rare elected official loved by the voters as much as he genuinely loved them.  One of Ted’s national legacies is the Magnuson Stevens Act that sets ocean fishing policy.  It makes conservation of our precious fishery resources the law of the land.  Implementation of the law is not without its controversies, but Ted was committed to assuring that our great fisheries would be managed scientifically for the benefit of anglers and commercial interests alike.

It was my great fortune to have worked for and with Ted for over 33 years.  For him as a young Congressional staffer when in my 20’s during the great battles over Alaska land designations;  Beside him as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks under President Reagan (a position I would not have gotten except for Stevens recommending me to the President);  And with him representing USSA in Washington, DC for the past 20 years.  A genuine, larger-than-life individual, the tragedy of his death has not really sunk in. 

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

I have always been a nerd when it comes to certain subjects.  For example, one of my favorite topics is foreign and national security, so it was with great interest when I saw that one of my favorite non-work news sources did a story on the Animal Liberation Front (ALF).

In a nutshell, the ALF is a terrorist group.  But they’re also a tough nut to crack because they are so decentralized.  The article I found describes the recent arrest of a “Lone Wolf” ALF terrorist that appears to have been responsible for a June 5 fire at a leather factory in Salt Lake City and a July 3 fire at a restaurant in Sandy, Utah.

The bottom line to take away from this is that the ALF is dangerous and that animal rights extremists are capable of anything in advancing their agenda. 

Below is an interesting section from the article I linked to above describing the general organization of ALF,

“Like its kindred organization the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), ALF was created to follow the organizational principles of leaderless resistance…

One tier adheres to the laws of the land and serves as the aboveground propaganda service for the cause…

The second tier in leaderless resistance is composed of anonymous individuals (“lone wolves”) and small groups of activists (“phantom cells”) who are responsible for conducting attacks — often referred to by the ELF/ALF and other activists as “direct actions.” The aboveground propaganda activists are responsible for providing motivation and general guidance to the operational tier as well as publicizing the cause and exploiting the illegal actions of the underground activists in the media.”

Also, note the conclusion here about the potential for escalating violence by those associated with ALF:

“Polarization in the animal rights community continues to grow, as do calls for lone wolves to remain isolated from more moderate elements of the community, who are seen as potential security threats. As those activists favoring violence draw further from the more moderate members of the movement — either due to ideological differences or the need for operational security — any moderating influence on the radicals will also be removed, and the lack of this influence will result in the more radical elements becoming even more violent.”

By Derrek Shively, Director of Education

What an event! 

This last weekend, I was fortunate enough to travel to Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia to attend the Boy Scouts of American National Jamboree.  From the moment our President, Bud Pidgeon, and I stepped foot on the base we could feel the excitement of such a monumental celebration of scouting not only for the National Jamboree, but for the 100th Anniversary for the Boy Scouts of America.

This year’s National Jamboree also allowed for a bit of excitement for the Trailblazer Adventure Program and one of our long-time national partners, the Crosman Corporation.  We joined forces to sponsor the Conservation Trail passport where scouts achieved stamps for experiencing various conservation aspects from a multitude of agency and non-profit organizations from the across the country.  Upon the completing the Conservation Trail the kids where eager to receive their special Conservation Trail patch.

The experience at National Jamboree and the Conservation Trail should be a spring board for the Trailblazer Adventure Program heading into our fall events.  This fall is going to have an extra special meaning for the program and all of our sponsors, dedicated volunteers, and youth organization partners.  During the weekend of October 2, the Trailblazer Adventure Program will be celebrating the milestone of reaching one million participants!  It was hard to imagine this weekend would be on the horizon back in 2001 in Atlanta, GA with only 1,000 kids.

Help celebrate this upcoming milestone by taking a child fishing, target shooting, or slinging some arrows!

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

First San Francisco, now Austin, Texas? 

And probably plenty more to come...

Since when did banning the sale of pets at pet stores become so popular? 

Recently, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) detailed how San Francisco was exploring the idea of basically banning the sale of pets in the city.  Though the controversial proposal was tabled, it is obvious that the effort is not just restricted to California.  Now, Texas seems a target as an effort to curtail pet stores has sprouted up with the tell tale fingerprints of America’s animal rights groups all over them.

The Austin City Council is looking to vote on a resolution mandating that the city manager work with the city’s legal beagles to create, within 90 days, an ordinance banning the retail sales of cats and dogs.

This can still only be described as a terrible trend.  Of particular concern is that it appears that information supplied by the largest anti-hunting, animal rights group in the nation, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), is a major reason for the resolution being taken up.  HSUS’ research is prominently referred to in the resolution.

No one argues that pet stores should be selling animals that were bred in deplorable circumstances.  But two things should be pointed out.

First, can HSUS really prove, as alluded to in the resolution, that 90 percent of the cats and dogs being sold in Austin’s stores really come from abusive commercial breeders?  What scientific evidence is it using to make such a dramatic assertion?

Second, if people feel uncomfortable buying a dog or cat from a pet store, then they don’t have to.  I didn’t.  I got my dog from a local humane society.  Additionally, existing laws that target animal abuse should be enforced.

Why are we letting a group that has targeted hunting for decades and is now targeting farming be in a position to so dramatically influence how we live our lives?  Also, while I know slippery slope arguments can be a little overdone, one does have to wonder where things will go from here.

If every pet store in the country is put out of business, who’ll be next on the target list?  After all, there will always be another supposed “abuse” for HSUS to campaign to stop. 

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

In the wake of San Francisco’s serious look at banning the purchasing of pets, I could not resist sharing this video that I discovered the other day.  It’s a promotional video highlighting an annual Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) sponsored activist conference.  I was struck at how well it highlights what HSUS is all about- ANIMAL RIGHTS and changing society. 

Basically, the video is a compilation of highlights from the conference HSUS held last year in the Washington D.C. area (and similar to another one they plan for this year).  Notice all of the “Herbivore” and “Go Vegetarian” signs strewn about the various exhibits.  Also, check out the sign and DVDs at the 43 second mark.  It reads: “NO Hunting: All animals on this property protected” complete with the HSUS logo on it. 

Does this sound like a group that is only against the “worst abuses?” 

Also, you should check out HSUS president and CEO Wayne Pacelle’s comments at the end where he states point blank, “We’re going to change the way society deals with them.”  Kind of sounds like a pretty hard core agenda, doesn’t it?  

I’ve written before about how the powers that be at HSUS see themselves as part of a social movement that is a natural progression, at least in their minds, of the civil and women’s rights movements. 

If this is what you believe, ok, I guess HSUS might be your kind of thing.  If you think comparing animal rights in the same breath as the struggles women and African-Americans have faced is crazy talk, you should spread the word about what animal rightists really represent. 

By the way, according to the New York City blog, the Gothamist, Patrick Kwan, HSUS’ New York State Director was quoted as saying, “The Humane Society of the United States does not support the buying and selling of dogs, cats, and wild animals, such as large constrictor snakes and primates, through pet stores.”  So is HSUS planning to put a San Francisco push on in the Big Apple?

For those listening, HSUS is telling you what they really stand for.  It’s time to get more people to listen.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

The recent news that ESPN is cutting back on its outdoor television programming came as a surprise for many sportsmen.  According to news reports, the only surviving show will be B.A.S.S. Tournament Trail programming, which will continue on ESPN 2 during weekend mornings.

However, while some of the standard programming that many sportsmen have become accustomed to may seem to be disappearing, in many ways this is simply not true.  Outdoor programming whether on the Sportsman’s Channel, Versus or the Outdoor Channel is still robust with those channels specifically focusing in on the outdoor lifestyle. Even more interesting is the  numerous websites that are springing up all the time that give sportsmen exactly what they want and, almost as important these days, when they want it.

Want a good video?  www.camospace.com has plenty from tons of people just like you.  Want to just enjoy a few stories from the field? Check out www.bowsite.com.  Need to learn how to defend your rights to hunt, fish or trap?  Check out www.ussportsmen.org/beasentry. 

Well, ok, the last one  may seem like shameless self promotion , but we really do need  a nationwide  grassroots army to help us beat back  the  anti-hunters,  so  you might consider signing up to be a Sentry  for your rights today .  After all it’s FREE and the Alliance will never sell your info, we just want and need your help to defend hunting, fishing and trapping.   You'll be joining an army that is approaching 100,000 sportsmen and sportswomen. 

 The bottom line is this: while it may take you some time to surf the Web and find what suits your tastes, chances are you’ll be able to find it.  The new media is here to stay and so are outdoor shows and outdoor sports!

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

234 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this nation is preparing to celebrate the most American of holidays on the 4th of July.  Of course, the holiday is about much more than fireworks, backyard barbecues and apple pie.  Simply put, it’s about freedom.  This year, when sportsmen reflect on the idea of freedom, they will be able to smile a little bit more thanks to a major decision earlier this week by the U.S. Supreme Court that reaffirms our Second Amendment rights.

On Monday June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision that made clear that the Second Amendment guarantee of the right to bear arms applies to state and local gun control laws, not just federal laws.  This long awaited decision will not end the battles over firearm restrictions as many gun control advocates look for ways to continue restricting this freedom. However, it will make their job harder. 

As I think back to what it must have been like at the time America declared its independence, it is striking how the very notion that a group of people could challenge their King was radical.  Fortunately, despite all of the back and forth over the years between those with different ideas of what freedom is, the main concept that a just government is “of the people, by the people, for the people” is still with us. 

The Supreme Court victory reinforces this and is particularly sweet for sportsmen.

After all, sportsmen have always been up front and center defending freedom.  They, maybe more than anyone else, can trace their traditions to the very first Americans who had to struggle so greatly to survive in a new land. Their support for defending the Second Amendment is second to none and now, they can breathe a little easier that that the top court in the land agrees with them.

As I enjoy the fireworks this year, I think my smile is going to be just a little bit wider. I hope it will be for all of you too.

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

Do you like conspiracy theories?  Apparently, the Humane Society of the United States’ President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle, does.

You could not ask for a more crystal clear description of the views the HSUS has about hunting than this little piece from a previous Wayne Pacelle blog dealing with Alaska’s wolf management program:

“Many state fish and wildlife agencies cater to sport hunting enthusiasts by managing deer, elk, moose, and caribou for elevated population levels. They treat wild areas as open-area wildlife game ranchers, viewing wild ungulates like cattle and sheep, and killing the predators that threaten them—just like ranchers do. More predation by wolves, bears, or mountain lions means fewer game animals for hunters to shoot. They’ve got an economic stake in the matter: with inflated populations of hoofed game mammals, they can sell more hunting licenses and generate revenue for their bureaucracy.”

In the mind of the head honcho at HSUS, state agencies are basically conspiring to sell licenses in order to increase their bureaucracy.  If this is an accurate reflection of how they feel, how can any reasonable person not believe that they are adamantly anti-hunting?  Instead of acknowledging science, they assume underhanded motivations on behalf of wildlife professionals.

I wonder how the agency folks feel about being accused of this? 

Also, for those sportsmen in the Buckeye State, check out this blog on keeping an eye out for HSUS backers gathering signatures for their big push to go after farmers. 

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

In the latest issue of Buckeye Farm News, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Vice President for Marketing, Doug Jeanneret, and Director of Communications, Greg R. Lawson, help Buckeye farmers get an understanding of the threat they face from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Right now, HSUS requires over 400 thousand valid signatures from registered voters to put a constitutional amendment on the Ohio ballot that will radically restrict what Ohio farmers can do, greatly increasing the cost of Ohio agriculture and causing job loss at a critical time for the state.  Essentially, they are parachuting in from out of state pushing their agenda against our farmers, many of whom, are avid sportsmen. 

So what can you do?  Well, for one thing, if they don’t enough signatures, the issue won’t make it to the ballot. 

So, if you see HSUS activists getting signatures at a local grocery or retail store, go talk to that store’s manager.  Remember, these guys need to have permission to set up shop on private property for political purposes.  If they don’t have it, they shouldn’t be approaching customers, asking them to sign petitions.  Often, even if they do have permission, the manager may not understand the political agenda they’re pushing.  

You don’t have to be confrontational, but none of us should make this easy for HSUS.  A little education here and there can stop them from pulling the wool over the eyes of honest store managers.

