MI Fall 2020

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Adam Lindsey 517-736-4037 (See Back Cover Ad For More Information)

SIZE MATTERS WHITETAILS

TABLE OF CONTENTS / ADVERTISERS Advertising Information..........................10 G2 Whitetails – Embracing a Passion,

ADVERTISERS INDEX: Black Label Whitetails....................30 BR2.................................................27

Solid Future .............................................8

C&E Wildlife Products......................3

Hunting Preserves - Operating Outside the Box..................15

Cedar Breaks Ranch......................33

Membership Application........................20 Protect Your Hunting Privileges ............34 Raise ‘Em Up Whitetails and G.E. Whitetails – Producing Quality Genetics, Impressive Frames .......................... 22-23 Storm’s End Whitetails...........................19

Cervid Solutions, LLC....................33 Clear Creek Whitetails......................7 Dan-Inject North America..............29 DD Deer Farms...............................12 Deerstore.com..................................6 Head Gear LLC...............................24 Hilty Whitetails................................36 LoneHollow Whitetails......................5 M3 Whitetails..................................14 MaxRax.............................................4

UDFOM event pictures 2020............16, 28

Pine Creek Deer Farm ..............................Inside F. Cover, 21 Pneu-Dart, Inc................................18 Prime Acres.............. Inside B. Cover Purina..............................................13 Rocky Ridge Whitetails..............2, 11 Size Matters Whitetails...................... ............................Front & Back Cover Stewart Creek Whitetails................25 Sunrise Supply, LLC.........................6 Thunder Bay Whitetails....................9 Townsedge Whitetails....................31 Trophy Whitetails..............................4 Whetstone Brothers.......................32 Whitetail Syndications........17, 26, 35

MAGAZINE GRAPHIC DESIGN AND PUBLISHING:

UDFOM PAC Fund....................................3

D & K Design

1812 W. Sunset Blvd. Ste 1-515,

Winter Quest Deadline: January 8

St. George, UT 84770

advertising4@mac.com • P) 435-817-0150 F) 435-574-1937

Editorial Provided by Contributing Writers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President- Doug Roberts Phone: 810-241-9554 droberts@conquestdeerfarm.com

Website Chair -Terry Edwards Phone: 989-657-3628 thunderbaywhitetails@gmail.com

Board Member-- Dan Harrington Phone: 906-774-3571 dan@wideandhighwhitetails.com

Vice President– John Roose Scholarship Chair Phone: 586-531-7988 roosedeer@gmail.com

Education/Marketing ChairRyan Halfman Phone: 517-281-2936 blacklabelwhitetails@gmail.com

Board Member--John Wilson Phone: 989-324-0543 platinumwhitetails@yahoo.com

Secretary / Treasure- Tricia Davis Phone: 231-878-2229 (Cell) pedavis69@gmail.com

Fundraiser Chair– Robert Sergi, Jr. Phone: 781-775-6288 robert@legendsranch.com

Legislative Chair- Gina A. Bozzer Phone: (989) 619-3495 gina@stormwhitetails.com

Board Member-- Kyle Eckert Phone: 734-395-8461 kyle@br2salesandservice.com

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MEMBERSHIP: C/O Dennis & Debbie Simpson 42421 Bemis Rd. Belleville, MI. 48111 734-395-8461 debbie@simpsonwhitetails.com

DREAMER @2

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John Ervin & Mary Ann Stoltzfus 717-768-3336 WWW.ROCKYRIDGEWHITETAILS.COM

UD FOM PA C FU N D As of this writing, the November 3rd General Election is less than two months away. In addition to the Presidential, U.S. Senate, Congressional, and two Michigan Supreme Court elections, all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are up this year, while the Michigan Senate is not up until 2022. This November, voters will elect at least 23 newcomers to the state House of Representatives to fill open seats or replace legislators who are term limited.

Republicans currently control the House 58-51, with one vacancy.

