Speech: 30th Anniversary Convention of the Safari Club International

March 22, 2002

Thank you, Ron, for that kind introduction. And thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for welcoming me to this grand event.

Having spent my first two months struggling with issues in Washington, it is truly refreshing to be here in Las Vegas among so many wonderful people who celebrate hunting . . . and who take their hunting seriously. It is also a tremendous honor to have been selected by President George W. Bush and Secretary Gale Norton to serve as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director.

I'd like to share with you some observations about hunting that I've made over the years, not only as a hunter, but also as a wildlife manager.

In this room, we know that hunting is about more than bringing down a deer, a turkey, or something more exotic. It is, in many ways, about a spiritual experience that teaches us about ourselves, about each other, and about nature. In our hearts, we, as hunters, develop a deep respect for the natural world.

In the 1800s, when here in the United States, we began to see widespread wildlife population declines, the hunting community saw what was happening. Scores of conservationists and the hunting community sounded the alarm, and great men like Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot, both avid hunters themselves, decided to do something about it. With federal and state laws and regulations, and with tough law enforcement, the abuses associated with unchecked wildlife consumption were reduced, and we saw flocks of waterfowl and herds of deer rebound. And for this, the hunting community deserves a great deal of credit.

Through the years, wildlife conservation matured from predator control to wildlife restoration, to wildlife habitat management, and then to adaptive harvest management. Hunting has and will continue to be a major part of the conservation equation.

In contrast to animal-rights activists' claims, hunting is not just about making the kill. What real hunters want is a truly wild experience, with wild game. The goal is no longer to supply as much game as possible, by any means possible, but to restore and enhance wildlife habitat and thereby conserve wildlife that is truly wild.

This is the direction that the wildlife management community is moving in. At the same time, we are seeing the growing influence of other wildlife management advocates. The concerns of hunters remain vitally important, but they now vie with other constituencies in exerting influence over wildlife management priorities.

The conservation mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has expanded. As a result, the responsibilities of fish and wildlife agencies have had to grow to encompass non-game species . . . including threatened and endangered species.

The challenges of balancing the varied and conflicting views of wildlife conservation are the very issues that I find myself facing as the new Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. How do I tackle the tough issues with a divided house? The nation's conservationists – hunters, anglers, trappers, farmers, ranchers, and landowners must unite to advance conservation. In today's environment, conservation involves all citizens focused on sustaining our American traditions and our hunting heritage.

There is hope to advance our goals, and Interior Secretary Gale Norton calls it the 4 C's – communication, cooperation, and consultation . . . all in the service of conservation. It is a concept that President Bush has made a strong commitment to, requesting a hundred million dollars in his 2003 budget proposal for a new initiative called the Cooperative Conservation Initiative, or CCI. This initiative will provide a comprehensive approach providing resources for landowners, communities, federal, state, and local governments, and industry to undertake innovative land conservation projects. By advocating sound land management techniques, this program will benefit wildlife.

Innovative funding programs are a source of hope for the future. A non-financial approach simply involves strengthening the bonds between wildlife managers and the hunting community. It is undeniable that the sportsmen and women of this country have provided the financial and political support for the major conservation successes of this nation. Yet I recognize that the Fish and Wildlife Service's relationship with the hunting community has been strained. As Director, and a hunter, I am committed to improving this relationship. We cannot and should not abandon those who first helped establish the Service, those who supported the Service through the years, and who now desperately want to continue to be a part of our efforts. Hunters and wildlife conservation are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other.

That is why youth, woman, and minority hunting recruitment programs are so important. In Kansas, I developed a hunting recruitment program called, "Pass It On," as in pass on the hunting tradition to future generations. Although the Pass It On program is still relatively new, I am very excited about the progress that has been made so far and also about the future of the program.

I am also encouraged to see Safari Club International taking a leadership position in student and teacher education and youth hunting programs. Your efforts are impressive. There is a lot more to be done to engage young people in the sport of hunting. Preseason youth hunts on public lands, hunting mentors, shooting sports programs, and hunting skills' workshops advance recruitment. The private sector should also be involved. Corporate partners can help by donating loaner gear – calls, decoys, waders, camo clothing, guns, blinds, stands, and safety items – to youth programs. Our only hope to pass on our hunting heritage is today's youth. The best way to get them involved and committed to wildlife conservation is by providing them the practical, spiritual and social connection with the natural world that comes from the hunt.

What will the future of hunting and conservation hold? It is all up to us. I challenge you to pass it on! It keeps me going and I hope it does the same for you. Thank you very much.