Editor’s Note:  According to a recent online survey conducted by AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com, 64 percent of hunters and anglers report they are not using social networking sites, like blogs, Facebook, Twitter and MySpace to obtain outdoor information.  While these numbers may be slightly different depending on the polls and surveys taken, there is one clear thing to take away from this, the outdoor sports community should have a more active role in the new media environment in order to share experiences and fight back against the loud voices of the anti-hunting/animal rights community.

This week’s Bullseye Blog is a guest blog, written by blogging expert and executive business coach Barbara C., and will help explain how through blogging, you can get more involved in sharing your passion for the outdoors with friends, family and those that may not know much about our outdoor heritage”.

Did you know there’s an easy and fun way to protect your sportsmen’s rights without ever leaving the comfort of home or taking too much time away from the field?

I’m talking about blogging.

For anyone unfamiliar, the term “blog” is short for the term “weblog”.  But blogs aren’t just “kidstuff” anymore and have exploded in a big way with almost everyone using them.  Blogs are simply a short story mirroring an editorial about a subject that can be sent out quickly to the masses.  There are personal blogs, business blogs, celebrity blogs, and even outdoor blogs.

Blogs are popular for many reasons:  they’re fun, easy to create and can be easily personalized.  They give anyone with the right background the chance to be an authority on the web.

They can also help you protect your rights and traditions by giving you a chance to make an impact on how the public, the press – and even politicians view sportsmen’s issues.

The secret is that blogs run on a technology called RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication.  Simply put, whenever you post content on your blog, it can be indexed in Google or other online search engines almost INSTANTLY.

That means that you have the power to instantly publish content directly onto the web, which can be seen by millions of people – including members of the public, the press and politicians.

And on any given day, when those people perform a Google search for “hunting”, fishing” or “antis” – your blog makes your opinion visible – which means your voice can make the difference on any given day.

Can a simple blog translate into political power?  YES! 

Politicians and pundits check the “blog-o-sphere” daily for the pulse of the people – meaning you.

Blogs are easily the most powerful tool in the fight to protect your rights and those of your fellow sportsmen and women - and it’s as easy as typing.

Which brings us to our next question – are you blogging yet?

As a member of the USSA, you can help simply by blogging!  Help us help you! Take our Sportsmen’s Blog Survey & tell us what you think! Click here!

And stay tuned to USSA for more helpful and exciting blog ideas and information. Also stay tuned for future stories that will connect you to all the info you need to get started with your own blog.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Whenever the President nominates someone to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, it is inevitable that everything they ever wrote or said will be reviewed with a fine tooth comb.  Simply put, these lifetime appointments to a position that will determine whether or not laws are constitutional are too important not to take time and caution when reviewing.

For sportsmen, it is obviously very important to see what a potential Supreme Court Justice thinks about the Second Amendment.  This is especially important in these times, when it seems that around every corner is a legislator or city council person who wants to pass laws that would restrict gun owners’ rights with the courtroom often the last line of defense. 

So naturally, it is no surprise that recent news concerning President Obama’s latest pick to serve on the Court, Elena Kagan, has stirred some concern.  According to recent news reports, Kagan authored a memo in 1987 while serving as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall that indicated she was not sympathetic to the claims of a Washington D.C. man who had said his constitutional rights were violated after he had been arrested for carrying an unlicensed handgun.  

Knowing exactly what this means is an open question. 

According to Kagan, the memo she drafted was intended to reflect the views of her boss at the time and the White House has also chimed in by saying that the opinion was also the mainstream view of the law at the time.  Additionally, when referring (see page 32) to the 2008 Heller case in which the Supreme Court struck down a long-time Washington D.C. ban on guns, Kagan commented, “Essentially, the Court made clear that the Second Amendment right to bear arms should be treated like any other constitutional right – the Court, for example, offered an analogy to the First Amendment – providing strong but not unlimited protection.”

So the bottom line is that the Kagan nomination is ambiguous.  No sportsman could say she would be a “friend”, but the question as to whether she is an outright enemy is not easy to resolve. 

Here’s to hoping that Kagan will clarify these distinct positions during her confirmation process and that our senators ask the right questions.

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

As we approach Memorial Day, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance wants to wish everyone a wonderful holiday and urge our supporters to thank the wonderful men and women of the armed forces for the risks they take every single day for our freedoms. 

It never gets old talking about how important the sacrifices made by our soldiers, marines and airmen have been since the Revolutionary War all the way to the current battles in Afghanistan, Iraq and beyond.  This is because, every new generation has its own stories to tell about they played a role in further hallowing the ground we walk on every single day.

From Yorktown to Normandy and Gettysburg to Fallujah, each of these battles, and countless others, has left their marks in our collective history. 

While this is a time to enjoy families during a holiday, it can never be forgotten just how precarious the very concept of freedom is and how difficult it is to defend in the face of challenges that often are unseen until the last moment. Sportsmen and women, many of which are or have been members of the services themselves, understand as well as anyone how precious this freedom is.

No doubt, the flags will be waving, memories shared and loved ones honored.  This is the American way…and the way it should be.

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

Sport anglers throughout the nation are worried about what could be one of the worst ecological disasters in American history.  To none of our surprise, they have “rolled up their sleeves” and are trying to help. Already, thousands of hunters and anglers have been participating in actions like a virtual town hall hosted by the National Wildlife Federation to learn about the impact and how they can begin helping in the clean up. 

The Gulf oil spill has captured the nation’s attention for several weeks as BP, the company that owned the oil rig, has tried several different methods of stopping the leak.  Unfortunately, the efforts have been unsuccessful and it is still unknown exactly how much oil is being spewed into the Gulf.  Also, there is now a lot of worry that the spill could impact the Florida Keys and get further into the Atlantic Ocean itself.

There is now even fear, that eventually the oil may impact the Florida Everglades.  Already, there are several reports warning of dire economic impacts to the Everglades should the spill not be contained.  According to a study conducted by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, that was partially paid for by the Everglades Foundation, saltwater sportfishing has a $883 million in economic impact on the region. 

Trying to determine how bad an impact the spill will have on those dollars is unknown, but certainly everyone expects a negative impact of some sort.

No matter what one’s perspective is on drilling for oil, all we hope for is that the leaking is stopped, the spill contained and that the damage will prove to be far less than some of the forecasters are saying at the moment. 

One thing that I will take from this disaster is how the conservation ethic of the sportsmen and angling community played an important role in helping to clean up the aftermath of this tragic event. But, what else would you expect from America’s leading conservationists.  

By Derrek Shively, Director of Education

You might not think of folks from New York City being too deeply involved with the outdoor lifestyle.  After all, the most common images conjured up of the “Big Apple” are skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty, not muzzleloaders or archery equipment.  However, despite this conventional wisdom, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) found out that Big Apple kids like to get outside and learn about wildlife, conservation, and outdoor sports just as much as any others.

The USSAF partnered with the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts of America for a recent event at Ten Mile River Camps in Narrowsburg, NY.  The May 1 event provided the opportunity for nearly 220 scouts from areas such as Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Long Island to get a taste of the outdoors and take part in a variety of shooting activities such as shooting muzzle loaders, shotguns, .22 rifles, BB guns and archery.  Other activities were featured such as conservation education presented by Sullivan County Chapter, Ducks Unlimited, as well as trapper education offered by the Sullivan County Trappers Association. 

Though at 220 participants, this is smaller than the typical Trailblazer event, there’s no doubt this was a great first-time effort and promises to be the beginning of a long-term partnership.    I am already looking forward to working with the council in the future to provide outdoor education opportunities to the youth of the New York City metropolitan area.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

For most, trying to understand a PETA activist is a lot like trying to do some repairs on a new car – it is confusing, not much fun at all, and it might even seem scary.  However, sportsmen, along with farmers, scientists and practically anyone who is part of mainstream society should at least get a little taste of what makes these whackos tick.

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately, depending on your perspective), PETA decided to help us all get a little glimpse into their world and their way thinking. 

Click here to watch a video by PETA founder and President Ingrid Newkirk and you’ll quickly understand the thoughts that guide the organization and its supporters.  While the video does show some images that are shocking, listen carefully, and you’ll hear, straight from Newkirk’s own mouth, about animal rights. She doesn’t hide the fact that PETA clearly looks at animals as being virtually indistinguishable from humans in most ways.

Again, this is the big difference between normal people- those that care about animals and who fight against needless cruelty, and an animal rightist- someone who thinks “a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy – they are all the same.”

You don’t have to take my word for it, just listen to Ingrid and she’ll tell you…

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Often, the phrases “animal rights” and “animal welfare” get used interchangeably. This is a mistake.

Sportsmen can easily support animal welfare. No sportsman wants to engage in acts that are maliciously cruel to animals. Indeed, outdoor traditions stem from a deep respect between hunter and hunted. That relationship goes back for literally thousands of years and at its core avoids unnecessary pain and suffering for the quarry. 

Animal rights, however, can never be embraced by sportsmen or anyone else unless they believe animals and humans are equal.

Interestingly, a long, obscure article from a vegetarian magazine shines a bright light on exactly what animal rights means to those who subscribe to it.

On the Humane Watch website, you can read this little gem from 1982 for yourself. It is absolutely shocking! According to the article, HSUS embraced a full blown animal rights position in 1981 and endorsed the following:

“there is no rational basis for maintaining a moral distinction between the treatment of humans and the treatment of other animals.”

Think about that for just a moment. There is no moral distinction between the treatment of humans and animals in the eyes of this group. What does that really mean?

There can be no other way of looking at this than to conclude that this group and other animal rightists sees hunting, fishing and trapping akin to murder and as such should be eliminated.

Remember, this statement is reportedly from HSUS. Does that sound like the belief system of a group that only wants to curb, in their own words, the “worst forms of abuse” as it often claims? Or does it sound like a hard core statement that defines its entire perspective on human-animal relationships?

Beyond the nugget about HSUS, this article also gives readers a good opportunity to examine the philosophical framework that animal rightists embraced over a quarter century ago and still abide by today. Again, this should be of concern to all, but especially to those who think they are simply “helping” animals when they give some of their hard earned dollars to HSUS or any other so-called animal rights group.

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

For over 30 years, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) has defended and promoted valid, scientific wildlife management principles.  It does not defend politicians, unless they are taking unfair criticism by also defending valid wildlife management.

This is the core issue with respect to the story the USSA recently ran criticizing a campaign led by the animal rights group Defenders of Wildlife against former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  The USSA’s effort is not about defending Sarah Palin as a political figure.  It is about keeping the public from being misled by the rhetoric employed by Defenders regarding wolf and polar bear management.

The Defender’s campaign is designed to pressure the Discovery Channel into not airing a new television program starring Palin.  The USSA suggested sportsmen counter the call by Defenders to drop the show.

Our release generated much feedback.

Those who objected to our position need to understand its basis:

1. Wildlife management is a complex subject that can often be mischaracterized in the eyes of the general public when emotional rhetoric is substituted for science.
   
2. Allowing unfounded attacks in a highly publicized environment , in this case regarding wolf and polar bear management, to go unanswered essentially allows those attacks to become the new, even if false, conventional wisdom.   As the USSA’s mission is to promote the sportsman's stewardship role in the scientific management of America's fish and wildlife, it would be a dereliction of our duty (and mission) to not respond.

On point, the USSA strongly disagrees with the two points made by Defenders against Palin’s policies and policy positions.

As the USSA, and several other leading conservation groups, made clear last year; Alaska’s wolf management policy is about predator management.  In contrast to the arguments outlined by Defenders, predator management is necessary for ensuring stable populations of prey species. Many residents of Alaska do rely on moose, caribou, and other wildlife species for food.  Consequently, over predation of those game species by wolves creates a problem for human’s today and in fact, for the predators tomorrow.

Though there can always be disagreement on the details of such management plans, the Alaska program is designed to target only those predators in areas where wildlife populations are not able to reach adequate levels of sustainability in the program’s absence.  Additionally, the plan continued after Palin resigned the governorship, illustrating that the decision was not based upon her opinion alone.  This management program has the support of Alaska’s very capable and professional wildlife managers.

As it relates to Palin’s opinion against the listing of polar bears on the Endangered Species List, the USSA has also argued against that policy.  There is a larger issue at work here than the hunting of polar bears. 