With Election Day fast approaching, it is more important than ever to ensure our voice is heard in Lansing. The old saying “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu” is more appropriate now than ever. UDFoM has taken steps in recent years to step up our direct advocacy at the Capitol, and we have been successful not only in stopping legislative attacks on our industry, but in building and strengthening relationships with policymakers as well.

I am pleased to report that since establishment of the United Deer Farmers of Michigan DEER PAC (Political Action Committee) in 2018, we have raised roughly $12,000 to support candidates for public office who recognize the importance of our industry. Thank you to everyone reading this article who has helped to organize a facility tour, contributed to the DEER PAC, or who has taken time to

personally support a local candidate for public office who supports us. Your time and generosity ensure our voices are heard in the political process.

As this election is incredibly important to our industry and the future of our state, please consider making a donation to the DEER PAC to support our ongoing efforts to ensure your voice is heard. Additionally, if you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to get to know your local candidates and let them know how much our hundreds of family-owned businesses contribute not only to their local economy, but to Michigan’s overall economy as well. Now is the best time to get their attention, as many candidates simply do not know what they do not know and will be eager to learn more about what you do and how decisions made in Lansing directly affect the work you do every day.

If you would like to make a donation to the DEER PAC or learn more about our efforts, please do not hesitate to give me a call at (517) 482-5000. It is truly an honor to represent UDFoM in Lansing, and thank you for the opportunity to be of service.

Matt Kurta Karoub Associates

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G2 WHITETAILS EMBRACING A PASSION, SOLID FUTURE By: Gail Veley

O

n an early beautiful cold, crisp northern Michigan morning, Shelbi Koronka rises and reaches for warm clothes. Grabbing her camera along with her coat, she heads out the door accompanied by eager Australian shepherds to greet the driving force behind her life. Whitetail deer. The deer in turn come up close and greet her, too, in anticipation of breakfast. But wait.

First, she snaps a picture of this beloved sight, one she never tires of.

Nor her husband Garrett.

And although they are both relatively new to the deer industry, Shelbi and Garrett know the secret to deer farming success lies in breeding quality genetics. They leaned heavily on Brad and Paula Sides of Side by Side Whitetails and Gina Bozzer and Chris Hayes of Storm’s End Whitetails to learn the ropes along the way, working at both places as well as boarding deer there. This experience, along with Garrett’s cattle background and Shelbi’s horse background gave them insight into what deer farming could be like. Through it all, Shelbi and Gina forged a strong friendship and are still very close today. “She is my person and I strive to be more like her,” Shelbi said.

Garrett, who had been working recently in North Dakota, has moved back home and is excited to have a more hands-on role with the farm, now that he is able. “We are both thrilled for that!” he said. They are striving diligently to cater to the stocking end of the industry with both typical and non-typical deer while infusing genetics from a Storm Express son, G2Stormy their breeding buck, into their herd. This past spring was a phenomenal one for G2 Whitetails with a 67% buck to doe ratio (14 of their 21 fawns born were bucks). Helping to further perpetuate their farm genetics and inventory are does from the Chopper, T-Rex, Big Stitch, and VooDoo Magic lines.

Focused on producing looks as well as inches, the Koronka’s hope to sell twoyear-old bucks between 180 and 200+ inches this coming year.

When they have spare time, both Garrett and Shelbi enjoy gun and bow hunting. Future farm goals include high fencing the entire 40 acres and expanding their handling facilities.

They are also very grateful to be a part of such a welcoming and passionate industry. “I think the biggest thing is that we could not be here without all the other people in the deer industry who have helped us and even continue to help,” Shelbi said. “It’s just a very close-knit group. Thank you, United Deer Farmers of Michigan, for the chance to pursue this. It’s very rewarding to be a part of it.”

Garrett and Shelbi Koronka 989-390-0003 & 989-370-0900 Email : g2whitetails@gmail.com

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D&K Design 2020 State Association Newsletter Advertising Rates

2018 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMERS ASSO P.O. Box 463

Evans Mills, New York 13637

Phone: 1-315-778-1412

E-mail: nydefa@nydefa.o

All memberships renew in March.

