By W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of SCI and SCIF
Originally published in the September 2024 edition of Safari Times.
Early voting is getting underway in the USA this month as we head toward the election in November. Never has an election been more important for hunters and hunting than it is this year. Literally, the future of hunting is in our hands.
If the election goes in one direction, the future of hunting will be bright. If it goes the other way, its future is in jeopardy.
Hunting benefits with a Trump election. We know this because that’s what happened during his first term in office. He even stopped by the SCI Hunters’ Embassy in Washington, D.C., to speak in support of hunting.
By comparison, the Biden/Harris administration has a long list of anti-hunting actions, and the specter of even more anti-hunting actions hangs heavily over a would-be Harris administration should she be elected President.
If all hunters vote, we can make a deciding difference. If we drop the ball and don’t vote, we have only ourselves to blame. So, I encourage all hunters to vote and help fellow hunters, as well as right-thinking friends and associates, cast their ballots, whether remotely or in person, depending on what methods are available locally.
Once we have voted, it is time to go hunting. Many seasons open this time of year, and the dove hunting opener is this month in states where doves can be hunted.
The dove hunting season sees more hunters in the field shooting more ammo than any other form of hunting. This is because dove hunting is an outstanding entry-level hunt for beginners and families. It is available locally without requiring a lot of time and money.
This is also the time for some of the early bowhunting big game seasons. Or it is when many of the hunts in Europe kick into high gear. It is the beginning of the hunting time of year throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
Hunting is one of the six pillars upon which the future of SCI and hunting rests. The other five are Advocacy, Chapters, Convention (Event Services), Membership and Conservation. Hunt hard and successfully this Fall while planning to attend two major events in January.
There will be a brand-new Texas Trophy Hunters Association Outdoors Extravaganza Jan. 10-12, 2025, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, and SCI’s Convention will be held Jan. 22-25, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
TTHA, together with SCI, promises a comprehensive showcase of hunting, fishing and camping experiences at the Outdoors Extravaganza in Texas. This pioneering event will gather guides and outfitters from around the globe, presenting a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to explore a diverse range of outdoor pursuits.
We all are aware that the SCI Convention each year is the biggest and best event of its kind in the world, and the upcoming Convention promises to be the best ever.
I invite all members to attend both events, if possible. You will be glad you did. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