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) does not allow for listing species based on future predictions.  However, this is exactly what happened with the polar bear designation.  Currently unverifiable projections of climate data were assumed, not proven, to cause so much loss of arctic ice that the polar bears were deemed to require protection.  In fact, they became the first species to preemptively obtain ESA protection based on long-term fears over the impact of global warming.  Remember, we are talking about Canadian polar bears whose numbers are at the very least stable with most of the populations increasing.

By agreeing to list the polar bear, the government has created a precedent that can be used to place any type of wildlife under ESA protection.  It is not hard to imagine a future lawsuit where anti-hunting groups seek ESA protection for a wide range of freshwater fish in the Everglades due to long-term fears over climate change flooding the area with salt water – something that appears in news reports periodically.

Consequently, the battle over polar bears has much more to do with avoiding future pre-emptive ESA listings based upon questionable scientific evidence than the limited actual hunting of the bears themselves.

If ESA listings based upon similar questionable evidence begin occurring more regularly, the impact on hunting and wildlife management will be significant. Indeed, the federal government and state fish and wildlife agencies will use its funding to defend against lawsuits not on protecting and increasing wildlife populations.

We at the USSA sincerely appreciate the feedback we receive from our supporters and even our detractors.  The information we send out is designed to help sportsmen develop scientifically based knowledge and opinions about wildlife management.  We also hope that all who receive our information understand that it is our sole purpose and mission to defend the rights of sportsmen and sportswomen across the nation. 

The USSA is optimistic that as sportsmen become more aware of the complex scientific and legal issues surrounding wildlife management, hunting, fishing and trapping, all will understand that sometimes defending what is right requires taking a position that might seem controversial upon first glance, but correct upon further reflection.

Again, we welcome all comments on this and any other issue.

For those of you still wondering what the heck all the hullabaloo about “social networking” or “tweeting” is, this post’s for you! 

Social networking is a simple way for family, friends, and fellow advocates to get together through the Internet to communicate with each other and share stories, interests, pictures…whatever.  While that may not sound like something you want to do, just consider that according to statistics, Facebook has 400 million users around the world! 

What this means is that people are using these sites in large numbers and not just for fun.

They can also be used to get much needed messages out about big time issues, including issues of concern to sportsmen.  The recent Yellow Tail saga is a great example of how social networking can have a huge impact in the advocacy arena. 

For those that are unaware, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) recently discovered that the Australian winemaker was going to give $100,000 to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  Given that HSUS is the top enemy of sportsmen nationwide; this seemed like a huge issue that sportsmen needed to know about. 

To help spread the message to as large an audience as possible, we posted an action alert calling on sportsmen to contact Yellow Tail’s American distributor on most of major our social networking web pages including Facebook and Twitter. Within a matter of just minutes, one of our followers on Twitter reposted the action alert on their own Twitter page which happened to be frequented by a lot of farmers who have their own reasons to be against HSUS (since HSUS seems to want to put them out of business). 

Within about an hour, people were going to the Yellow Tail Facebook page, signing in as “friends” and then leaving comments for the wine guys letting them know exactly how they felt about Yellow Tail’s support for HSUS.  Hundreds of messages got posted in the first two days.  Needless to say, this grabbed Yellow Tail’s attention.

The social networking barrage continued for several weeks.  From countless messages to YouTube videos of previous Yellow Tail customers emptying their wine bottles, the campaign picked up steam.  Even without the coverage from mainstream media like ABC, CBS or NBC, the effort ended with the parent company of Yellow Tail making a statement that it would no longer support lobbying groups. 

This was huge! Through what was basically an Internet grassroots effort, a big company listened to their customer base and made a policy change.

There’s no doubt that protests could be successful before social networking.  But it used to take a lot of time and a lot of coordination for them to get a company’s attention, much less get them to make changes in policies that customers found objectionable.  

Social networking turns this on its head by rapidly increasing the speed that information travels and how easily it can increase the number of people willing to take action. 

So if you’re not already a member of these sites, check them out.  You can check out the USSA’s social networking sites by clicking the following links: CamoSpace, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube.

I’ll follow up this blog with tips on how to get started, but if you have questions in the meantime, go ahead and shoot me an e-mail at glawson@ussportsmen.org.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog that asked what kind of social impacts the loss of hunting would have on America.

In what was a bit of good fortune, Dave Golowenski, the outdoor writer for the Columbus Dispatch - U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance’s HQ’s local paper- penned a story on Valentine’s Day along the same lines.  The story is a brief review of a book by the well regarded conservationist and behavioral scientist Randall L. Eaton, From Boys to Men of Heart: Hunting as Rite of Passage.

According to Golowenski, the main theme of the book is that hunting societies in the past were able to clearly define the path that boys were to take to change from youth to adulthood.  The book asserts that hunting helps develop compassion by showing young people the mysteries of life and death and the interdependence of all types of creatures on earth.

The book raises profound questions about what it means to be a sportsman and to be a conservationist.  It also raises the same kind of questions I referred to last week, especially regarding what kind of nation will America be if it loses all touch with its outdoor traditions? 

If even just part of what Mr. Eaton suggests is true, then hunting has played an indispensable role in teaching the youth of past generations how interconnected we are to nature and its assortment of creatures.  A loss of that connection could well harm conservation by making it a foreign concept where the next generation no longer has any hands on experience to draw on in motivating them to be stewards of our wildlife.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Sometimes when surfing the web you manage to stumble across some unexpected news and blogs that just make you stop and think.  That happened to me last week with a blog by Tammy Sapp on how hunting and conservation go hand in hand and prompted me to write a blog.  This week, I found another one, this time by commentator Debbie Schlussell.

In this blog, she expresses sadness at how few youth are taking up hunting today.  She also notes how this is not only a bad trend for hunters, but is a bad trend that raises questions about the general future of America.  A couple of quotes from her piece express exactly why this trend is one that needs to be stopped.

“Over a year ago, Sports Illustrated did an extensive article on “How the Decline of Hunting is Changing the Natural Order of Predator and Prey,” detailing the dangers this causes us all, with animals getting more and more brave in approaching human habitats as they search for food.  States have to pay men to come in and hunt, in addition to extending hunting season.

This week, the Wall Street Journal had an interesting piece by Chicago writer Mark Yost, “The Outfitters’ Lament:  Too Few Kids with Guns,” on the decline in kids who are hunters.  It’s not a good thing, and he blames it not just on economics, but also the break up of the nuclear family.  Single mothers aren’t exactly big on taking their sons hunting.  That’s generally a father’s domain. The whole situation is sad, and not good for a civilized society. Part of being a civilization is eliminating the threat of the not so civilized…”

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) has been doing its part to prevent this trend from becoming irreversible.  Through our work with the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation, the USSA has passed Families Afield laws in 29 states which reduce legal barriers for new hunters, especially younger ones, to enter the field.

Additionally, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation has spent the last nine years advancing the Trailblazer Adventure Program nationwide in order to introduce youths and their families to the thrill of outdoor sports and the importance of conservation.  This program has been amazingly successful.  In fact, this year we will see the one millionth participant go through the program!

We urge all sportsmen to help us fight this trend of less youth in the field.  Click on the link to our Trailblazer program or contact our director of education Derrek Shively at dshively@ussportsmen.org for more info on how you can help us at these events and do just a little to make sure that hunting and outdoor sports remain part of America’s heritage.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Sportsmen understand that hunting is not just a tradition that is passed along from generation to generation, but is also the cornerstone for wildlife conservation programs throughout the nation.  They compliment and thrive because of each other.

This thought came to me as I read an excellent blog post from a good friend of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Tammy Sapp, editor of The Women's Wire, explaining that hunting is also essential for wildlife conservation around the world.  Her "Wire" is one of three that we always read from Jim Shepard, the other two being The Tactical Wire and Outdoor Wire. 

In that post she interviewed Peggy Vallery, president of the National Wild Turkey Federation.  Peggy has hunted around the world from Africa to New Zealand and from Bulgaria to China.  As an accomplished hunter, she has seemingly seen it all and has been able to observe that hunting provides innumerable conservation benefits everywhere.  As in America, hunting abroad spurs management of wildlife populations, but it also does something else that a lot of people might miss.

It helps to increase the worth of game animals. Often, big game in other countries are seen as dangerous to local communities, especially those cultures that are dependant day by day on what they farm.  Historically, many locals felt compelled to kill majestic animals like elephants and rhinos due to fears over crop destruction.  Animals would also fall prey to poachers who were looking to make an extra buck regardless of the consequence to the animal population.

But with several generations of hunters having travelled abroad, a transformation has taken place.  Hunting brings much money into the local economies in communities around the globe.  That simply has made animals worth more to locals thus reducing poaching.  Additionally, the locals understand that the animals are not their enemy, but a major part of their future well being. 

So understand that this "fireworks and the 4th of July" relationship can be seen not just in Pennsylvania, Texas and California, but in Ethiopia, Botswana, and numerous other places too. 

Make sure to check out this and other blogs from Tammy.  Feel free to leave comments and send us your thoughts at info@ussportsmen.org.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

While one seldom hears about these types of stories, several state wildlife officials did say that this is emerging as a growing trend.  While the USA Today article doesn’t specifically cite statistics, any trend like this should still be a cause for real concern for all. 

So what does this have to do with sportsmen?  A lot. 

Often, the general public does not distinguish between responsible sportsmen and those who poach wildlife.  When a major paper writes this kind of story, it gives more ammo to those who paint all sportsmen with a broad brush. 

Wayne Pacelle at the Humane Society of the United States recently wrote an entire blog calling out sportsmen by claiming that they remain silent in the face of outrageous and obvious acts of cruelty.  It’s up to sportsmen to make sure the general public knows the truth and doesn’t get that impression.

Sportsmen cannot and do not remain silent about poachers.  In fact, sportsmen across the country rally for harsh penalties for poachers and others who have a general disregard for wildlife.  They constantly look to prevent these kinds of things from happening not just because it “looks bad” but because they respect the game they chase and also know poaching is far from the ethics they represent.  Sportsmen plain and simple know they’re better than that.

So every single time you see a nasty letter to the editor that lumps sportsmen in with poachers, send in your own letter.  Don’t let that false impression be the only one the public hears. 

Tell others what it means to embrace conservation ethics and make it clear that sportsmen follow the rules, play fair and do the right thing.

By Rob Sexton, Vice President for Government Affairs 

Thus far, Wisconsin’s results are staggering: 10,564 youth age 10 to 11 are getting into the field for the first time thanks to Families Afield according to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with a total of 13,271 mentored hunting licenses sold.  This is even more impressive when you consider the bill was just signed into law on August 13, 2009. 

Though the DNR still has to evaluate all of the information, these early numbers are very positive and are certain to grow throughout 2010.  However, it is important to note that Wisconsin is only the latest success story for Families Afield, which now boasts of adding over 300,000 new hunters in the field. 

It is essential that these numbers continue to rise.  Why?  According to the results of a study on public attitudes toward hunting conducted in 2005, the sobering reality is best stated in the reports summary - “unless we take action soon, hunting will be extinct in the United States by 2050.” 

Of course, if there are no hunters, the entire way that we pay for conserving our wildlife flies out the window. .  What’s caused this?  Largely you can point to certain trends in American life such as the urbanization of the public, the aging of the hunting population and the growth and acceptance of animal rights within the mainstream culture.  These cold, hard facts were the impetus in creating the Families Afield Program.

Recognizing that the first way to combat those trends working against sportsman recruitment was to get new people into the field quickly, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA), the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation worked collaboratively to initiate Families Afield in 2004.   The program was specifically designed to urge states to review and eliminate unnecessary hunting age restrictions and ease hunter education mandates with the ultimate goal sending more new hunters than ever to hunter education classes, and reverse the trend of declining sportsmen's numbers. Since its inception, Families Afield efforts have passed in 29 states. 

There will continue to be the need to keep those who may have been enticed outside for the first time coming back for more.  But the first step, which is usually the hardest, is to get them out into the field in the first place.  This, Families Afield continues to do, state by state.

The USSA will continue working with our partners, pushing for enhanced opportunities for sportsmen throughout the nation.  Check out www.ussportsmen.org  to learn how you can help make sure the legacy continues.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has done great service to all by examining HSUS’ 2008 tax returns in depth.  To no surprise, the results of that review tell the same story that we at the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) have been saying for years- HSUS is a big time lobbying organization that focuses on pushing their animal rights political agenda more than actually caring for animals with humans placing a distant third.  You can check out the CCF examination by going here and here.