Please send your check, payable to NYDEFA, to the address above.

• Indiana Deer And Elk Farmers Association

• QuestPlease For Michigan’s Best check the appropriate box. If one is not checked, the “Do not publish” will be used ◊Publish my information .

• Kentucky Alternative Livestock Association

• Southeast Tines: (Florida)

Name: __________________________________________________ Spouse/Partner:______________________________

Farm/Firm:_______________________________________________________________________________________________

• Missouri Deer Association

Address: ________________________________________________________________________ County:________________ • Upper Mid-West (SD, ND, IA, IL, MN)

City: _____________________________________________________ State: _________________ Zip: ___________________

• New York Deer and Elk Farmers Association

• Whitetails of Louisiana Business Ph.: (______) _______-___________ Home Ph.: (______) _______-___________

• Pennsylvania Deer Farmers Association

FULL PAGE:

• 4 issues (discount price/issue) $187 Total: $748 • 2 issues (discount price/issue) $209 Total: $418 • 1 issue $325

• Whitetails of Oklahoma

*Urgent updates are sent electronically, which allows us to expedite communication and decision making. Please provide.

HALF PAGE:

• 4 issues (discount price/issue) $103 Total: $412 • 2 issues (discount price/issue) $121 Total: $242 • 1 issue $193

(per state association)

Feature Farm Story:

Includes: Journalist interview, 1 page story write-up, client edits, pictures to go with story.

Discounted Bundle: Base cost: $160 + place in 10 state books: $1496 Total: $1656.00 OR: Base cost: $160 + $187 per state, books of your choice.

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Type(s) of cervid: ________________________________________________________________________________________

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Multiple State Newsletters for 1 Year:

Veterinarian’s Name: _________________________________________________________ Phone:(______) _______-

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Reach over 2300 farmsAdditional and businesses ~ Thank you for your 14 State Associations • 40 Issues forsupport!

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FULL PAGE: $1374.00 / quarter Quarterly Newsletter

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HALF Northeast PAGE: Cervid Marketing Cooperative Numerous sales, marketing and network $768.00 / quarter

N NYDEFA National support and assistance

NY Farm bureau support, assistance and

STRENGTH(Half IN NUMBERS – A UNIFIED VOICE! (Full Page Size: 8.5 x 11 with .1875 bleed, live area 8 x 10.5) Page Size: 8 x 5)

These magazines are published and distributed by the D&K Design team. All advertising sales income goes to pay for the production, printing and distribution. Thank you for your support so that we can get the news out to the memberships!

Through each state association magazine, we can continue to come together, learn about each other and plan goals for the coming year. We encourage all who advertise through D&K Design to reach out and renew their annual advertising contract and consider investing in space for their very own Feature Farm story. Journalist Gail Veley has a talent unlike no other when it comes to bringing a farm or business “to life.”

If you are new to our advertising program, contact us for all the details.

Our team stands ready to help your farm or business stay front and center when it comes to your long or short-term goals.

If you are ordering 4 or more ad placements with the multiple issue discount, you may pay all up front by check and receive a 5% discount.

(3% discount when using a credit or debit card) If you would like to enjoy the convenience of automatic billing quarterly, we will simply take your credit card information and set you up on 4 payments. Upon approval, we will automatically charge your credit card for the amount indicated and your total charges will appear on your credit card statements quarterly and your receipt will be emailed to you.

Ads can be changed for each issue as long as they are received by the ad deadline date.

