Houston, TX – Houston Safari Club (HSC) is expressing its concern for recent actions by some members of Congress to oppose the creation of the International Wildlife Conservation Council (IWCC).
The IWCC is being formed to increase public awareness domestically regarding conservation, wildlife law enforcement, and economic benefits that result from U.S. citizens traveling abroad to hunt. The duties of the Council will be to address the benefits of international hunting, wildlife conservation and survival, illegal trafficking and poaching, review of the Endangered Species Act and many other critical topics.
In their letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. the members of Congress referred to the IWCC being formed solely to “promote trophy killing”. The Congressional members go further to state that 86% of Americans oppose hunting big game, based on a 2015 HBO Real Sports/Marist Poll. What they fail to note is the fact this poll was based on a survey population of only 1,095 people. HSC does not feel the opinion of 1,095 US residents is a viable sample size to represent the opinion of over 300 million US residents. Furthermore, HSC believes forming such a council of thought leaders is a long overdue approach to work with other countries in potentially expanding the immensely successful North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Through this model and with the support and funds provided by hunters, the U.S. has seen a dramatic rebound of wildlife populations including wild turkey, bighorn sheep and whitetail deer among others.
About Houston Safari Club
Houston Safari Club (HSC) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the protection of hunters’ rights. In addition, HSC proudly provides one of the largest scholarship programs of its kind, through its 501(c)(3) charitable arm, the American Conservation and Education Society (ACES). HSC and ACES are independent organizations and are not chapters of or affiliated with any other organization. Visit our website at houstonsafariclub.org, or call 713.623.8844 for more information.