Here is a relevant section from CCF:

“In 2008 HSUS spent more than $2.3 million on a political committee called “Californians for Humane Farms,” which campaigned for the “Proposition 2” ballot initiative in the Golden State. In 2007, it gave over $1.3 million. HSUS also made donations of $200,000 in 2007 and 2008 to the “Committee to Protect Dogs,” a Massachusetts organization that pushed for a statewide ban on greyhound racing with the “Question 3” ballot initiative.”

Indeed, the HSUS reports spending $20 million on various legislative and legal activities in the name of animal care, yet runs a mere five animal care facilities.

The CCF further highlights how the actions taken by HSUS led to a combined loss of 4,000 jobs in those two states. Naturally, this raises the question of just how much the group cares about people when it is busy advocating for policies that are making people lose jobs.

In a nutshell, it doesn’t look like they do. 

For those who want to take a look, here’s the HSUS form 990.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Sometimes it can seem pretty hard to keep track of all the votes legislators make, much less figuring out which are truly good or bad for sportsmen.  Well thanks to HSUS itself, that guessing game has been made a whole lot simpler.

The HSUS’ lobbying arm, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, has just released their “2009 Humane Scorecard” which means now you can see how your Congressmen and Senators stack up on the HSUS “Humane” scale. 

One of the things we at the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance always want to drive home is the importance of grassroots activism and keeping your legislators honest.  Nothing helps defeat anti-hunting efforts better than informed sportsmen who willing to keep the heat on their elected officials.  By checking out this scorecard, you’ll become informed and be ready to talk to your legislators.

If your legislators earn high marks from the HSUS, you should write them a letter and tell them you don’t support their efforts on behalf of a group that stands against America’s outdoor traditions.  If your legislators get bad marks from HSUS, you should write a letter and tell them thanks for not buckling under pressure from HSUS .

Click here for sample letters for a legislator getting good HSUS marks and for one earning poor marks from HSUS.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Gene Mueller, a longtime columnist with the Washington Times recently picked up on a previous blog post where I wrote about Rush Limbaugh winning the Field & Stream online sportsmen’s “villain” contest.  It was a fair piece that made clear that HSUS' main mission is to raise money to, and I quote,  “lobby against hunting and/or medical research in which animals are used to test medication and surgical procedures.”

In a December 29 letter to the editor at the Washington Times, Pacelle goes off and attempts to defend the HSUS’ anti-hunting agenda by stating:

“When it comes to hunting issues, we work to curb the most inhumane abuses, and that's what has led us most recently to campaign vigorously against canned hunting, Internet hunting and the use of steel-jawed leg-hold traps - practices that the HSUS and many rank-and-file hunters agree are abusive and unacceptable.”

Unfortunately for Mr. Pacelle, while his grammar may be fine, his facts are off the mark.  In particular, his claims against “inhumane” traps are ridiculous.  Groups such as the Fur Takers of America, National Trappers Association, and many state and local groups and individuals have spent thousands of hours researching and testing traps and methods to make sure traps being used are the most effective and humane for any animal caught.  Thanks to these efforts, modern trappers have the ability to release nearly every catch unharmed.  These modern trapping practices are supported by state wildlife professionals from coast to coast. Those experts consider trapping one of the most important management tools. 

The bottom line is while HSUS claims it is only against “extreme” forms of hunting and trapping, some recent examples of their campaigns make that an entirely dubious claim.  In fact, HSUS:

·         Opposed Sunday hunting, despite there being no practical difference between hunting on that day and any other day of the week. 

·         Opposed a legitimate deer hunt in Westchester county New York, despite a well thought out proposal from a panel of experts;

·         Pushed to get New Jersey’s black bear hunt stopped which has led to a large increase in potentially dangerous human to bear interactions in the state and ignoring calls from legislators for action to prevent the increased incidences.

·         Led the charge to stop dove hunting in Michigan.  Doves are America’s most popular game bird and hunting has no effect on the population.

·         Criticized and opposed the joint effort by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation to lower barriers to entry in the field for new hunters through the Families Afield program

Seriously. These actions do not look like they are designed to go after only the “worst of the worst” unless your definition of worst is “all”.

HSUS knows it can’t stop all hunting in one shot, but these actions illustrate that it will go after those it thinks it can stop on a case by case basis.  Over time, it is clear that HSUS expects these “wins” will make all hunting and trapping a thing of the past.

Kudos again to Gene Mueller and others in his arena for standing up and telling the truth.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Beginning in 2010, the USSA will be unveiling a new effort we call the “Sentry Program.”  While the final details of the program are still being worked out,

the idea is to offer our current members as well as future members something more and make sure that those who decide to become “Sentries” understand how special they are.

If you think about it, sentries have served a powerful role throughout history, standing along guard towers to defend their cities and their way of life.  Being a sentry was not always easy, they were always the first in line to do battle with the attacking enemy.  Yet, it was their strength of character, honor and perseverance that showed through each and every time they were called upon to throw back an assault.

For sportsmen in the 21st century, there could not be a better description of what is needed from you now.  We face more challenges than ever as the population of sportsmen begins to decline, the sophistication and effectiveness of our opponents grows and the day to day experiences of modern life seem to disconnect us further than ever from nature.  If we don’t act now, our way of life will end within a couple of generations.

So who will help stand along the new guard tower?  Who will defend the heritage and guard the future?  It will be the new “Sentries” who take a stand now.  Will you be one?

Check out the USSA website in January for more details on this exciting and essential new program and learn how to be a “Sentry.”

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Is the mask used by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to cover its agenda slipping a bit lately?

Of course, HSUS is no stranger to controversies surrounding how they raise funds.  So it should be no surprise that many people are raising questions about the latest pitch by HSUS to raise $1 million by the end of the year for its “2010 Animal Survivors Fund.”  What is surprising is that many of those ringing the alarm bells do not usually share our opposition to HSUS.

The e-mail and web solicitation in question comes from HSUS Animal Fighting Campaign Manager, John Goodwin.  In the plea, Goodwin refers to “Fay”, a rescued pit bull that had been abused in a large St. Louis area dog fighting ring.  While nothing in the solicitation appears to be technically inaccurate, some are disputing HSUS’ level of involvement in this issue. 

In particular, many blogs that follow animal rescues questioned whether HSUS has done much to help the dogs after the ring was busted.  According to several blogs, they felt HSUS was capitalizing on major media coverage of the ring’s bust in such publications as Time Magazine in order to raise money while the hard work was done by local animal shelters and welfare groups.

While the HSUS subsequently did eventually offer to pay $5,000 for surgeries to fix some of the dog’s injuries, some blogs expressed disgust at what they felt was a disingenuous fundraising tactic by HSUS.

At Pet Connection.com, Fay’s actual foster parent initially expressed concerns about the pitch by saying,

“I am rather sad that HSUS has chosen to use Fay in their fund drive. Fay has never received a dime from HSUS. How do I know? Because I am the one that is fostering Fay. Fay is currently going through expensive surgeries to recreate medically needed lips so her teeth do not fall out, her jaw bone stops deteriorating, and she can live a normal life. HSUS never contacted us regarding Fay. In the video John states she is in a loving home…really…thanks for the compliment but Fay is LOOKING for her forever home.”

In another example, the KC Dog Blog, a blog that focuses on animal welfare issues, had this to say,

“Meanwhile, there's HSUS. While it is nice of them to give $5,000 to help Fay, that is just a drop in the bucket to the money needed to help these dogs. As the world's largest and wealthiest "humane" organization, they have a responsibility to help ALL of the dogs from this bust. There are 499 more dogs (at least 250 of which are going to be re-homed) that also need help. The $5,000 will just skim the surface on the overall need for help for these animals - and would be a drop in the bucket for an organization that brought in over $82 million in donations last year and over $150 million in cash and investment assets.  Meanwhile, HSUS continues to raise money on the backs of the smaller local rescues and yet is not helping the dogs that are coming from these fighting operations.”

We at the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, see very clearly through HSUS’ mask.  It appears that others are beginning to do the same.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

No,  El Rushbo may not be twirling a handlebar moustache anytime soon, but he did manage to come out on top in Field and Stream’s 2009“Hunting and Fishing Heroes and Villains Face Off.”  This very amusing, tongue in cheek website feature matched up some of America’s leading defenders and opponents of hunting into a single elimination tournament to see who are both the top hero and the top villain for outdoor sports this year. 

In the shocking final round, Rush knocked off PETA founder Ingrid “a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy” Newkirk who had advanced to the final by overwhelming the new “Regulatory Czar” Cass Sunstein.

How did this happen?

Well, the author did a great job explaining his position in this follow up piece at Field and Stream. 

Indeed, Rush taped not one, but two public service announcements supporting the number one enemy of sportsmen nationwide- the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) earlier this year. 

As the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) made clear when we learned about the ads, sportsmen nationwide were shocked.  Maybe Rush doesn’t hunt or fish himself, but to give HSUS political cover by making it seem like they are a-ok was a major disservice to thousands of his fans.  In fact, the USSA felt so strongly about this, that we were one of the leaders in a serious effort to get Rush to disavow the recordings and expose HSUS. 

Though unable to get Rush to publically admit this mistake, the USSA was able to get a lot of media attention on the issue including stories at ESPN, LA Times, New York Post, Outdoor Life and the Washington Times.  You can read some of these stories by Clicking Here.

This effort definitely helped raise the curtain for the general public on just what HSUS’s long-term agenda. 

Of course, the USSA also led a campaign against one of the runner ups too - “Reg Czar” Cass Sunstein and got within five votes of stopping him from taking over the most powerful regulatory position in Washington. 

Maybe next year, the USSA should do its own “heroes vs. villains” smackdown tournament.  What say the readers?

Let me know, glawson@ussportsmen.org

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

This time the ad used former Playboy model and reality show star, Joanna Krupa, striking a provocative pose complete with a halo over her head and a strategically placed crucifix covering her naked body.

While Krupa has previously bared all for PETA, this particular one has brought some intense criticism by numerous religious figures.  For example, Bill Donohue, the President of the Catholic League, issued a statement referring to PETA as having "…a long and disgraceful record of exploiting Christian and Jewish themes to hawk its ugly services. Those who support this organization sorely need a reality check. They also need a course in Ethics 101."

PETA’s shock tactic is nothing new given its history and those tactics probably alienate most reasonably sane people.  However, the move highlights the continuing efforts of anti’s in general to use religion for their own purposes. 

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance has written about this before.  Unlike PETA, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has decided not to offend people in its campaigns, but to use faith to lure more religious folks to its way of thinking.  Just this fall, HSUS promoted a nationwide music tour featuring hot MTV acts that included stops at several Christian universities.  HSUS even has its own dedicated staffer devoted to “faith outreach.”

Dr. Wes Jamison, an ordained Minister as well as a professor of Communications at Palm Beach Atlantic University, has been touring the country highlighting this for awhile.  At a May conference for the Animal Agriculture Alliance, Dr. Jamison warned that animal rights’ groups are intentionally selecting certain biblical passages that focus on individuals’ compassion and guilt. 

So once again, while PETA gets its headlines, HSUS is busy trying to make changes under the radar without rocking the boat.  It knows that by cherry picking different passages from the Bible, it might be able to enlist one of the strongest of all weapons in its battle to change American habits.  In their mind, if faith played a prominent role in stopping other “social ills” in American history, it may be able to be used to promote their radical beliefs to end all hunting, fishing, trapping, animal agriculture, medical research and on and on. 

We believe they will ultimately fail in this tactic, but sportsmen should never underestimate the challenge this presents.

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

It is no surprise to anyone that these are tough economic times.  That is why it is so uplifting to read stories about people who are generously donating time and money to help out those in need.  This is especially true for so many sportsmen and sportswomen.  After all, unlike many of the anti’s who love to give a lecture about the immorality of our heritage, sportsmen nationwide are helping provide a basic necessity for those in need

A recent story published by the Associated Press relayed this message, known by many sportsmen nationwide, but one that is often ignored by the mainstream media.  The story details how much help sportsmen are giving to local food shelters in hard hit states like Ohio.  

