In August of 2000 the Boone and Crockett Club organized an historical conservation summit that has had a profound effect on the future of wildlife. This landmark meeting resulted in the creation of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners—a coalition of 35 wildlife organizations. Today, AWCP has grown to a consortium of 50 organizations that represent the interests of America’s millions of hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists. While individual organizations have their own primary areas of interest, collectively we all are dedicated to ensuring the vitality of our wildlife resources and providing for sustainable public use and enjoyment of those resources under the science-based management of the state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, in cooperation with habitat and land management by the federal, state, county, and local governments.
Our members live in your backyard—in every county of every state in the nation.
The nation’s 15.5 million hunters over age 6, out paces the number of Americans over age 7 that play soccer. Hunters and anglers vote. If every sportsman and sportswoman had voted in the 2012 election, they would have represented 30% of all votes cast. Hunting is important to our economy. Hunters spent $38.3 billion in 2011, including $11.8 billion in local, state, and Federal taxes. Sportsmen and sportswomen–and hunters in general–are an important segment of our society. Their needs and opinions cannot be ignored.
Information provided by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume V is the fifth in a series of recommendations from the American Wildlife Conservation Partners beginning in 2001. Previous volumes were provided to Presidents Bush and Obama. Now we present these recommendations to help inform the next administration about the pressing issues facing wildlife conservation and our sporting heritage. These recommendations for improving wildlife conservation are offered in the spirit of the hunter conservationists our organizations represent. Each recommendation is based on sound science and builds on the historical achievements of hunter conservationists in making this country’s wildlife resources the envy of the world.
Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume V is available for download at left, or download individual recommendations below.
In order to further the mission of AWCP, to ensure wildlife conservation, and sustainable public use of these natural resources, AWCP members interact and engage with federal agencies and Congress regularly to advance policies, both legislative and regulatory, which promote wildlife conservation and public access to lands.
Below are letters sent to Members of Congress, Congressional committees, federal agencies, and other governing entities, from various AWCP groups. Click on individual letters to download a PDF.
AWCP is a coalition of 50 organizations that represent the interests of America’s millions of hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists.
American Woodcock Society | Archery Trade Association | Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies | Bear Trust International | Boone and Crockett Club | California Waterfowl Association | Camp Fire Club of America | Catch A Dream Foundation | Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation | Conservation Force | Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports | Dallas Safari Club | Delta Waterfowl Foundation | Ducks Unlimited | Houston Safari Club | International Hunter Education Association - US | Izaak Walton League of America | Masters of Foxhounds Foundation | Mule Deer Foundation | National Association of Forest Service Retirees | National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative | National Rifle Association | National Shooting Sports Foundation | National Trappers Association | National Wild Turkey Federation | National Wildlife Federation | National Wildlife Refuge Association | North American Falconers Association | North American Grouse Partnership | Orion – The Hunter’s Institute | Pheasants Forever, Inc. | Quail Forever | Pope and Young Club | Professional Outfitters and Guides of America | Public Lands Foundation | Quality Deer Management Association | Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation | Ruffed Grouse Society | Safari Club International | Shikar Safari Club | Sportsmen’s Alliance | Texas Wildlife Association | The Conservation Fund | The Wildlife Society | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership | Tread Lightly! | Whitetails Unlimited | Wild Sheep Foundation | Wildlife Forever | Wildlife Management Institute | Wildlife Mississippi
AWCP STEERING COMMITTEE
2019 Chair – Jen Mock Schaeffer, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
2019 Vice-Chair – Blake Henning, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundatiom
Terms Expire 2019
Joe Betar, Houston Safari Club
Jeff Crane, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Tom Franklin, National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
Bob Model, Boone and Crockett Club
Terms Expire 2020
Jimmy Bullock, Catch-A-Dream Foundation
Kevin Hurley, Wild Sheep Foundation
Collin O'Mara, National Wildlife Federation
Brent Rudolph, Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society
Terms Expire 2021
Dan Forster, Archery Trade Association
Evan Heusinkveld, Sportsmen's Alliance
Steve Kline, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Susan Recce, National Rifle Association
Executive Committee (preceding Chairs)
Joel Pedersen, National Wild Turkey Federation
Len Vallender, Camp Fire Club of America
Tom Franklin, National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative