HSC Opposes H. R. 8262 Sec. 439: Permit Prohibition For Trophies

This bill is focused on appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes. HSC opposes section 439 related to Permit Prohibition which states the following: None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to issue a permit for the import of a sport-hunted trophy of an elephant or lion taken in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Zambia. The limitation described in this section shall not apply in the case of the administration of a tax or tariff. This division may be cited as the ‘‘Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023’’.

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Cottonwood Fix

Houston Safari Club requested the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources favorably report the Bipartisan Manchin/Daines Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to S. 2561, the “Cottonwood Fix”. Since the Ninth Circuit Court issued the 2015 Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. United States Forest Service (Cottonwood) decision, the Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been required to reinitiate consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Land Management and Forest Management Plans at the programmatic level when new Endangered Species Act (ESA) information came to light. This continues to block and slow many essential USFS forest management, wildlife habitat enhancement and wildfire fuel reduction projects. On October 21, 2021, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) testified before the Committee that unless action is taken to resolve challenges stemming from the 2015 Cottonwood decision, the agency will have to go through re-consultation, regardless of the merit, on over one-hundred forest plans that “will take years and cost millions of dollars,” threatening to undermine the Administration’s 10 Year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rescinds Endangered Species Act Critical Habitat Exclusion Regulations; Significant Implications of Anticipated ESA Regulatory Revisions

The proposed rescission or revision of recent final rules creates regulatory uncertainty for all stakeholders. The Services’ rationale for pursuing rescission or revision have been summary and without effective substantive explanations. While there are various interpretations of what qualifies as or constitutes habitat for a particular species, a regulatory definition is needed for effective implementation of the ESA. The need for a consistent and workable definition of habitat is underscored by the fact that the Supreme Court ruled in a previous case that identifying habitat is a necessary precondition by which to assess whether an area can qualify for designation as critical habitat. Similarly, given the availability of judicial review of decisions not to exclude an area from critical habitat, the public and stakeholders need greater transparency and certainty regarding the critical habitat exclusion process. The planned rescissions, reversals, and regulatory changes may create confusion and obstacles for ESA implementation. Also, the Services run the risk of inviting more litigation to the process, scope, and substance of their actions. For more information: https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-07/service-rescinds-endangered-species-act-critical-habitat-exclusion

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Houston Safari Club (HSC) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to legislative and policy initiatives that may affect the future of hunting. HSC supports initiatives that protect the tradition of hunting and hunters’ rights. We take an active role in efforts to effect policy, protocols, and legislation. Our mission is to protect the rights of hunters and the hunting heritage through advocacy, policy, and legislation. Houston Safari Club (HSC) is a non-profit organization, exempt from federal income tax, under section 501(c)(4) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Payments to HSC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Please contact your tax advisor concerning deductibility of any payments as business deductions. HSC EIN: 76-0082197. HSC 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.

An Outdoor Writer Tells the Never-Before -Told Story of Returning a Vast African Wasteland to its Former Glory as One of the World’s Premier Wildlands in Bringing Back the Lions!

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Come see and hear the author, Mike Arnold, September 7 at our monthly meeting! ‘Conservation Through Hunting’ 

WATKINSVILLE, GA (July 12, 2022) — For generations, conservationists around the world have spent billions of dollars and countless hours trying to restore wildlife and wildlife habitat in areas of sub-Sahara Africa decimated by many factors, including poachers, corrupt governments, hungry local populations, and a lack of education and experience in how to balance current needs and wants with long-term, sustainable goals that benefit both wildlife and local people. And while these efforts often produce short-term results, long-term successes have been few and far between. In Bringing Back the Lions: International Hunters, Local Tribespeople, and the Miraculous Rescue of a Doomed Ecosystem in Mozambique, world-traveling outdoor writer Mike Arnold details how a small group of professional hunters and their partners turn a decimated and near-barren backcountry into one of the world’s premier African wildlands.

 

By the early 1990s, the once magnificent natural area known as Coutada 11 in Mozambique’s Zambeze Delta is poached-out and in ruins, a tragic but common situation in today’s wilderness areas. The arrival of hunting safari outfitter Mark Haldane and his many and varied partners began a decades-long, difficult – and often hilarious – journey to take the defiled and uninhabitable place and make it whole again. The result is both a modern conservation miracle and a blueprint for others to follow across Africa and around the world.