Last year hunters donated enough venison to food banks for 220,000 meals.  That number will most assuredly be eclipsed this year.

According to numbers supplied by the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, the number of those helped by its member charities was up 37 percent over the last quarter of fiscal year 09 vs. the same time in 2008.  With the latest Ohio bow hunting harvest numbers showing an increase of 4 percent in the deer harvest, there is no doubt that some of this lean, healthy meat will also make its way to food banks which are in obvious need of additional resources.

nbsp;For once, this story avoided the caricature that is often painted by the media of hunters as barbarians killing animals without a care in the world.  In fact, it highlighted exactly what anti’s want people to forget: that sportsmen are one of the most caring and ethical groups of people in this country...bar none. 

It would be interesting to see a story highlighting just how many meals the anti’s have provided for those who need it most.  Considering our biggest foes do little more than raise more and more money to end our heritage, stop animal agriculture, and destroy medical research, I think I know the answer.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

It’s hard to imagine anything more monotonous and painful to experience for a sportsman than the agony of sitting through a long courtroom proceeding. 

Imagine the typical courtroom scene…lawyers shuffling through stacks of paper and looking impatiently at their watches.  Long speeches about the meaning of technical words. All kinds of “experts” constantly reiterating their “facts” and completely contradicting the other side’s “experts.”  The entire process almost seems a bit comical. 

However, sportsmen would be dead wrong if they stopped paying attention to what happens in courtrooms because it’s within those walls that the future of outdoor sports may well be decided. 

The weapon of choice for many shrewd anti’s is no longer fake blood and picket signs, its legal briefs and precedents.  Far more than just words on paper, legal precedents are the lifeblood of the legal system and establish the framework for making future legal decisions.  For this reason, legal precedents have rapidly become the anti’s best friend.

For example, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s (USSAF) legal arm, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund, spent precious money and time defending trappers in Maine from an assault on their continued ability to trap.  While this case was important to trappers in Maine, who could have seen their heritage go down the drain if the anti’s had won, the precedent that the case would have established was much farther reaching than trapping alone.

Had the anti’s won their case, every time a hunter, angler, or trapper accidentally caught an animal that happens to be on the Endangered Species List, the anti’s could ride into court and try to block those seasons.  The antis might not have always succeeded in these efforts, but the precedent from the Maine case could well have enabled them to win in many situations.

Fortunately, with the sportsmen’s victory in federal court, the anti’s didn’t get their beloved precedent… this time.  However, there is no doubt that there will be a next time, and time after that, etc.  Indeed, the anti’s know that they don’t need to win every time they go to court; they just need to win here and there to put our outdoor heritage at risk. 

The bottom line is that sportsmen…you need to pay attention to these cases.  No one wants to go to court.  But sometimes, there’s no choice.  The USSAF plans to be there, but we’re going to need your help to keep us in the game financially so that we don’t let any precedents snuff out our proud heritage today or tomorrow.

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

I wish I could fully understand the mentality of our anti-hunting foes.  Maybe I should have taken a few psychology classes in college so it would help me understand what, if anything is between their ears.   Most of the time, their antics leave me just shaking my head. Take for instance the tale about the bowhunter in Connecticut, featured in a recent U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance “On Target” story.

This hunter legally shot a deer but as it died, it crossed onto another landowner’s property.  The hunter did the legal and ethical thing by approaching this landowner about retrieving his quarry.  The landowner, an avowed anti-hunter, refused, which is unfortunately, within their rights.  This anti said that she’d rather the deer rot before letting a miserable hunter have it.  The state wildlife authorities then got called into the fray, but had no more luck in convincing the anti about her wasteful behavior.  The state agency declared the deer irretrievable, allowing the hunter to continue to pursue another animal.  One animal left to rot, one hunter undoubtedly frustrated at the waste of an animal, state wildlife agency personnel wasting sportsmen’s dollars arguing with an anti-hunter, and one clueless citizen somehow reveling in the fact that she has kept a hunter from eating an animal.   

What she just doesn’t get is that she has now guaranteed that this hunter will keep hunting, attempting to take another deer…something he may not have done if left to claim his animal.  Irony with a capital “I”…

Lets review…not letting someone hunt on your land…that’s your right.  Not letting someone retrieve game they legally shot but that died on your land…that’s lunacy to me. Think I’d better look into to some online psyche classes soon… 

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

The HSUS was in the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USSA) backyard of Columbus, Ohio on November 2.  Pacelle came to speak before HSUS members at a town hall meeting.  Having read so many of his blogs and interviews, I decided I had to see and hear just how good the professed silver tongued leader of the animal rights movement is for myself.

The answer - he is very, very slick and a very good speaker.  Not once did Pacelle make any comments that were directly controversial.  Instead, he came off sounding like a reasonable person looking to find areas of common ground with other groups so that animals could be treated better and the “worst abuses” could be curbed.  When approached by audience members seeking an aggressive stand on issues, Pacelle masterfully tiptoed around and continued to maintain the aura of someone who simply wants to reason with people.

It was a well acted performance that reconfirmed to me just how tough the fight is against HSUS.

Sometimes, it may sound like the USSA is playing a broken record about the importance of standing up against the HSUS for your rights to enjoy the outdoors.  People may get tired of hearing about the dire threat posed by HSUS and the other anti-hunting groups.  If you saw and heard what I did recently, you’d understand why the USSA keeps fighting so diligently for our heritage and keeps asking for your help.

HSUS can’t be allowed to be seen as the “reasonable” side of the debate.  If it is, then sportsmen will lose the upcoming public policy battles.  On the other hand, when people hear the truth about the sportsman conservation ethic, it trumps the vague, emotional appeals made by HSUS.

Pacelle said that HSUS is not going away.  Well the USSA has a bulletin for Wayne...sportsmen aren't going away either.  But now more than ever, sportsmen need to continue to be involved in the fight.  They need to continue to write letters to local newspaper editors, continue to talk to elected officials, family and friends about being the greatest conservationists.  Sportsmen also need to continue to support the USSA, helping all of us stand tall like a sentry guarding the castle walls.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

I just spent some time perusing the blog of the Humane Society of the United States’ (HSUS) CEO, Wayne Pacelle and came away impressed not with his goals, but the way he talks about them.

When one reads blog posts like this by Wayne Pacelle about National Parks, its easy to come away thinking, “hey, he’s not that bad of guy.”  It’s easy to agree with statements like, “nature is wondrous, all life deserves protection, and our treks to these gems of Creation are a tonic to the soul.”

It used to be that groups like PETA and HSUS were on the fringe of society.  They weren’t taken seriously by most people because they were outrageous.  They engaged in the kind of protests that make all sane folks just shake their head in amazement.  But that has changed.

The HSUS is now an 800 pound gorilla.  They have a nearly $130 million war chest that they can use at a moments notice to push through their legislative ideas in state capitals and Washington.  They have celebrities like Carrie Underwood (and even Rush Limbaugh) who record public service announcements and donate proceeds of song sales to them.  They are even getting ready to unveil a massive public service campaign to promote adopting pets from shelters, further cementing their status as a “reasonable” organization that only seeks animal “welfare” rather than full blown animal “rights.”

All that combined with a “moderate”, feel good, public persona that avoids crazy talk and silly PR stunts like PETA has made HSUS the most difficult challenge ever faced by those who want to defend their outdoor heritage.  After all, if you say you are against the HSUS, you end up looking like an unfeeling person.

Sportsmen need to remember when fighting HSUS, to fight them with facts and not emotions.  Let your family, friends, neighbors, and elected officials know that hunting and outdoor sports have led to the greatest conservation effort in history.  People need to know that it is sportsmen who have saved animals by responsibly working with wildlife professionals to manage their populations.

Wayne Pacelle and HSUS may have smooth words, but history and facts can and should trump them.  Sportsmen just need to remain focused on telling their story.

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

Is it me or is this year just a bit different?  It seems that all we see or do is in state of change and we are helpless to stop it.  Change, as in the past, seems to always present challenges.  Yet it also holds the possibility that opportunities are just below the surface…all we need to do is find them.  Do we simply need to mine deeper to strike gold?

I believe that in most areas of life there is still opportunity although we are entering a new era that will be difficult for many.  On the positive side, these tough times may ignite a desire for many Americans to reevaluate their lifestyles.

Perhaps, they will question working long hours, living in crowded areas and being away from their families too often.  The new reality could even encourage families to take the time to enter the outdoors and enjoy life a bit more.  This may sound somewhat off base with the economic situation that most Americans find themselves in, but just maybe as the average person fully evaluates their financial losses they may come to the realization that “all work and no play” may not have been the most productive model for the long haul.  This could be good news for the family as an institution and a positive upward swing for outdoor activities.

The economic situation may also motivate current sportsmen, sportswomen, and even new candidates to enter the field to help make ends meet.  Just in the past, Americans may rediscover that they can fill their kitchen with quality wild meat and other staples (and maybe even a few delicacies) that could help sustain their families.

Our movement could seize the opportunity in many ways and here are just a few:

• As individuals we could invite friends and family to join us as we enjoy the wonderment of the outdoors,
• Those who are involved in outdoor adventure, from shooting ranges to hunts, could encourage non-sports men and women to sample the fun, and
• All of us involved in the outdoor community could find creative ways to increase the visibility of outdoor sports: from mainstream social gatherings to major media sources. 

Its time to discover ways to get the word out that outdoor sports are healthy, fun and for many,  a welcome break from today’s challenges.

I would welcome your thought on how we could seize this moment in history to encourage more involvement in the outdoors.  Email me your ideas at bpidgeon@ussportsmen.org   

By Rob Sexton, Vice President for Government Affairs 

I am writing about Cass Sunstein, a close friend of President Obama’s, and his choice to head up the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.  This position is otherwise known as the “regulatory czar”, a person with authority over rules and regulations coming from the executive branch which includes the Departments of Interior and Agriculture. 

So what is wrong with Sunstein?  Mr. Sunstein claims that, “we might ban hunting altogether, at least if it’s sole purpose is human recreation.” He has also indicated support for allowing lawsuits on behalf of animals, a right currently only extended to human beings.  

These quotes were of concern enough that two US Republican Senators, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Jon Cornyn of Texas, placed a temporary hold on the nomination.  But for reasons not completely understood, both removed their holds, clearing the way for the nomination to proceed to a vote. 

I think I know the reason.  The Senators are not hearing from sportsmen…or farmers about why this nomination is terrible for our country and the future of hunting, conservation and farming.  We have no right to expect these Senators, both advocates of hunting, to walk the plank when our own community is largely silent. 

Oh not completely silent.  We’ve issued press releases and on line alerts and other such obligatory hand wringing.  But seasoned senators know the difference.  They know that if this nomination were really important to us, they’d be hearing from hundreds of thousands if not millions of sportsmen and farmers. 

So what’re we waitin’ for?

President Obama appointed Eric Holder, an openly pro-gun control attorney general.  He appointed former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to be Secretary of Agriculture.  Vilsack vetoed dove hunting legislation while Governor.  He tapped Lisa Jackson, fresh from her campaign to shut down bear hunting in New Jersey to be the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. 

None of them have openly written about shutting down hunting.  But Mr. Sunstein has.  None of these others have written about lawsuits by animals.  But Cass Sunstein did.

Worse, it is bantered about Washington DC’s political inner circle, that Mr. Sunstein is under consideration as a future Supreme Court justice by President Obama.  How about the prospect of the first openly animal rights judge on the nation’s highest court?   

One explanation I have heard for our community’s silence is that Mr. Sunstein is going to be confirmed regardless of our opposition, so why use up valuable political capital? 

I guess my answer is this: Why have political capital in the first place if not to use it to try to block an animal rightist from being seated in a high level White House position?  Further, I don’t believe that people and national, state and local sportsmen organizations give their hard earned money to the US Sportsmen’s Alliance to see us only get involved in the easy fights. 

So this past week, USSA circulated a letter for organizations to sign on opposing this nominee.  Fifteen organizations joined.  The letter will be sent to Senators this week.

Although a step in the right direction, we need more than just a letter.  So this week, USSA is calling on these fifteen organizations and the rest of the sportsmen’s community to fire up our grassroots supporters and turn them loose on the US Senate.  To ask our contributors and members who give us money to fight the tough ones to join us by calling each of their two US Senators, asking them to oppose the nomination of Cass Sunstein as Regulatory Czar.

