10/12/2005
Hunters' Influence Felt from Washington State to Washington, D.C.
With a membership base of more than 35 million, sportsmen have become one of the most influential groups when it comes to politics, the economy and especially conservation.
According to data collected by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, sportsmen are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups. When totaling economic contributions, sportsmen pour $70 billion annually into the economy. They also support more jobs nationwide than the number of people employed by Wal-Mart, the country's largest corporation.
These contributions, however, don't stop with monetary donations. Sportsmen and women across America contribute politically and in 2004 found themselves courted by both presidential candidates.
An article in USA Today before the 2004 election stated both George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry were "aggressively going after (the) `hook and bullet' bloc." And, one Los Angeles Times reporter, writing about a meeting between the president and representatives from conservation organizations, said "the unusually lengthy meeting ... shows the `hook and bullet' crowd, as the anglers and hunters call themselves, to be a powerful new force on environmental issues in Washington."
Among those attending the meeting with Bush was Rob Keck, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The representatives had the president's attention for more than an hour, during which time important issues regarding conservation were discussed.
The hunter's influence was also seen earlier this year as 40 conservation organizations — including the National Wild Turkey Federation — met with Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.
"We (President Bush and I) know that hunters and anglers are the backbone of conservation in America," Norton said during a speech given to the representatives. "We know that you help protect, restore and enhance the habitat of ivory billed woodpeckers, wood storks and thousands of others species — most of which are non game animals. We know that if conservation is going to remain strong in America, hunting and angling must remain strong."
All the money and political influence in the world wouldn't mean a thing if hunters didn't take conservation to heart. Because of hunters, everyone can enjoy the outdoors.
"Many people take up hunting for the challenge, but after they've been in the woods a few times, they find themselves equally committed to conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat," Keck said. "That's why our hunting heritage is so important, not only to hunters, but to all Americans."
The NWTF — one of the nation's largest single-species hunting and conservation organizations — is leading the way when it comes to wildlife conservation and habitat restoration.
Through the NWTF's conservation programs, more than 9 million acres of habitat has been restored. Since 1985, the NWTF and its partners have raised and spent more than $202 million on over 31,000 projects throughout North America.
"In 1973, when the NWTF was founded, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters," said Dr. James Earl Kennamer, senior vice president of conservation programs for the NWTF. "Thanks to the work of wildlife agencies and the NWTF's many volunteers and partners, today there are nearly 7 million wild turkeys and nearly 3 million turkey hunters."
Conservation, however, wouldn't be possible without the Pittman-Robertson Act. Signed into law in 1937, its purpose is to provide funding for almost everything to do with the restoration and research regarding wildlife and its habitat. The act was passed at the request of hunters.
The NWTF's support of hunting, and, in turn, conservation, has led to one of the greatest single-species comeback stories in history. People who begin hunting often become conservationists and provide the support wildlife needs to thrive.
"For us it's simple: without hunting there would be no conservation and without conservation, there would be no wildlife, or, in our case, wild turkeys." Keck said.
For more information about the NWTF, call (800) THE-NWTF.
