TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION PARTICIPATES IN THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON NORTH AMERICAN WILDLIFE POLICY
(Reno, NV) Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) and its membership were represented last week at the White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy. The 2008 Conference marked the 100th anniversary of the original Governor’s Conference on Conservation convened by President Theodore Roosevelt. Executive Order #13443: Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation was signed by President George W. Bush on August 17, 2007. This Order directs Federal agencies “to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat.” In addition, the Order calls for the coordination of efforts of the Sporting Conservation Council Federal Advisory Committee, state fish and wildlife agencies and the public to establish policy which respects state management authority and private landowner rights. Measures to preserve our hunting heritage through youth programs were a priority topic of discussion as well.
Over 500 representatives of various NGO’s, state and federal agencies, landowners and national conservation organizations were in attendance. Speakers included Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States, Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior, Ed Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture, James Connaughton, Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Jim Gibbons, Governor of Nevada. Vice President Cheney specifically addressed increased incentives for landowners that allow public hunting access to their property as part of the Conservation Reserve Program.
“Executive Order #13443 and this conference are critical in addressing, among other issues, declining hunter participation, urbanization, and conservation issues.” states Joe Betar, Chief Operating Officer, TTHA. “This conference and others will set policy on how we manage wildlife in our country for the next 10 years. We are here because the issues being discussed effect our membership and all sportsmen and sportswomen. We had the opportunity to weigh in on the issues on behalf of our membership.”
The conference allowed attendees to provide input in helping to develop a 10-year strategic plan for recreational hunting and wildlife conservation. The main topics to be discussed are: 1) Improving and enhancing the American system of wildlife conservation funding; 2) wildlife habitat conservation; 3) perpetuating hunter traditions: access to public and private lands; 4) preserving the tradition of hunting: education, recruitment, and retention; 5) federal, state and tribal coordination; 6) climate change and wildlife effects and 7) energy development and wildlife conservation.
TTHA strives to unite all segments of the hunting community for the dissemination of information and joining of energies to promote and protect our hunting heritage. Founded in 1975, TTHA is a membership-based organization. Its bimonthly magazine, The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters, is available through membership and newsstands, the award-winning outdoor television program, The Journal of the American Trophy Hunters, airs on the Outdoor Channel. In addition, TTHA hosts the Hunters Extravaganza® outdoor expositions, renowned as the largest whitetail hunting shows in the South. For membership information, please join online at www.ttha.com or contact TTHA Membership Services at (877) 261-2541.
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