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

On May 4, 2009, the Great Lakes wolf population was removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).  This action, proposed by the outgoing Bush Administration and then reaffirmed by the new Obama Administration, initially returned the management of wolf populations to the states (in this case Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). 

Not surprisingly, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and a group of other animal rightists filed yet another lawsuit on June 15 that sought to block the delisting.  While the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance was preparing to intervene in the case with its legal arm, the FWS reached a settlement with the antis that put wolves back on the Endangered Species List for now while avoiding a day in court for the administration.

This entire situation was the result of the Bush Administration not following proper procedures with the initial delisting.  Currently, USSA is working with the FWS on another delisting as science has shown the populations have significantly passed the benchmarks established for recovery by the FWS.

Unfortunately, while this ongoing saga continues, there have been multiple reports of hunting dogs being attacked by an expanding population of wolves in Wisconsin.  We expect more problems in other states also.

Its time to remedy this situation.  Professionals in the Great Lakes states including Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin should be able to manage their wolf populations to protect citizens and their pets while protecting the wolves as well.  The federal government should step aside and return the decision-making where it rightfully belongs by completing the delisting process regardless of threats from anti hunting extremists.

Let the states decide!

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

The July 27 lobby day organized by HSUS was part of its held to promote what HSUS sees as the critical role played by “citizen activists” in their quest to be a mainstream organization. This view is cemented by HSUS president and CEO Wayne Pacelle’s own comments when he raved that the group is “in the process of building a powerful social movement.”

It’s not at all surprising that they would organize a gathering of their own activists.  Many groups do this.  What is surprising is how sophisticated they continue to get and how its own leadership considers this a “social movement.”

Social movements have historically been tied to major civil rights issues like the abolition of slavery or women’s suffrage.  It is clear, that the HSUS goal is to make “animal rights” a 21st century version of this. 

Consider, as previously reported, how the HSUS is establishing a “university” to train new activists, like the folks that just went up Capitol Hill.  Pacelle and the rest of his minions know that a “social movement”, especially a growing one, will only increase its ability to be heard by legislators and other political leaders.  These “citizen activists” can influence debates about public policy issues. 

Take it from a member of Congress - these efforts work…

"When members hear directly from their own constituents, they listen
closely…

If it's brought directly to the members' attention that there is a sizable, focused
and motivated group of people in their district, they will be much more likely to take the issue seriously. Grassroots activism does work."

Sometimes it may sound like the USSA is like a broken record, preaching about the serious threats from animal rights groups, but the aforementioned quote is the basis of why sportsmen need to get engaged.  Grassroots works.  “Citizen Activism” works. 

If the antis want to keep charging up the Hill, we can, should, and will too.  America’s sportsmen can never give up the fight and give the anti’s the higher ground. 

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

She wrote down some of her experiences.  As a proud dad who can’t help but gloat just a little about his daughter, I thought I’d share her thoughts with you, since in so many ways this is a reflection on why we at the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance do what we do day in and out- fight for your rights to hunt, fish, and trap.

Anyway, here it is direct from my “little angler.”

Yesterday I stood on the bank, waders up to my hips, and had to draw my sunglasses down over my already bloodshot eyes. At ten pm the sun warmed my hair and mouth. I expected to feel the waters cold on my thighs but I only felt pressure on my calves and knees. The monotony of sockeye fishing is a beautiful solace. Swing, tat, tat, tat, flick...swing, tat, tat, tat, flip.

Pull the line with your left hand and flick your right wrist. Pull. And again, and again. Anything that is not a tat is a red so hold the tension steady.

They jump and arc brilliantly when the cold metal they thought was food tugs at the corner of their mouth. The glint of the sun on their scales classifies them to me, a novice eye, as silvers and yet when you rip their gill with your fingers the blood is so red. Red, just like their meat--dark flesh...wound red, which is why they call them reds I suppose. I stood, water threatening to soak the parts of my jeans not protected by rubber and fished.

He had to show me how but once he did I felt as if I had been standing there on that sand bar of gravel my whole childhood life when I would have surely gotten bored, after the thrill of their trapeze artist act wore off, and started to throw stones into the water to see how far they could skip. Or until a filleted fish carcass floated past and I just had to pick it up and inspect it, drawing my child dirty nails across its spidery bones. Now at 19 I still want to, not out of boredom but to regain that part of me. I caught only one fish, not for lack of trying, or even lack of hooking (dad used to call me his little angler).

I showed the wet behind my ears when I hooked and it jumped and I squealed and I reeled and I laughed just like the child I was imagining myself to be as I caught it. He hooked into a big one and handed the rod to me.

The drag sizzled out and the rod shook beneath my fingers and I did what he told me to do. Rod left, pull up slow, reel fast and push the tip down. Switch sides, pull harder, reel slower and let the tip down easy. The fish swam away from my line and the drag spun and I giggled and lost it, never losing the smile from my face. I groaned and I arced my hips in the ultimate oh-man-no-you-didn't pose and dipped my whole butt and back in the water. He laughed so hard I thought he might fall over as he said "damn Ohioans."

The ride back was cold and I was wet but I kept on grinning thinking of how I would tell you this story.  When we got back he pointed his knife at me and said "here's how it's going to be. I cut you chunk. Then I’m going to bed so you vacpac and freeze. k?" I put my dirty hands on my hips and said "show me how to cut, then deal." Solemnly he put his cigarette between his lips wiped his hands on his jeans and reached out his fingers for a hand shake. I soberly did the same and we shook on it.

He tugged at the waist of his pants, pulling them up his slim hips and asked, "which way do you want to learn?" I shrugged and said "I know nothing.

You tell me." He taught me how to butterfly a salmon but would not let me try as at one in the morning it was finally getting dark out and he was afraid I’d cut myself. So I chunked what he cut and threw the pieces into a tote and proceeded to load them into small bags for sealing. The freezer was at -10 when I entered and the ice crystals fell on my hair and stuck to my eyelashes.

He nodded a goodnight while I worked arms heavy as boxing gloves. The shower and I smelled like fish guts and I flicked tiny scales off of my wrists and neck before crawling to bed after a 21 hour day still grinning.  

By Rob Sexton, Vice President for Government Affairs 

Last week I received a call from MSNBC.com writer Mike Stuckey who was doing a story on whether there should be a minimum age in which people can hunt unaccompanied.

He called the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) because we are part of the Families Afield coalition which was created to remove barriers that prevent hunters from passing our heritage on to the next generation. Specifically Families Afield has advocated for apprentice hunting licenses, which allow a newcomer of any age to hunt if supervised by an experienced mentor. Together with the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation, Families Afield has successfully advocated for such laws in 28 states since 2005. Research and accident data has shown that the mentored hunter is the safest hunter in the woods.  

Mr. Stuckey’s question however was about hunting alone. The question stemmed from a case in Washington state in which a teenage hunter shot and killed a hiker. Washington and six other states do not specify an age for hunting unsupervised. That decision is left to the parents. 

Overall, USSA would argue that parents have the best knowledge of when their son or daughter is ready to hunt and later ready to hunt alone. Despite this, USSA does not outright oppose minimum ages for hunting unaccompanied. However, we do believe that such age minimums should be determined after a careful review of accident data rather than a knee-jerk reaction to a tragedy. 

Any loss of life is deeply regrettable and devastating to the families involved. The hunting community is committed to making the rare hunting incident more of an anomaly than it already is. 

More Americans, many of them kids, die everyday in cars than in the woods hunting during an entire year. Yet, we do not change our laws based on each incident. Nor should we with hunting.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Since then, we’ve been battling to open up new hunting seasons, defend existing seasons, and make sure the public understands that hunters are the number one conservationists in this country. Of course, we have a staff of just over 20 people, which means our ability to fight these battles and get this message out requires YOUR help.

We can bring political expertise and media savvy to the table when it’s needed. But we need the collective voice of the sportsmen’s community to make sure that the message doesn’t stop being heard after a campaign is over and a single battle won.

We want individuals and clubs to be a part of furthering our reach so that we’re not on the defensive when the Humane Society of the United States aims their next shot at hunting. With that in mind, we’re creating a new newsletter that will be going exclusively to our existing club members as well as courtesy copies being sent to prospective clubs. The National Club Leadership Network Newsletter is going to highlight what other clubs around the nation are doing and how your club can help us. Naturally, it will keep you in the loop on what the hot issues of the day are also.

Additionally, we are working on some new programs and membership packages that will bring even more to the table for members and potential members than ever before. Stay tuned for more on this soon.

Finally, we’d like to encourage you to check out our new survey at http://bit.ly/NCUtH. You will need to create login account for our website to access the form, but once you do, it’ll take you right there. The survey focuses on what we can do to make our website better meet your needs and include what you want when you want it.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

Seriously, when we first reported that PETA had asked to be allowed a permit so they could set up a hog farm on the Ohio Statehouse grounds complete with “gallons of urine, tons of manure, and a fan to blow the odors around," I almost laughed so hard I fell out of the chair. 

Maybe it wasn’t absurd by “PETA standards,” but by any normal person’s standard it was totally ridiculous.  Of course, it also seemed pretty obvious that the plan would never fly and PETA would never be given a permit to do this.

Boy, was I surprised when they actually DID get the permit for a July 9 “demonstration.”

For the crazies over at PETA though, this victory wasn’t enough.  Not by a long shot.  Though granted the ability to use a sound system pump out recorded screams of piglets, PETA felt it necessary to appeal the decision denying them the chance to bring 3,500 gallons of pig waste along too.

All this drama in order to promote their cause, which we all know is to impose a radical, vegetarian diet on all Americans. 

I’m sure they’re not going to win the appeal, but the awful smell of their M.O. still stinks. 

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

This isn’t all that surprising. Thought it may sound like we’re a broken record, the HSUS really is enemy number one for the sportsman community. The fact that they are now reaching out in an unprecedented way to actually “educate” (or brainwash) a whole new generation of activists is frightening. They are intentionally trying to keep the numbers of hunters, anglers, and trappers from ever growing and the best way to do this is to strike while the next generation is still young and impressionable. 

How do we fight back against this? How do we make sure that the next generation doesn’t get sucked into turning against our traditions?

Well, it seems the number one way is make sure that kids are getting off the couch and into the field. When kids have a chance to experience what its like to be outside and practicing what their dads, granddads, and even great granddads have been doing, there is a good chance they’ll stick with it.

On the other hand, if they’re playing a video game, watching TV, or scanning the Internet all day, they’re going to end up not having the chance to learn what its like to be outside and embrace the traditions sportsmen have practiced for so long. They also become much easier prey to shrewd groups that want to keep them from ever getting involved.

So if you don’t want to find out in 10 years that your child is getting a degree from “Anti-U” and has turned against what you value, its time to get out there in the field before the anti’s bludgeon them with their propaganda.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

The founders of the USSA and all the staff and board since have remained steadfast in their fight to defend hunting, fishing, and trapping from animal rights extremists. These “anti’s”, called that for their anti- hunting, anti-fishing, and anti- trapping missions, continue to grow in number and in their power.

The USSA and it followers are the eyes and ears of the sportsman community. With the continued growth of the anti movement, this job is more important now than ever.

As such, the USSA has recently added a new, effective tool to help each of you tell your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen about what the anti’s are up to.

We have created the “Eye on the Anti’s” Twitter page at www.twitter.com/EyeOnTheAntis. This page gives you the latest information on what groups like the Humane Society of the United States, PETA, and others are doing to destroy our heritage. By monitoring their outrageous actions, we can more effectively expose their misguided missions and associated work to the American public and act accordingly.

So check the page out and pass it on to everyone you know. Just staying informed about issues is half the battle, so make sure you get equipped and keep your “Eye on the Anti’s.”

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

We just ran a very disturbing story in our most recent On Target about how the anti’s are using religion as way to push their agenda of ending hunting, fishing, and trapping as we know it to an ever broader audience.

That story generated a number of comments from our readers.  It was obvious that the readers must’ve been shaking their head in complete disbelief.  Several even quoted specific scripture that defended our hunting traditions. 

The point here, though, is not to get bogged down in a theological debate, but to highlight the importance of being on guard at all times.  The anti’s never rest and never miss a trick.