If you are interested in advertising contact: Janette Diaz, Sales and Administration: Phone or Text: 435-773-1066 Email: janette.dkdesign@icloud.com Kathy Giesen, Publisher: Phone or Text: 435-817-0150 Email: deerassociations@mac.com

D&K Design • 1812 W. Sunset Blvd. Ste. 1-515, St. George, UT 84770 • Fax: 435-574-1937 Visit deersites.com to view all of our advertising deadlines

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HUNTING PRESERVES

OPERATING “OUTSIDE OF THE BOX” IN A COVID-19 WORLD

M

By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by ILDFA any hunting preserve owners are expanding their audience and marketing to a wider variety of customers such as non-hunting families in our current COVID-19 world. While offering a topquality hunt may still be the main focus, many preserves have begun offering weekend lodge rentals and wedding venues as well as family vacation opportunities.

Given that COVID-19 is harder to contract outside in fresh air, families who didn’t officially vacation this year may find a get-away within their own home state more attractive and safer.

Car travel and amenities found within one’s home state may be the deciding factor for families vacationing later this year, where hunting need not be on the agenda. However, being outside in nature and among whitetail deer and other wildlife species could be.

• Promote your preserve for use in the “off-season.” This could help ease the potential financial strain felt this year by many preserve owners.

Photo: Bowmans Xtreme Whitetails

While some hunting preserve owners are hoping this year turns out as lucrative as 2019, other preserve owners, such as Jerry Stafford of Samson’s Whitetails Mountain in Vienna, Illinois have not experienced a significant decline of hunters as a result of COVID-19. Stafford feels his business this year is still on track with the amount he had last year.

However, in an effort to help all preserve Many preserves also offer the ability to owners retain or find new customers, he hunt year-round and provide animals offers the following advice: such as rams for this opportunity. Unlike whitetails, whose antlers are at their • Promote family activities offered at peak in the fall and shed in the spring, your preserve such as fishing. rams keep their horns year-round, • Highlight selling features such as home- Stafford explained. By additionally cooked meals, the appeal of the local offering year-round hunts, executives culture and periods of favorable weather. with the inability to travel for extended periods can pick and choose the most • Emphasize the ability to vacation far convenient time for them, adding to your away from crowds in private cabins or revenue base. And as with all preserves, lodges. the provided conveniences combined with the likelihood of harvesting a highADDITIONALLY, WHEN SEEKING OUT NEW HUNTERS quality animal can be a huge attractant to customers. Having been in the FOR YOUR PRESERVE: business for 36 years, Stafford knows how true that statement is.

• Emphasize the selection of animals available whether native or exotic.

“We know you want to be taken care • Accentuate the ease and convenience of from beginning to end,” Stafford of having everything taken care of from said. “Everyone owes it to themselves the acquisition of the hunting permit to to experience how awesome a hunting the assistance from experienced hunting preserve is.” He also offers one final guides to the processing of the animal. piece of parting advice. “Support your • Underscore the option (if available) to local deer association and get involved. hunt one-on-one or with a group. Offer If you are a deer farmer, you better the use of preserve-owned guns and be active. We owe our livelihoods to provide target practice, if necessary, the lobbyists who fight for us. They do prior to heading out. amazing things.”

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STORM’S END WHITETAILS

SHOWCASING BIG-BODIED NORTHERN DEER By: Gail Veley

A

lthough the deer industry generates millions of dollars nationwide for the economy, Gina Bozzer of Storm’s End Whitetails feels another driving force generates the passion. “We value our animals above all else,” said Gina, who along with husband Chris Hayes, 50, own and operate Storm’s End Whitetails in Gaylord, Michigan. As deer farmers with close to six years of experience under their belts, Bozzer,46, immensely values the opportunity to be involved. Although both Bozzer and Hayes grew up riding quarter horses and loving nature, it was Hayes, an avid hunter and whitetail enthusiast, who introduced Bozzer to deer and enabled her to fall in love.

“It’s hard to pick out what I revere more,” Bozzer, a practicing attorney, said of the deer industry. “But I think for me it’s being part of that culture and the responsibilities that rise and fall on our shoulders. It took me 40

years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life and the deer is it. Even though I’m not a cold weather person and I think that’s tough, it’s still such a privilege.”

