What Hunting Protection Efforts do you Support?

[BowBaboon]

As many of us are aware, there are a lot of groups going after hunting rights in all 50 states. Everything from chipping away at gun laws to full blown hunting bans for certain animals.

I'm curious, what groups do y'all support to protect your hunting rights? And I'm looking for answers that aren't politically influenced or charged. Lets talk about NGOs and lobbyists that are active in D.C. or your state. Who do you donate money to or volunteer for, what efforts are they specifically making against specific agendas, and what makes you believe they're legitimate?

 

[8mille]

Write letters to your congressmen regularly- state and federal- and vote both. NRA probably still the best. GOA, 2A something or other. I’ll post them.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

In Colorado, definitely Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management. They get support from many of the national hunting orgs we all know and support. CRWM led the effort to defeat Prop 127: lion hunting ban. They remain heavily involved at the legislature. Every state will need an organization like CRWM.

The issue we as hunters run into is that many of the hunting/wildlife conservation organizations are set up as 501c3 orgs and limited in how involved they can be in politics. The anti-hunting orgs know this and attack via political mechanisms such as state legislature, ballot initiatives, and commissions.

At the national level, I would say SCI and Congressional Sportmens Foundation comes to mind. But honestly most of the direct threats to hunting come at the state level in favorable places like Colorado, Washington, Arizona, and New Mexico. HOWL for wildlife does a great job mobilizing hunters and provides great tools for engagement and education.

 

[Z71&Gun]

My wife and I are members of DU, MDF, DW, NWTF and BHA, where we have volunteered a good amount of time. We know the groups are legit at our local level because we attend banquets and break bread with the chapter leaders. That is also how we donate. We also subscribe to Howl for wildlife, buy their SWAG and use their portal to "take action." There are other groups I am forgetting. NSSF, etc.

My wife collaborates on research projects that directly benefit wildlife and habitat. I attend Fish and Wildlife committee meetings and email policymakers. I also email and make direct contact with the folks they call "influencers" when I have questions or concerns about their message or want to bring an issue to their attention. You would be surprised how responsive the outdoor media folks are to thoughtful discussion with regular folks.

And the simple things are often overlooked but maybe most important. We teach kids, invite friends, share wild food and try to set a good example in our community.

I can't recommend banquets and rendezvous enough. They are fun and I have met a lot of great people with whom I stay in touch.

 

[roosiebull]

OHA and RMEF

 

[Yoder]

I donate to the PA game commission every year when I buy my tags. All of my money for charity goes to veterans, sick kids and church.

 

[The_Yetti]

I'm a member of WSF, RMEF, and BHA and support CRWM. For 2A I'm a member of the NRA and CSSA for Colorado stuff.

 

[Rich M]

Gotta say - as a nation we are in an upswing of gun rights right now.

Same for hunting. Just more folks hunting so it seems oppressive.