 

“With the earth’s population approaching 8 billion, working with local people to conserve wildlife is an urgent necessity, not an option, especially in Africa,” said Ludo Wurfbain, Director, Rowland Ward Foundation. “To be successful, conservation projects need to benefit local people, increase wildlife and habitat, and sustain fair-chase hunting opportunities. Bringing Back the Lions tells the story of how the restoration of the ecosystem and the social and economic advances of a local community in the Zambeze Delta have gone hand-in-hand. Mixing his personal experiences as a hunter in the region with an in-depth look at the challenges and hard work that have gone into this initiative, Arnold brings this fascinating conservation success story to life.”

 

“Professor Arnold’s work is a wonderful mix of travelogue, adventure yarn, historical novel, and environmental odyssey — an uplifting tale of ecological and social restoration,” said Ian Sherman of Oxford University Press.

 

Bringing Back the Lions: International Hunters, Local Tribespeople, and the Miraculous Rescue of a Doomed Ecosystem in Mozambique, is due out on July 12, 2022, and will be available at booksellers everywhere and at www.mikearnoldoutdoors.com or by CLICKING HERE.

 

About Mike Arnold

The Hunter’s Horn blew very early for Mike. Since the age of five he has spent months each year pursuing game animals – from quail and rabbits behind his parents’ house, to kudu and leopard in Africa, and Brocket deer in Mexico. Combined with his love of the outdoors and hunting is Mike’s passion for conservation and science which he pursues as a Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Georgia.

 

Mike has more than 150 published articles, including outdoor feature pieces in Sports Afield, Hunter’s Horn, Safari Magazine, and African Hunting Gazette. Mike also produced two TEDx presentations on the topic of conservation-through-trophy-hunting. Media outlets such as Science Magazine, The New York Times, and National Public Radio continue to contact Mike for interviews covering his research. He has published hundreds of science articles and four books on topics including conservation biology.

 

Editorial Contact:
Karen Lutto
210-451-9113 (office)                                       
[email protected]
www.hunteroc.com

(Houston, TX- July 7, 2022) Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is pleased to announce their continued partnership with WildLife Partners.

Since 2016, WildLife Partners has supported HSCF’s mission to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. The continued support of Wildlife Partners demonstrates their commitment to conservation and education.

Chris Gilroy​, WildLife Partners Co‑Founder and CCO, stated, “For the sixth straight year, we are very excited to renew our partnership with the Houston Safari Club Foundation. The relationship with the club and its members has been an incredibly positive aspect of our company’s business. It only gets better each and every year. Not only does the financial commitment provide a great ROI, but we have also developed friendships that will last a lifetime.”

“The support provided by WildLife Partners makes it possible for HSCF to continue its efforts to promote conservation at home and abroad, implement youth outdoor education programs and experiences, and helps to secure hunting opportunities for future generations,” states Joe Betar, Executive Director, Houston Safari Club Foundation.

About WildLife Partners
Wildlife Partners is an innovative wildlife conservation company. Our model marries the desire to do good for the world with economic incentives. It has been proven that wildlife conservation does not have to be centered around an altruistic approach funded by donations. When it is accentuated by for profit motives, outsiders that would otherwise not participate, join the fight to save species from extinction. The benefits are gratification from doing a great thing for our planet, active participation in wildlife breeding/ranching, cash flow distributions and up to 100% tax deductions.

We currently serve more than 400 private landowners in Texas and more than 150 conservation minded investors throughout the United States. Through our approach, landowners in Texas and beyond have learned how to convert their private ranches into cash flow producing wildlife sanctuaries. Additionally, we have a vehicle that provides non-landowners the ability to own wildlife, participate as a breeder, get hands on experience, generate revenue and convert tax dollars into usable assets. We have produced results and our partners love what we do! For more information, visit our website at wildlifepartners.com or call 1-866-377-3000.

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.

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(Houston, TX- July 7, 2022) Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is pleased to announce registration is now open for their annual sporting clays tournament, to be held Thursday, October 6, 2022.

“Clay Crushing For Youth” is an annual fundraising event hosted by Houston Safari Club Foundation. Funds raised are dedicated to HSCF’s ​youth outdoor education programs, outdoor experiences, and outdoor career awareness programs. The event provides for an enjoyable day of shooting, fellowship, and fun. Experienced and novice shooters alike are welcome and participants do not have to be a member of HSCF. The event will be hosted at Greater Houston Sports Club. The tournament registration will begin at 9:00 am, with a 10:00 am start time.