The 160 acres comprising Storm’s End Whitetails (40 acres of high-fence) is devoted solely to breeding both typical and non-typical big-bodied northern deer, while also focusing on CWD resistance. Close to 350 deer including bucks, does, yearlings and fawns thrive in the lush green Michigan landscape found on the farm. Bozzer and Hayes take pride in their sizable herd and the genetics infused into it from the likes of Federal Express, Major League, Gunslinger, Maxbo, Hardcore, Triple Crown and Fedex Royal.

decisions materialize, from watching fawns grow up and antlers grow out, is the most rewarding part for them. “People equate it to Christmas morning,” Bozzer said. “It’s pretty exciting and a tremendous amount of work. We look forward to it for months.”

While both are full-time professionals outside of deer farming, Hayes and Bozzer devote the same quality time and attention to deer farming as if it were their full-time job. They even take the time to mentor others who have aspired to be in the deer industry, such as Shelbi and Garrett Koronka of G2 Whitetails deer farm in Johannesburg, Michigan.

As Hayes and Bozzer look to the future, they feel blessed that their Storm’s End, named after a city in the efforts have enabled them to produce a herd the industry will continue to novel series “Game of Thrones,” is actively seek out. Check them out on well-known for hearty bucks such as Big Lou, Executioner and Secret Storm. Facebook!

Producing bucks of this caliber is an Chris Hayes & Gina Bozzer on-going goal for Hayes and Bozzer.

989-619-3495 “We want early maturing deer,” she Email: gina@stormwhitetails.com said. “We use A.I. and embryos with Texas and northern foundation does.”

Seeing the results of their breeding

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United Deer Farmers of Michigan Membership Application March1,1,2019 2020 –- M arch 1,1,2021 March March 2020

Memberships now run from March 1 to March 1.

Please make sure you fully complete & fill in the highlighted areas on this application or your farm or ranch will not be added to the website due to incomplete information!

Name:

Business Name:

Species Raised:

Business Address: Mailing Address: City, State, Zip: Home Phone:

Cell Phone:

Email Address: Membership status:

_____ Website: New

Renewal

Would you like to volunteer for any of the following UDFoM committees (check all that apply): Board _____Auctions_____ Education

Newsletter

Legislation

Website

Please check all that apply: 

Would you like your farm listed free on the UDFoM section of the website?



Would you like your ranch listed free on the UDFoM section of the website?



Lifetime Membership-$500.00 This will be a full registration & includes voting privileges, with a maximum of one vote per year per application.



Full Membership - $50.00 annually. When you pay $50, you will be an active member of United Deer Farmers of Michigan. This membership includes voting privileges, with a maximum of one vote per year per application.

If you would like to pay with a credit card please enter your information here:

Name on card __________________________ Card #______________________________________Exp__________ Three digit code on back_____________ Type of card______________________Signature_____________________ I hereby make application for membership to United Deer Farmers of Michigan, agreeing to conform to the Code of Ethics and Bylaws governing the Association.

Signature

Date United Deer Farmers of Michigan or (UDFoM) Debbie Simpson 42421 Bemis Rd. Belleville, MI. 48111

Make check payable to: Send application & check to:

UDFoM USE ONLY: Check #____________ Amount:____________ Date:

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21

RAISE ‘EM UP WHITETAILS AND G.E. WHITETAILS

PRODUCING QUALITY GENETICS, IMPRESSIVE FRAMES

S

By: Gail Veley

pending each hunting season right next to Legends Ranch in Bitely, Michigan for 15 years finally wore off on Nate Tacoma. His passion for whitetail, combined with his desire to raise his own deer, inspired him and his wife Amanda to start Raise ‘Em Up Whitetails deer farm in 2018 in Zeeland, Michigan. Like two excited youth, they documented the entire process on Facebook, knowing their high-fenced paradise abundant with alfalfa and clover fields, would provide the perfect home for raising deer. So much so, the words “wildlife sanctuary” are used right along with the farm name, chosen as a representation of three things: Raise up God in everything you do, raise up your family the best way you know how and raise up Whitetails! As they held onto this dream and saw it into fruition, it was in much the same manner their two-year-old son, Krew, holds onto bottles today when he helps to feed fawns.