That they are attempting to use religion is not really all that surprising.  They already use the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and have tried to co-opt the voice of Rush Limbaugh.  Why not use faith as another tool to reshape our lives in ways we couldn’t imagine?

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance continues to stand at the front line and fight back, but we need your help.  We need the sportsmen community in each and every city across America to keep informed and be ready to speak out. 

If you don’t, who will? 

Simply put, we can’t afford to let the anti’s get away with their efforts to use religion to push their radical agenda on us.

If you’d like to find out more about us and how you can add your voice to the defense of our traditions, please call at 614-888-4868 or e-mail me at anytime at glawson@ussportsmen.org. 

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

Today, more than ever, Americans seem to find ourselves being bombarded with a multitude of messages from so called “experts.”  They always seem to tell us that what they know is much more appealing and “mainstream” than what we believe. Therefore, we need to listen to them not only as Americans, but as citizens of the world.

They push their agenda with massive disinformation using the latest electronic technologies and pressure those who resist by positioning them as outcasts in our society.

Make no mistake; this is a battle for the hearts and minds of the American public. Sadly, their efforts show some signs of working in government circles, the selling of products, and affecting traditional ways of life.  

Shortly after graduating from college I was called to service. I attended the US. Army - Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia and then graduated from Psychological Operation School at Fort Bragg, SC. I was then assigned to Special Forces units as a “Psy-Op” officer at Fort Bragg and in Vietnam. 

Little did I know that my experiences during that time would assist me in identifying the half truths and other methods deployed today in America by some special interest groups. Today, hidden, radical agendas that would have been socially unacceptable a short time ago are undergoing a transformation as part of a sophisticated effort to gain acceptance by the general public.

A case in point is the agenda to ban the way of life for millions of Americans who participate in outdoor traditions.   Organizations like the Human Society of the United States (HSUS) have openly stated that they wish to end all hunting and fishing. To that end, they have spent immense resources to achieve that goal. 

In recent years, the HSUS has been somewhat successful in positioning themselves from a radical lobbying group to a more mainstream organization. In that process they continue to conduct extensive “educational programs” directed at the American public through legislative issues that sound reasonable but beneath the surface, include “time bombs” that would be devastating to citizens who care deeply for the animals that they own. 

This is only a single example of how a propaganda approach works well when the general public does not take the time to discover the hidden agenda beneath the surface.

Our nation’s strength has always been the diversity of our people and the variety of ways we choose to live and approach our challenges. If we strive to create a “plain vanilla” society with no diversity, not only will life have no meaning, eventually, it will also destroy us all together.      

By Doug Jeanneret, Vice President of Marketing

As Benjamin Franklin said before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, "We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." This could certainly be the mantra for our oldest outdoor heritage – trapping.

No other outdoor issue has been as sensationalized as trapping, nor has any other issue had as much misinformation surround it. With trapper numbers at best static, it is a prime target for the anti’s attacks.

Some hunters also openly call for an end to trapping as a way to give the antis “a bone” to keep them away from other forms of hunting. Unfortunately, for all sportsmen, this is just the tip of the iceberg as it comes to the anti’s attacks on our traditions.

So before making a decision about the sport, here are some facts to keep in mind:

• Trapping is our first and foremost traditional outdoor sport, having been the impetus for the opening of the “new world”;
• When properly used, foothold traps are a vital and humane tool for wildlife management;
• State wildlife agency biologists - the same people who have led the resurgence of a variety of wildlife we now enjoy - support trapping and see it as a necessary tool for managing furbearers. Trapping has proven to be a critical element in the comeback of waterfowl populations.
• Wildlife managers also see it as extremely important in protecting the public from outbreaks of diseases such as rabies.

Of course, the animal rights movement continues to spread an abundance of misinformation about trapping in an effort to end what, in its opinion, is an inhumane tradition.

How hated is the sport? Read the rhetoric produced by some animal rights groups:

The Humane Society of the United States, the number one anti-hunting group in the nation has said, "Trapping is well known for the suffering it causes. Strides have been made to eliminate the use of traps in the United States, with eight states (WA, CA, MA, CO, AZ, NJ, FL, and RI) now banning their use."

The HSUS has made clear it seeks an "outright prohibition on all body-gripping traps due to the inherent cruelty of the devices."

The Animal Protection Institute encourages people to prohibit trapping on their land, boycott businesses that sell fur, support trapping bans and encourage non-lethal wildlife controls.

Just as disturbing, as I alluded to earlier, is the fact that some sportsmen have developed the attitude that trapping is a disposable part of our outdoor heritage. They think that a ban on trapping would not affect them and that if the anti's will get what they want they will let other sportsmen alone.

I have witnessed in states such as Massachusetts, that once the anti's stop trapping, they continue to work even harder to destroy other parts of our heritage.

Believe me, if all trapping were banned, anti's would focus on other aspects of our outdoor heritage. Hunting with hounds or bowhunting are already the next traditions in the anti’s crosshairs, but they would be encouraged to continue with an even greater assault on these and other sports.

Sportsmen must understand that if any one of our traditions is sacrificed, other parts of our hunting heritage may fall, as well. We should and must solidify our defenses and support each other regardless of whether we trap, shoot, fish, or hunt.

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

Those who hunt are quite familiar with “Dawn’s Early Light.”   For me, it is the best part of the hunting experience. For those many hunts that require you to leave in the middle of the night and travel to a distant location, it is all worthwhile as you are witness to the spectacle of wildlife awakening for the day. 

It is the transformation of being one with nature. You are witness to the first light of a new day. First, the sounds of birds, then the rustle of small animals and other sounds that make you wonder what is causing such a stir. Suddenly, the fist signs of light begin to take over the area and you discover that your surroundings look a bit different than you imagined. 

As the transition from night to day is completed and as the hunt begins, I often think about how our forefathers witnessed the same sights. I also think how the very place I selected could have been a hunting spot for some ancient warrior thousands of years ago. While hunting overall is wonderful experience, those first moments when you are alone and one with nature are priceless.

I feel privileged to experience such wonderment over and over again, but it also saddens me to think that over 90 percent of Americans are totally unaware of this magnificence.

It is so important that hunters pass on these traditions to others and the best way to make your point is to invite them to join you to witness nature coming alive at “Dawn’s Early Light.”

By Rob Sexton, Vice President for Government Affairs 

Sportsmen nationally were stunned when it was revealed that Rush Limbaugh, the leading talk radio personality in the country, had recorded two public service announcements supporting America’s  top anti-hunting group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). 

What does the furor over the unholy alliance between Rush Limbaugh and the HSUS tell us?  

First and foremost, the organization leaves a trail of bread crumbs leading any reasonable person to understand that they are an animal rights group, not a “mainstream” animal welfare organization as its leaders have been asserting these past five years. 

Too many in the hunting community and the media focus on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as the nation's top animal rights organization.  They aren't, and they're not even close.  They are entertaining in a "train wreck" sort of way because they say and do outrageous things.  While we're busy focusing on their comparisons between slaughtering chickens and the Holocaust, it’s the HSUS that has crept in through the back door to steal our hunting rights away. 

HSUS is pure animal rights through and through.  Even though they make you dig harder, the evidence is there.  The Rush Limbaugh announcement caused me to go to hsus.org to see what they had written.  While I was there I found several items of interest. 

First, I noticed a running commentary on the great disappointment caused by the First Family when the President and the First Lady chose a pure bred dog for their daughters instead of adopting a shelter dog.  There was blog after blog of HSUS members wringing their hands at their choice to choose the dog they want. Meanwhile, the organization's leader, Wayne Pacelle responds with comforting commentary to soothe their anger.  He certainly doesn't sound like an extremist, so its easy to forget that Pacelle was purported to have said that he'd be fine if domestic pet ownership were "one and done", meaning that they could not be bred to produce more pets for sale. 

Yet if you dig deeper in hsus.org, you find the organization is backing legislation in states across the country that mandate the spaying and neutering of all dogs at roughly four months of age.  This of course means that the dogs never would reach the age at which they can be bred.  Until dog breeding activists, sportsmen and show dog trainers weigh in with their elected officials, these bills contain almost no exemption to the spay and neuter requirement.  In other words, the bills represent an end to dog ownership.  Pacelle derides U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) for leveling this charge, but it is not hard to understand that if every state had a spay and neuter law that his "one and done" dream would become a reality. 

Pacelle is a political animal as much as he is an animal rights extremist.  One of his blogs celebrates his fifth year at the helm of HSUS by discussing his dream of transforming HSUS into a mainstream organization.  That doesn't mean that their goals have changed, but rather their sales pitch.  How ironic is it that so may dog owners belong to HSUS, and he uses their money to build the foundation of laws that will prohibit dog ownership in the future?

When it comes to hunting, HSUS has sanitized their website from the majority of their blatantly anti-hunting statements.  Now it just speaks to "cruel" practices such as canned hunts and internet hunting.  Reading their website, you'd almost forget that Pacelle stated that he's out to ban hunting one state at a time.  You would forget that his entire lobbying team is led by former Fund for Animals staff. These people are the veterans of the most anti-hunting campaigns of the last 30 years.  

During interviews, people ask Pacelle and his cohorts whether they oppose hunting.  After stammering a bit, they will state that they will get around to the particularly cruel forms of hunting line explained above.  Instead, the question should be what kinds of hunting does HSUS support?  Pacelle is talented to be sure, but he is caught in a trap of his own making.  If he responds in a reasonable fashion that he supports deer hunting or duck hunting, his own community will tear him apart.  If he stammers and stumbles, and can't quite bring himself to endorse a single form of hunting, then his "mainstreaming" campaign will be exposed for the scheme it is...just a fundraising vehicle to dupe well meaning people into giving HSUS money to implement its animal rights agenda. 

A closer look at HSUS propaganda campaign to eliminate dog kennels

By Rob Sexton, Vice President for Government Affairs 

Three months into 2009, and we are fully engaged in the largest animal rights campaign ever waged. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) promised to make “puppy mills” a priority issue this year, and they are delivering. 

So far, 41 bills allegedly aimed at abusive commercial breeders have been introduced in 26 different states. This number does not include bills mandating the spaying and neutering of all dogs. Each puppy mill bill is supported by a campaign coordinated by HSUS or a similar animal rights organization. Each attempts to define commercial breeders, but winds up also encompassing private sporting dog and show dog kennels who do not exist primarily for selling dogs. 

What is clear is that legislators in these states are not aware that they are being deceived by animal rights groups. In press releases by legislators authoring the various puppy mill bills, many express shock at discovering that their state is the puppy mill capitol of the U.S.

HSUS claimed Pennsylvania was the capitol. Now it seems that it is Ohio is the puppy mill capitol. Or is it Arizona?…or Colorado?…or Wisconsin?…or Illinois? As a result of this claim, legislators are clamoring to erase the stigma of being labeled the puppy mill capitol from their state’s good name. But they cannot all be the capitol can they? 

The key to resolving this, like so many issues, is education. Legislators want to do the right thing. They rely on constituents to tell them what problems are occurring in their districts. In the absence of good information, a slick propaganda campaign like the HSUS puppy mill effort can really take hold. 

The only cure is a large dose of the truth. We must ask our representatives and senators to verify the claims of kennel abuses before believing that their state is a haven for abusive kennels. Sportsmen must ask their legislators to make sure that these bills do not impact kennels that may sell a few dogs, but primarily exist for hunting, field trials, etc. Elected officials must be told that we’re not the source of pet store dogs. Treating private kennels the same as commercial entities will result in the elimination of sporting dog kennels. 

When told this information, most legislators want to make sure they are not over-reaching. Many have been open to changes protecting sporting dog kennels. The burden is on us to make sure they know the truth. 

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

The economy is continuing to set a negative tone with most of the American public. Everyone has been and will continue to be affected by the greed of others. Yet, isn’t that the case for almost everything we do? 

The human race is interlocked with each other from our environment to our economy, what happens in China with pollution and trade issues has a direct affect on us here in America.

Headlines continue dwell on every negative aspect of the economic turn down but there are some positive aspects to the present crisis. Deep within the lead stories of the day lie small bits of hope that seem to shine like diamonds. I am not talking about a possible surge in the Dow, but the human equation that is so often lost in the greed of those who seem to live for the buck.

