Author: HoustonSafari

(Houston, TX- July 22, 2020) Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) applauds The U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of this historic legislation to promote conservation and increased public land and water access for opportunities for sportsmen and women.
The Great American Outdoors Act will provide $9.5 billion over 5 years to address the decimated infrastructure on America’s public lands and waters. The National Park Service will receive $6.5 billion in funding and $3 billion will be included to repair and maintain public land infrastructure overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

From the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation: The inclusion of funding specifically for BLM, USFWS, and USFS lands and waters will ensure that Americans have the ability to access critically important hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities. Over 246 million acres, or 99%, of BLM lands are open to hunting and fishing while the USFS reports that 99% of the 193 million acres it administers are open to hunting and at least 99% of USFS administered rivers, streams, and lakes are open to fishing.

Collectively, BLM, USFWS, and USFS annually support more than 25 million hunting days and nearly 45 million fishing days, highlighting the importance of these lands for America’s sportsmen and women as well as the outdoor economy. Additionally, funding to address these agencies’ maintenance backlog will create over 100,000 employment opportunities. The Great American Outdoors Act also provides full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually. LWCF is one of the most successful and influential conservation programs in our nation’s history. GAOA
also ensures $15 million annually is dedicated to increase public access for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other forms of outdoor recreation.

The Great American Outdoors Act now awaits the President’s signature.

Congratulations to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and all of our fellow peer organizations and individuals that have worked so hard, for so many years, to bring this critical piece of legislation to fruition. And our sincere thanks to each of you that contacted your legislators to make this a reality.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 550 scholarships totaling $2.5 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

California’s legislation, SB 1175, would ban both the importation and possession of eight commonly hunted African species, including taxidermy received after 2020. These species include: elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, giraffe, hippo, hyena, and zebra. 

HSCF opposes this bill in that it is an attempt by the CA state government to supersede the permitting authority of the USFWS, as it relates to the possession or importation of legally harvested game animals. 

This bill would enact the Iconic African Species Protection Act and would prohibit the possession of specified African species and any part, product, or the dead body or parts thereof, including, but not limited to, the African elephant or the black rhinoceros, by any individual, firm, corporation, association, or partnership within the State of California, except as specified for, among other things, use for educational or scientific purposes by a bona fide educational or scientific institution, as defined.This is an attempt to pass legislation and gain bill support, hidden behind the veil of an ongoing public health crisis, stating that its intent is to prevent the spread of zoonotic disease and prohibit wet markets.

The obvious goal is an attempt to place a ban on the import of legally harvested game animals from Africa.  In no way would this bill benefit wildlife species.

This legislation is not enforceable and would be preempted by federal law under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 6(f), 16 USC Sec. 1535(f). States cannot permit what is prohibited by the ESA or prohibit what is authorized by an ESA exemption or permit. 

Voice Your Opposition to the California State Committee Today!
https://awpw.assembly.ca.gov/membersstaff

(Houston, TX- July 22, 2020) Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) and “Hunting Matters” welcomes Kristi Heuring, Chief Marketing Officer, Everest.com

Kristi Heuring, a Tennessee native and now Texan, is a 26-year marketing veteran, 16-year industry veteran and is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Everest, the first-of-its-kind online community and marketplace specifically for the outdoors world. 

Kristi’s prior experience includes leading the marketing efforts for Aguila Ammunition where she launched their first U.S. branding campaign as well as producing the inaugural Aguila Cup. Kristi’s industry experience also includes Aimpoint Red Dot Sights, International Hunter Education Association, National Bowhunter Education Association and Blaser/Sauer/Mauser. 

Kristi’s exposure to hunting and shooting began as a child growing up with a father that hunted and owned a hunting and fishing store for some time.  Today, she enjoys hunting with her father, husband and industry friends.  Kristi lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and teenage children.

“Hunting Matters” airs each Saturday from 6am-7am CST on KPRC AM 950 – Real Texas, Real Talk, a Houston iHeartMedia station, and Houston’s longest running radio station. Listen live online here. You may also listen to each episode as a podcast, following live airing, on most major podcast platforms including iTunes, the Apple Podcasts, the IHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, and Spreaker.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 550 scholarships totaling $2.5 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

####

(Houston, TX- July 15, 2020) Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) and “Hunting Matters” welcomes Jeff Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

Jeff is the President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Jeff joined CSF in 2002 and brings nearly 40 years of experience in on-the-ground natural resource management and policy expertise at the federal, state, and international levels.

A life-long outdoorsman, Jeff spent five years working in the U.S. Congress and was instrumental in establishing the Maryland legislative sportsmen’s caucus prior to joining CSF. In addition, he has experience developing wildlife habitat management plans in the United States and South Africa. During his eight years in Africa, Jeff obtained his professional hunter’s license and guided hunts for big game animals.

Jeff serves as the Chairman of the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (HSSCC), a federal advisory council that reports to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. He is a past Chairman of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), the largest coalition of hunting conservation organizations. He is a Boone and Crockett member, a member of the Government Affairs Committee for Safari Club International (SCI) and served as Vice-Chairman of Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Committee for the National Rifle Association (NRA). Additionally, he is a Board Member of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports.

“Hunting Matters” airs each Saturday from 6am-7am CST on KPRC AM 950 – Real Texas, Real Talk, a Houston iHeartMedia station, and Houston’s longest running radio station. Listen live online here. You may also listen to each episode as a podcast, following live airing, on most major podcast platforms including iTunes, the Apple Podcasts, the IHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, and Spreaker.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 550 scholarships totaling $2.5 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

####

(HOUSTON, TX- July 10, 2020) Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF), as a member of  The American Wildlife Conservation Partners, is proud to have participated with other conservation partners, in the development of  Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume VI.

The document contains recommendations for the next White House Administration and the next two Congresses, as they relate to wildlife, habitat, access, and recreation. Adoption of these recommendations will improve federal agencies’ stewardship of our nation’s fish, wildlife, and habitats and enhance access to federal lands and waters for outdoor and wildlife-associated recreation, which contribute significantly to the quality of life and economic well-being of our citizens and future generations.

The Outdoor Recreation Economy was estimated at 2.2 percent of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 2017, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and is growing. Conserving native fish and wildlife populations and the landscapes that they depend on is essential to sustaining this important part of our economy and national identity. The document may be viewed and downloaded in its entirety here.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 550 scholarships totaling $2.5 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

####

(Houston, TX- July 15, 2020) Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) announces the launch of a
summer online auction to help raise funds to support HSCF’s outreach efforts in youth education,
scholarship and conservation grants.

Firearms enthusiasts should absolutely check out this auction! The online fundraising auction features 10 select firearms, in various calibers, from Blaser, Sauer and Mauser. Items up for bid include the following: Blaser R8 Professional 300 WinMag; Blaser F16 Game Standard; 12-gauge (3″); Sauer 100 Ceratech .243 Win; Mauser 18 .30-06; Mauser 18 .308 Win.; Sauer 100 Pantera .300 Win. Mag.; Sauer 100 Pantera 6.5 PRC; Sauer 100 Cherokee 6.5 Creedmoor; Sauer 100 Ceratech .270 Win; Sauer 100 Cherokee 7mm Rem. Mag.

The online auction will begin at 12:01 am on July 15th and ends at midnight on July 30th, 2020. Interested bidders may participate in the HSCF “10 FOR CONSERVATION”  auction here!

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 550 scholarships totaling $2.5 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

####