Hunt The Facts / SCI Advocacy

Letters to Government Officials and Administrations

United States

March 9, 2021 - Letter to Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Mitch McConnell regarding the nomination of Representative Debra Haaland to be Secretary of the Interior.

"Last week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the nomination of Representative Debra Haaland (D-N.M.) to be the next Secretary of the Interior. Safari Club International (SCI) and its membership have serious concerns about the Congresswoman’s commitment to protect the rights and freedoms of America’s hunting community, based on her committee testimony and record in the U.S. House."

Read the letter.

February 16, 2021 - Letter to U.S. Dept of the Interior from SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin Regarding Regulatory Review Directed by Biden Administration

"Safari Club International (SCI) and Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF), on behalf of the hunters and conservationists across the U.S. that make up our 50,000 members, are deeply concerned with the Administration’s directive to review, and potentially repeal, recent federal regulatory changes regarding revisions to regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA), delisting the gray wolf, and removing restrictions on certain hunting practices on National Preserves in Alaska. Repealing these regulations is unnecessary. They comport with the law, as well as the Administration’s goals of relying on science and advancing equity across the government. Repeal will be detrimental to vulnerable species and vulnerable communities who rely on sustainable use of wildlife for their livelihoods."

Read the letter.

September 22, 2020 - SCI Support Letter for ESA Amendments of 2020

July 24, 2020 - California SB 1175 Opposition Letter from SCI President Scott Chapman

July 24, 2020 - California SB 1175 Opposition Letter from SCI Legal Team

New Zealand

July 15, 2020 Letter to Prime Minister Ardern of New Zealand regarding DOC Operational Plan for Tahr

United Kingdom

June 14, 2021 Letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson re Action Plan for Animal Welfare

Safari Club International (SCI) urges the United Kingdom to maintain current regulations related to trade in hunting trophies, rather than adopting new trade restrictions or prohibitions. SCI specifically opposes the Action Plan for Animal Welfare’s proposed ban on the import of hunting trophies from endangered animals. Regulated hunting generates crucial conservation incentives. Research has shown that trade restrictions often have the unintended consequence of reducing these incentives and therefore harming wildlife conservation efforts. Countries around the world rely on hunting as part of their conservation strategies. The benefits of regulated hunting in southern African countries, including Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are well-documented. For many reasons, the UK should not adopt a trophy import ban.

Read the Letter

February 25, 2020 Letter to Rt. Hon. George Eustrice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding UK Trophy Import Ban

Safari Club International’s London Chapter (SCI London) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the important question of how the United Kingdom should regulate the trade of hunting trophies into and out of the UK. For reasons explained below, SCI London urges Defra to adopt Option Four and maintain existing internationally-agreed regulations related to trade in hunting trophies. In fact, Defra should actively encourage the trade in trophies. Read the letter.

January 24, 2020 Letter to Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Rt. Hon. Zacharias Goldsmith, Minister of State regarding UK Trophy Import Ban

Safari Club International (“SCI”) and Safari Club International Foundation (“SCIF”) (collectively “Safari Club”) appreciate the opportunity to provide information and insights regarding the important question of how the United Kingdom should regulate the trade—both import and export—of hunting trophies into and out of the UK. For reasons explained below, Safari Club urges Defra to adopt “Option Four” and maintain existing internationally-agreed regulations related to trade in hunting trophies. Safari Club invites Defra to encourage the trade in trophies because regulated hunting generates crucial conservation incentives, as shown in the extensive amount of scientific literature, news articles, and online videos annexed here for Defra’s consideration. Read the letter.

Canada

July 6, 2021 Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau Regarding Opening the Canadian Border to Fully Vaccinated Americans

SCI Op-Eds

Why Legal Hunting Can Actually Save Wildlife - Not Harm It

By W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO, SCI and Benji Backer, President and Founder of the American Conservation Coalition.

It is unfortunate that anti-hunters and many environmentalists have chosen to start 2021 with divisive rhetoric intended to paint hunters and Republicans as cruel and evil individuals. Contrary to what they would have you believe, legal, regulated hunting is an inherently nonpartisan activity enjoyed by millions of Americans from every demographic. Furthermore, hunters are ardent conservationists. Decades of wildlife science prove the symbiotic relationship between hunting and effective conservation.

Read the op-ed.