I bet you have seen some of what I am talking about as well; families seem to be staying home more, eating dinner together seems to be in fashion again, and families seem to be escaping to enjoy the wonderment of the outdoors. 

Perhaps we are getting back to the basics, spending more quality time with our families and taking time out to be one with nature. Maybe we are rediscovering our comfort zone and just maybe we are determining it is the place that we should have been in the first place.

While I am as anxious to see an economic recovery occur as anyone, perhaps the cycle that we find ourselves in right now, over the long run, may be a healthy reminder of what are the truly important things in life.

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

First, the National Park Service (NPS) issued a statement on March 10 that they are planning to outlaw lead ammunition and fishing tackle on the lands administered by the agency.

As the USSA said in our action alert, this is nothing more than a direct assault on the rights of hunters and anglers. Any potential alternatives to lead are infinitely more expensive and will drive hunters and shooters right out of our sport. 

Given that over 20 million acres of land currently open to hunting will be impacted, this is a huge hit.

Additionally, it should be pointed out that the NPS did not talk to sportsmen’s organizations about the decision in advance, nor did it refer to any specific scientific data supporting its draconian measure. Both of those facts raise further questions about the real motives driving the decision.

The USSA is working to stop the ban. You can help by contacting your members of Congress. Visit our Legislative Action Center and ask your U.S. repre3sentive and both of your U.S. Senators to urge the Obama Administration to put the brakes on this idea.

Meanwhile, the USSA issued an action alert letting sportsmen around the nation know that Carrie Underwood’s new single, “Home Sweet Home,” is benefiting the anti-hunting movement. 

The country music star and winner of the hit television show, American Idol, recorded an update to the well known Motley Crue song. In fact, the song is being used as the “farewell” tune that will be played each week the rest of the season on American Idol as contestants get voted off.  

Part of the money generated through the online sales of the song will make its way into the pockets of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  The more money it raises, the more money it has to spend to drive hunters, trappers and anglers into extinction.

 The song’s exposure on one of the top rated shows in America guarantees that millions of listeners will be buying this tune and helping the top anti-hunting group in the country.

The USSA is still working to get this song from being played during the show and avoid giving it the kind of exposure that will increase its sales and the money going to a group that specifically targets sportsmen’s rights.

We hope sportsmen will take the time to keep contacting Fox and we’ll let folks know what the next steps to take should be.

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is striving to pass   so-called “Puppy Mill” bills across the country. As detailed in our On Target newsletters, many states have introduced such bills this year. Buried within these bills there is a time bomb waiting to explode.

While abusive commercial breeders represent a serious problem, sporting dog breeders have historically been a shinning example of those that properly care for animals. So why do these bills use the iron fist of government to apply the same standards to honest breeders as those applied to mass, commercial breeders?

One might think that this was an oversight by animal rights advocates who wrote the language. Yet, this is not the case. 

The fact that this type of language was successfully challenged in Pennsylvania by responsible dog owners and the USSA doesn’t seem to faze the HSUS.  

So again, why does the HSUS choose to back this kind of harmful language even when knowing it would harm responsible dog owners? Is it possible that they have a hidden agenda? Is it possible this is part of its long-term effort to erode support for hunting everywhere by attacking it anywhere?

It would be interesting to see if contributors to the HSUS would be comfortable with the fact that responsible dog owners would be harmed should states pass the HSUS version of a “puppy mill” bill.

If you question the HSUS’s motives, I urge you to let them know what you think. 

By Rob Sexton, Vice President for Government Affairs 

In the scripted public relations world we live in today, it is often we hear image gurus talking or writing about picking your battles carefully to make sure that you protect your image in the public eye. In the sportsmen’s realm this translates into the question about whether we should avoid defending hunting practices that are opposed by the general public or the media to protect our image.

Of course we are conscious of how the issues we decide to take on affect our image. But our first concern is about how these issues impact the future of hunting.

Take polar bears for example. For the past year, the USSA has been on the leading edge of the fight opposing listing polar bears as an endangered species. The reason is simple…they are not endangered. Polar bears are abundant. Last year the federal government caved in to anti-hunters and environmental extremists by agreeing to classify polar bears as endangered based on a projection that they will become so over the next thirty years. This amounts to a pre-emptive listing.   

The Endangered Species Act does not allow for listing based on future predictions. The Department of Interior caved in on the issue because of the media frenzy over climate change. In short, the government was more concerned about its public image than protecting endangered species. In agreeing to list the polar bear, the government has sprung a trap set by the anti-hunting and environmentalist lobby. Its impact on wildlife, our economy and hunting will be wide sweeping. 

Now that the government has agreed to list polar bears based on a projection, more marine mammal listing demands will follow. Walrus has already joined the list. What about wildlife in the Everglades? Should all freshwater dependent species be listed now even if numbers do not justify it based on a projection that climate change will flood the area with salt water? 

The impact on hunting and wildlife management will be terrible. The federal government and state fish and wildlife agencies will use its funding, previously spent on habitat, to defend lawsuits forcing them to list abundant wildlife as endangered. Hunters and anglers of course will get to foot the bill of course through our licenses and taxes on firearms, ammunition and fishing gear.

Hunters lost the right to import polar bear trophies as a consequence of the new listing despite the fact that hunter dollars actually are the driving force behind endangered species conservation around the world. The number of hunters affected is only a few thousand. The precedent for all hunters, however is much larger, and could impact millions of us. Regardless of the opinions pushed by the media, we have no choice but to oppose the listing of polar bears as endangered.  

Given this information, what would our image in the eyes of hunters if we sat this one out because we were concerned we would get a black eye at the hands of the media?            

USSA President and CEO, Bud Pidgeon Speaks at Bassmaster Classic

On February 19, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and BASS Youth formed a partnership that will give youth more chances than ever before to learn about fishing.

BASS Federation Nation members and local Federation Nation clubs will be setting up stations as part of the USSAF’s Trailblazer Adventure Program. 

Already, the media’s picked up on the news and folks from across the country have been calling USSAF and BASS about how to get involved.

Given the current leader board at the Bassmaster Classic, with two anglers hauling in 20 pound stringers, it sure looks like luck is shining down. 

If that same luck holds for this new partnership, you can count on seeing kids nationwide flock to the water and start casting their lines!

For everyone there is a job that needs to be done.   For the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the battle is to assure that hunters, anglers, and trappers are able to keep doing what they have always done without the anti-hunting movement or government intruding.

This whole idea really came home to me as I looked through some of the pictures that folks have been sending in of their trophy deer this season as part of our buck photo contest. A number of the pictures have been of children with their first deer.  The pictures made me wonder who shared the love of outdoors with the children. 

Usually it’s the children’s parents or close relatives. Unfortunately, as I was smiling at the pictures I came across a news story about anti-hunters protesting bow hunting in a little town. That made it clear why the USSA is here. It’s here to keep those photos coming and, more importantly, those memories.

To keep this battle going we need you to get involved.

Do you like to teach? There are Trailblazer events where you can introduce children to your sport. 

Do you need something quick? Join the U.S. Sportsmen's Alert email Network and write your government representatives when needed. 

Do you enjoy meeting and talking to new people? Become a Local Field Director and visit clubs in your area. 

Do you enjoy monitoring government? Forward us local legislation that can impact sportsmen.

Each of those actions helps the USSA to help you. Our dedicated, professional staff will never stop until our job is done. So let’s all get together and make great things happen! In the meantime, happy hunting. 

If you are interested in volunteering, but aren't sure how or what you can offer, contact us by email at info@ussportsmen.org, or by phone at 614-888-4868. Our staff can work with you to determine what and where you can best be involved. 

By Rob Sexton, Vice President for Government Affairs 

There’s an old political axiom that says if you leave enough money lying around, someone will come and steal it. During these tough economic times, that temptation is overwhelming to many politicians around the country who are trying to balance state budgets that are deeply in the red. 

There sits in every state millions of dollars of hunting and fishing license fees that provide the fuel for fish and wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement – literally the lifeblood of hunting and fishing. For some politicians in the past, it is too much money to ignore, and our license dollars are diverted to plug budget holes that pay for schools or roads or prisons, or other state priorities. 

It has already begun in 2009. Legislators in South Dakota recently made a run at diverting sportsmen’s dollars, and were turned back by a tide of protest by hunters and anglers and a threat by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to cut off federal dollars to the state. 

In California, “the Governator”, Arnold Swarzenegger is moving to raid $30 million wildlife dollars to help plug his state’s enormous budget deficit. While the US Fish and Wildlife Services has yet to weigh in on the “Governator’s” raid it could easily be assumed that this diversion will put tens of millions of dollars in federal funds in jeopardy.

The bottom line is this cannot be allowed to happen. Once the money addicted government gets its hands on our license dollars, we will see fish and wildlife spending plummet in favor of higher state priorities. It will literally kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Wildlife programs will be severely impacted. This will result in less opportunity for hunters who will no longer see the reason to continue to invest in hunting licenses. This will kill hunting as fast as any anti-hunting or anti-gun bill. 

Sportsmen – Get Ready! The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance will sound the alarm when we hear of a raid on your dollars. Let us know if you hear first. The only way to stop it is to contact your state representatives and state senators. Tell them that hunting and fishing license dollars are only to be used for fish and wildlife conservation. 

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

For those that read our weekly electronic newsletter, On Target, you know that one of the newest, and most insidious, tactics used by the anti-hunting movement involves regulation of so-called “puppy mills.”

“Puppy mills” is a blanket term that is intended to target abusive commercial breeders that supply pet stores throughout the country. While the USSA is in total agreement that horrible, inhumane conditions should not be tolerated, we also know that sporting dog breeders are some of the most upright and caring people out there. If they run a bad operation, their dogs won’t be bought, period. Consequently, they have every incentive to do things the right way.

Lumping sporting dog breeders into the whole debate over “puppy mills” is a sly way of attacking the entire foundation of breeding sporting dogs. Anti-hunting groups like the Humane Society of the United States understand this very well, which is why they are always speaking up and pushing as broad a piece of legislation as they can in every state.

The USSA stopped these efforts in Pennsylvania by obtaining protections for sportsmen in the legislation before it was passed. In Ohio, the USSA was able to block a similar bill. However, legislation is expected to return in Ohio and onerous bills have sprouted up in Illinois, Minnesota, and Colorado.

The USSA will stay on the lookout and urges all of our supporters across the country to as well. 

By Greg R. Lawson, Director of Communications

t’s amazing to see the lengths to which the anti-hunting movement will go to attack our heritage. It is even more amazing to watch the assists the movement gets from the mainstream media. Our recent brush with Newsweek magazine shows how the whole thing works.

First, a new, young reporter looks for a story and finds a biologist that obviously has an ax to grind with hunting. This biologist fills the young reporter’s head with information that sounds convincing on the surface, but greatly misrepresents reality about hunting. The reporter runs with the story and all of sudden, everywhere bloggers and other media sources are talking about how bad hunting is.

It doesn’t take any imagination to see that when a negative story about hunting hits the mainstream, sportsmen’s enemies will be talking about and using it as an affirmation of their own radical agendas.

This is another example of why the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance exists. Not only do we fight for what’s right in Congress, state legislatures, and at the ballot; we also fight back in the media. Negative stories that seem ridiculous to us can be exactly what the anti’s want those who don’t know much about hunting, fishing, and trapping to hear. It’s all part of the slow but steady attack on our heritage. But the USSA stands by to make sure our voice is heard.

By Walter P. Pidgeon, Jr., President and CEO

   Pause for a moment and think about what your reply would be if someone asked you, “what do you consider your way of life?” If your answer is a successful career that makes a lot of money, you have missed life’s true meaning. 

   Americans, by and large, continue to focus on the artificial aspects of their lives and seem to forget what is truly important. It’s not how we dress or the possessions we own. They cannot replace our fundamental connection with our natural surroundings.

   Yet, due to urbanization and other factors, most Americans have disconnected themselves from nature. Often, they prefer sitting in front of a computer or television screen to enjoying the wonders of the outdoors.

   Individuals still have the choice to reinvent themselves. For most, leaving their urban lifestyles seems unnatural. However, those who do take the time to enjoy the outdoors are stronger for it. 

   I encourage you to give outdoor adventure a try, whether hiking, camping, fishing, boating, hunting, or whatever excites you. Why not make it a new year’s resolution to get yourself outside at least once a month and take your family with you?