Their decision to start the farm coincided with the same vision shared by fellow deer enthusiasts Ben and Rachael VanDort of G.E. Whitetails, who provided the acreage on their property for Nate and Amanda to create Raise ‘Em Up Whitetails at the same time G.E. Whitetails was being created. Now operating side by side while partnering on their prized shared herd, this endeavor is beginning to really pay off for both farms, which are rapidly expanding in terms of both acreage and herd size.

Today Raise ‘Em Up Whitetails and G.E. Whitetails combined are home to close to 40 deer including this year’s fawn crop, yearling bucks, does and button bucks. The Tacoma’s and VanDort’s overall plan is to cater to both the breeding and stocking end of the industry by offering both typical and non-typical deer. However, it doesn’t stop there. Their resident deer also include piebalds acquired with genetics from “Angel,” an anchor doe owned by Craig and Karen Frye of Spotted Acres deer farm.

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Nate, in realizing agriculture was his true passion, knew he didn’t want to pursue it by raising cows or chickens.

His journey instead began, like Ben’s, by researching what it would take to raise whitetails. In visiting different deer farms before beginning their own “Ben and I knew we wanted to breed for mass and big frames,” Nate, 32, said. As a result, a combination of northern genetics as well as those from Federal Express, 30 Below, Big Rig, Duramax and Gone Platinum, High Heat, The Boss, Triple Crown, Swagger, Maxbo XL and Voodoo’s Magic are found among the pedigrees of each deer that thrive on the vegetation and serene, lush, green Michigan landscape. Within the peaceful, beautiful setting of both farms is the feeling of a history steeped deep in the love of nature and the outdoors, built on land contained within a seventh-generation farm.

G.E. Whitetails, affectionately named after their “Grampa Elmer,” is proud to work alongside Raise ‘Em Up Whitetails selling stocker bucks, breeder bucks as well as top tier does.

“Rachael and I are very excited about being able to do this with our five children Samantha, Graham, Madelyn, Clarice and Annie,” Ben said. “My oldest daughter, Samantha, has really taken a real interest. She even wants to produce her very own line of deer.”

While the deer play a significant role in their lives, their faith and love of their family is at the backbone of every decision made or successful venture, Ben emphasized. “We feel incredibly blessed by God to be able to have this opportunity and have faith that it will be an amazing journey for all of us going forward,” he added.

Glad to now be a deer farmer “I was

a little hesitant at first about starting one,” Nate’s wife Amanda admitted.

“But Nate and Ben have great goals and all the passion it takes to be successful.” Future plans for Raise ‘Em Up Whitetails and G.E. Whitetails include high fencing more acreage, acquiring more deer and perhaps being full-time deer farmers rather than also working outside of the industry.

As Nate and Ben work simultaneously to further build their dreams into reality, Nate fondly remembers that it all started with an eight-point buck on a cold afternoon in late November, when he was 12 years old, hunting with his Dad. “It was the last evening hunt of the regular rifle season, and a snowstorm was coming through,” he said. “We started the afternoon hunt with no snow, and when the 8-point showed up at the end of my shooting lane there was 6 inches of snow and about 10 minutes left of legal shooting light. I shot the buck and he jumped straight up and took off. We went and looked for blood but could not find any, so we decided to follow his tracks in the snow and found him expired about 50 yards away!”

Persevering in difficult circumstances often found with hunting, can mirror the circumstances found and determination needed to make a dream become a reality. Ben, Rachael, Nate and Amanda are very grateful to all those in the industry who helped them achieve their goals and now live their dream. “We’ve just really felt like (the deer industry) is a family and everyone is really willing to help us,” Amanda said. “Thank you UDFOM for this opportunity.”

Check out both farms on Facebook!