All adult & youth shooters are invited to participate. The tournament uses a four-person team format. Teams may be comprised of male, female, youth, adult, professionals or beginners. Individual shooters will be squadded with other shooters to complete a four-person team. Lunch, beverages, raffles, flurries, and mulligans will be available. Sponsorships are also still available. To learn more: https://hscfdn.org/events/sporting-clays-tournament/.

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 625 scholarships totaling $2.8 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.

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Elephant Import Permit Rule Revision
HSC, along with Conservation Force and Dallas Safari Club, requested that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provide a 60-day extension of a comment period for its proposed revisions to its elephant regulation entitled Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision to the Section 4(d) Rule for African Elephant and requested inclusion of the petition for revision of 50 CFR 17.40(e)(6)(E) jointly filed by Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club and Houston Safari Club on September 28, 2022 to revise section (6)(E) of the same special 4(d) rule that limits trophy imports to two elephant per annum regardless of the period taken.

2023 Farm Bill Development
Houston Safari Club aligned with several NGO’s, to submit an offer of assistance for development of the 2023 Farm Bill, to the House Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry and Senate Agriculture Committee. The offer requested the prioritization of fish and wildlife related to enhancing, restoring, and conserving natural resources on private lands to provide broad ecosystem services, including providing fish and wildlife habitat, improving water quality and quantity, and promoting landscape resilience.

Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) Endorsement of Updated MTPA Bowhunting Policy
Houston Safari Club is part of an effort, in support of the Ashby Bowhunting Foundation, expressed their endorsement and support of PHASA’s recommended changes and updates to the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act Bowhunting Policy. PHASA is lobbying for updates to the Bowhunting Policy to bring the policy current, including the legalization of bowhunting pachyderms. In PHASA’s effort to bring this policy current, PHASA has requested assistance from the Ashby Bowhunting Foundation, a non-profit organization that is the leading global authority on arrow lethality with a cumulative of nearly fifty years of research and data that shows these animals can be ethically and humanely harvested with bowhunting equipment if specific guidelines are followed.

Tajikistan Argali (Marco Polo) Imports
HSC, in partnership with Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), Safari Club International (SCI), Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF), Dallas Safari Club (DSC), Dallas Safari Club Foundation (DSCF), Grand Slam Club/Ovis (GSCO), International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), Conservation Force (CF), and IUCN SSC CEESP Sustainable Use & Livelihoods Specialist Group (IUCN SULi), provided a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior support the methodology, repeatability, and reliability of a 2021 Tajikistan Marco Polo survey. The reason for the correspondence is based on concern regarding the continued denial of 2021 import permit applications and the failure to process any Tajikistan import permit applications since the 2021 period denials. The letter stated that this delay is unacceptable to the sustainable use conservation community, and most alarming, is now jeopardizing the most successful argali conservation and restoration program in Central Asia. USFWS preciously stated that the delay and denials are because information the USFWS has requested from the Tajikistan CITES authority has not yet been provided by said authority. The task force issuing the letter saw no justification for the lack of movement other than vague references to the above and request the Department provide the specific information that the Tajikistan CITES authority has not yet provided with a commitment to work with both the USFWS and the Tajikistan CITES authority to bridge what may be a communication gap and help assure that necessary information is provided.

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Houston Safari Club (HSC) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to legislative and policy initiatives that may affect the future of hunting. HSC supports initiatives that protect the tradition of hunting and hunters’ rights. We take an active role in efforts to effect policy, protocols, and legislation. Our mission is to protect the rights of hunters and the hunting heritage through advocacy, policy, and legislation. Houston Safari Club (HSC) is a non-profit organization, exempt from federal income tax, under section 501(c)(4) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Payments to HSC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Please contact your tax advisor concerning deductibility of any payments as business deductions. HSC EIN: 76-0082197. HSC 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.

Houston, TX (June 14, 2022) – Houston Safari Club applauds the leadership of U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (R-MI) and the support of the U.S. House of Representatives for the future of hunting, fishing and conservation.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 2773) today. This bipartisan bill will assist state agencies and tribes to reverse population declines for at-risk wildlife species before they become endangered. It also provides $1.3 billion annually to state fish and wildlife agencies to implement their science-based wildlife action plans and an additional $97.5 million for tribal fish and wildlife managers. RAWA will invest more than $50 million per year in Texas for wildlife recovery and related public education and recreation and is expected to create 23,800 to 33,600 jobs.

This legislation was drafted with input from hunters and anglers across the nation and is intended to help both game and nongame species thrive. This means more funds for habitat projects, population monitoring, and other initiatives that benefit wildlife and habitat in the United States.