California Senators Target Hunters, Not COVID-19

W. Laird Hamberlin is CEO of SCI.

Today, the California Senate General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee will vote on SB 1175, a bill that claims to implement new “prohibitions on importation and possession of wild animals” in order to prevent the transmission of zoonotic diseases like COVID-19. But in truth, this bill is nothing more than a legislative smokescreen intended to conceal its core objective: language banning the import of certain African species parts harvested legally in African range states. READ MORE.

Understanding Botswana's New Hunting Program

Joe Goergen is the Conservation Manager for SCI Foundation.

As the COVID-19 crisis dominants the world’s attention and media headlines, the global response needs to consider the impact of a tourism shutdown to wildlife conservation. Closed borders and travel restrictions are jeopardizing millions of acres of habitat managed by safari operators and the many livelihoods they support. READ MORE.

Botswana Minister Says the "Conservation Conversation" Must Include More Than Wildlife

New Endangered Species Act Rules Provide Clarity and Enhance Species Health

W. Laird Hamberlin is CEO of SCI.

Early last week, Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced new regulations governing how the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) implements specific aspects of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As the leading defender of conservation through regulated hunting, Safari Club International (SCI) submitted public comments when the rule change was initially proposed, and we are now excited to see that the final version remained largely consistent with the priorities for which we advocated. By empowering the FWS with clearer and more flexible criteria for delisting animal species, Secretary Bernhardt and the Trump administration have ensured that recovered animal species will no longer be ensnared by bureaucratic red tape. READ MORE.

Hunting's Benefits? It's All There In The Numbers

Get Involved

Oppose the CECIL Act and Anti-Hunting Appropriations Language

The “Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies Act” or "CECIL" Act PASSED out of the House Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday, September 18th, and now awaits a vote on the House Floor.

This bill will derail clearly proven wildlife management strategies in Africa that are recovering the world’s largest populations of lions, elephants, and other species. If implemented, H.R. 2245 would undermine the authority and the on-going wildlife management plans of several African nations. H.R. 2245 is an ill-conceived attempt to substitute emotionalism with rational wildlife conservation.

Enacting H.R. 2245 will severely hinder the importation of some legally-hunted animals and ban the importation of others. Congress should not pass a bill that would undermine successful conservation programs, substitute prejudice for the rational decisions of wildlife management experts around the world, and turn a blind eye to science.

Also, a proposed approproations bill introduced in July of 2020 that will fund the Department of the Interior through the end of FY21 has a provision that would block the United State Fish and Wildlife Service from issuing a permit for the import of a sport-hunted trophy of an elephant or lion taken in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, or Zambia.

Tell your member of Congress to OPPOSE the CECIL Act as well as oppose Section 436 of the House FY21 Interior Appropriations bill. and keep politics out of wildlife management!

Oppose the CECIL Act and Anti-Hunting Appropriations Language

Urge Prime Minister Trudeau to Rescind Canada's Gun Ban

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently issued an Order in Council that contains some of the most restrictive and shocking gun control measures ever implemented in North America. What was originally touted by Trudeau and gun control advocates as an “assault weapons ban” actually extends beyond firearms typically labeled as “assault weapons” to include firearms quite commonly used by hunters and recreational shooters throughout Canada and around the world.

Efforts to ban modern sporting rifles are consistently focused on emotion, cosmetics, and appearances with no regard for the operation and performance characteristics of these firearms.

The most alarming development to come from the gun ban is the prohibition of all modern 10- and 12-gauge shotguns, some of the most commonly used hunting firearms in Canada. A legal review by the Canadian Shooting Sports Association revealed that provisions in the order related to bore diameter and removable chokes are why these common shotguns are included in the ban.

Most disturbing is the decision to include this provision followed the announcement from Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Bill Blair that they would not be seeking to ban guns suitable for hunting. There are an estimated 1.5 – 2 million Canadian residents who own shotguns that are now illegal as a result of this poorly considered rule.

Urge Prime Minister Trudeau to Rescind Gun Ban

United Kingdom Trophy Ban

The United Kingdom is currently considering several proposals that would prohibit or severely restrict the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK. The UK government is now accepting public input through a consultation process.

SCI worked with Blood Origins to produce a video series featuring experts from the affected areas in Africa, asking them specific, pointed questions about the importance of hunting in their countries and what a ban would mean for conservation, economy and their way of life.

Watch the Videos