Nate Tacoma, Raise ‘Em Up Whitetails 616-283-8154 Ben VanDort, G.E. Whitetails 616-218-9531

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MISSOURI VALLEY MULEYS

PROTECT YOUR HUNTING PRIVILEGES SUPPORT PRO-HUNTING ORGANIZATIONS By: Gail Veley • Sponsored by WOL

I

In the wake of the recent historic day on July 22nd whereby the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), hunting advocates and enthusiasts can now benefit from the single greatest commitment on record for increasing public land access and advancing conservation. In addition to providing $900 million annually to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the bill aids in completing deferred maintenance on public lands and waterways.

However, in an effort to ensure historic events such as this perhaps continue to occur and flourish, sustainable numbers of hunters must support pro-hunting organizations and actively participate in the sport. “I feel that most people take hunting for granted,” explains Daniel Thomas, President of Whitetails of Louisiana. “And there is nowhere in our constitution protecting us and saying that we have a right to hunt. The late Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia upheld our right to bear arms. But if we don’t support larger hunting groups (SCI, NADeFA, NRA) and recruit more hunters, I feel like extreme animal rights groups will have the votes to change our way of life.”

Professionals within the whitetail industry and hunters alike should share a collective concern about preserving and protecting the privilege to hunt, Thomas emphasized. By standing together and supporting local chapters of Safari Club International (SCI) and other well-known influential groups, hunting advocates have a larger voice in the outcome of defeating legislation aimed at severely curtailing hunting rights as well as curtailing the accessibility of hunting habitat.

Working to continuously protect hunters, counter false claims and misinformation about hunting while striving to educate those groups opposed to it is SCI, whose national headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. Known as the “hunter’s embassy” on capital hill, SCI employs fulltime lawyers and lobbyists that speak directly with congressmen on a regular basis in regards to advancing and protecting a hunter’s rights.

“No matter where, what or how you hunt, SCI protects your freedom to do so,” said Chip Hunnicutt, Director of Marketing and Communications for SCI. “We are not region or species specific. We defend hunting in all parts of the world. We are the only (hunting advocate group) based in Washington, D.C. and in many cases have been the only representation for hunters in a courtroom for legal cases.”

With the understanding that hunters are the oldest drivers of conservation, balance is restored in natural areas if both predator and prey numbers remain at manageable levels, Hunnicutt said. Hunters play a necessary role in this aspect while adhering to the guiding principles comprising The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. These guidelines state, among other things, that fish and wildlife are public property and as such must be taken by legal and ethical means, used for food or fur and never slaughtered for commercial use.

Standing behind the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation are groups such as the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, whose presence and action has prompted a national movement to aggressively recruit and retain hunters, Hunnicutt said. Supported by SCI, perhaps a

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more thorough understanding of the benefits of this movement would help hunting opponents ease their stance.

When animals outgrow their habitat and encroach into areas where they may not be welcome, new problems and situations can occur. By allowing hunters to manage the population of certain species in the first place, perhaps these unwelcome situations might not ever occur. And as hunters contribute to the balance of an ecosystem, any ethical participant respects and reveres any animal they harvest, always being careful not to waste any of it. At the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge located in Tallulah, Louisiana, where both the Louisiana black bear and whitetail deer exist, hunters avoid harming the black bear while playing significant seasonal roles in other areas to maintain a natural and healthy predator-prey balance.

“When you ask a hunter how their hunt went, they don’t talk about the kill,” Hunnicutt said. “They are going to tell you about their experience, and what they saw, the food they ate and the people they met. They are also willing to go into areas where others would not, to facilitate conservation.”

With 180 SCI chapters located throughout the world (140 of those being within the U.S.) finding and supporting a chapter in your state is easy to do by going on-line.

Contributions to the SCI Political Action Committees (PAC) go directly towards efforts to help elect state and federal pro-hunting, pro-Second Amendment candidates. “As a hunter, being a member of SCI is one of the most important things you could ever do,” Thomas said. “Be involved and support these organizations that help protect our livelihood.”

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