By W. Laird Hamberlin, SCI/F CEO
Hunting is one of the six pillars upon which the future of hunting and SCI rest. That means when we go hunting, we are helping the traditions of hunting and conservation continue for generations to come.
Why is following our passions so important? Simple. Hunting is our way of life, so we further hunting culture by merely doing it.
There is a lot more to saving hunting than getting into the wilds and pursuing game. But unless we actively hunt, it will wither on the vine. Literally, it is a use-it-or-lose-it proposition.
The reason I bring this up is that this is the time of year when most of the hunting in the Northern Hemisphere gets underway. Some bowhunting seasons started last month and continue at least until the end of the year. Many general big game hunting seasons start now, as do many of the upland bird and waterfowl seasons. During September and October, there are more hunting seasons in progress than at any other time of the year.
So, support the Hunting pillar and have fun doing it. The other pillars upon which the future of hunting and SCI rest are Advocacy, Chapters, Event Services (Convention), Membership and Conservation.
Since the hunting seasons last until the end of the year (or a little bit beyond), it is important to make sure we’re registered to attend the 2024 SCI Convention before we go on our hunts.
It may seem a bit early to be focusing on Convention right now, but I am trying to give everyone a heads-up because early registration numbers indicate that hotel rooms will be selling out quickly, and some have already sold out. Now is the time to reserve a room. Also, for members who have not done so, it is time to register for the Convention itself.
Not only can members save money by registering early, but it also helps SCI have a better handle on what the overall attendance will be. The sooner the staff knows these kinds of things, the better we will be able to serve members during the Convention.
Also in October, I’ll be attending the SCI Foundation’s 21st African Wildlife Consultative Forum in Namibia. The annual AWCF is SCIF’s premier activity in Africa, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, senior government officials, professional hunting association leadership, community-based support organizations, international policy experts and wildlife biologists to discuss sustainable use wildlife conservation issues across Africa.
Truly, this is a prime example of what the “I” stands for in SCIF. SCI and SCIF are respectively on the frontlines of hunting and conservation around the world.
Like all members, I plan to go hunting this fall. If I don’t see some of you in the field, I look forward to seeing everyone at the SCI Convention Jan. 31 through Feb. 3, 2024, in Nashville.
