South Carolina’s outdoor sporting traditions are facing serious challenges on multiple fronts: loss of habitat, invasive species, climate change, anti-management philosophies and values, mass turnover of natural resources professionals, the decreasing proportion of our population that hunts and fishes, and the sedentary and indoor-oriented lifestyles of many South Carolinians.

In spite of great successes in restoration and conservation of wildlife over the past 100 years, the changing structure of our society makes it necessary for wildlife managers and hunters, anglers and other conservationists to work together more effectively to build on the successes achieved in the past.  Further, the decade of 2005-2015 is recognized as critical for wildlife and fish as the die is being cast for the future. Against this challenging backdrop, hunters/fishers/conservationists are arrayed in literally hundreds of organizations with very similar conservation agendas.   There is no question that speaking with a unified voice will produce a more powerful and effective message.

Nationally, the early successes of Boone and Crockett Club members and the citizen-sportsmen of the turn-of-the-century offer insight into the value of unity. In the 1930s, drought and low waterfowl numbers presented a rallying point for hunters and other conservationists to take action.  In each case, people interested in wildlife could see some uncomplicated, visible threats they could combat directly. Nationally, formation of the Forest Reserves and their evolution into the National Forests, development of treaties to conserve migratory birds, passage of the Pittman/Robertson Act, and other movements came to fruition because people of like-minds, with specific objectives, worked together.

In South Carolina, there was a call to action in the early decades of the 20^th century with the widespread deforestation of longleaf pine, bottomland hardwoods and deciduous forest habitats combined with the near extirpation of species such as the wild turkey and white-tailed deer.

Starting in the 1930s, some of South Carolina’s most esteemed conservation advocates took action to eliminate politics and commit the state to professional natural resource assessment and management. History clearly demonstrates that unified efforts produce gains for conservation of wildlife and their habitats. The success of these earlier efforts is vividly illustrated by the return of wild turkey and deer throughout much of their original ranges both in South Carolina and nationally.

With this in mind, there is a need for today’s conservation leaders to unify their collective strength and apply it to common challenges and opportunities to protect water bodies, riparian zones and wildlife habitat, and the hunting, trapping, and fishing heritage.

The diverse undersigned hunting, fishing, trapping, conservation organizations, with common interests in conserving fish and wildlife habitat and in preserving hunting, trapping, and fishing are committed to identifying specific needs and working together toward fulfilling those needs.  The unifying element is a shared commitment to:

• Build unity among partner organizations and increase collective effectiveness;
• Develop a vision for conservation of fish and wildlife resources and habitats
• Develop, implement, and maintain a set of recommendations for state and federal governmental agencies, and state and federal government.
• Advocate and promote youth education related to wildlife and habitat conservation  and hunting, fishing and trapping, and;
• Collectively address key issues of common concern including:

• Terrestrial, aquatic and riparian habitat expansion, protection and enhancement,
• Fish and wildlife communities and populations,
• Hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities and access
• Scientific management of wildlife, fish and habitat,
• Adequate funding of natural resource-related agencies
• North American wildlife conservation model.
• Youth education in wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, fishing and trapping.
• Work together for the betterment of fish and wildlife populations and sportsmen’s interests according to the following guidelines.

Member Organizations