The recent media flap over a former Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner’s photos and accounts of his safari in Africa predictably brought out cries and lies from anti-hunters to shut down all hunting. Overreaction is the hallmark of the antis.

In their zeal to vilify all hunters, the antis insist on spreading lies this time, as they do whenever they comment on anything.

“Trophy hunting organizations like Safari Club International are under increasing pressure to restrain the excesses of their members in the United States and abroad,” Kitty Block, acting President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States and President of Humane Society International, the international affiliate of The HSUS, stated in her recent blog about Blake Fischer, the former commissioner. “Fischer is just the latest to shoot his way into this particular hall of shame.”

“Let’s set the record straight,” said SCI President Paul Babaz. “First, Fischer is not and was not a member of SCI. So, to suggest that anything he did reflects what SCI or its members do is false, right from the start. It’s just a flat-out lie.”

SCI has a code of ethics that its members are not only required to follow, but which reflect why SCI members are proud hunters.

 

SCI HUNTERS CODE OF ETHICS
Recognizing my responsibilities to wildlife, habitat and future generations, I pledge:
To conduct myself in the field so as to make a positive contribution to wildlife and ecosystems.
To improve my skills as a woodsmen and marksman to ensure humane harvesting of wildlife.
To comply with all game laws, or the sport of fair chase, and to influence my companions accordingly.
To accept my responsibility to provide all possible assistance to game law enforcement officers.
To waste no opportunity to teach young people the full meaning of this code of ethics.
To reflect in word and behavior only credit upon the fraternity of sportsmen, and to demonstrate abiding respect for game, habitat and property where I am privileged to hunt.

 

“Ethical hunters provide a benefit to all wildlife through sustainable use conservation,” Babaz explained. “Ethical hunters strive to harvest mature males that are beyond their breeding prime to enhance the health of the overall population, much like a gardener may prune a rose bush, tree, to allow it to grow and flourish, etc.

“This, of course, is in addition to the enormous economic benefit provided by hunters who are the world’s greatest conservationists,” Babaz continued. “This can be seen in the thriving wildlife populations in countries where hunting is legal versus the diminishing wildlife populations in countries where hunting has been banned.”
SCI President Babaz then contrasted the reality of the anti-hunters.

“HSUS and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) will never publish these simple conservation facts, as they prefer to use their propaganda machines to line their own pockets, instead of using their funds to join the hunting community to combat wildlife’s most serious threat… Criminal Poaching!” Babaz said.

 

Note to members and Chapters:

If chapters or members are approached by the media to comment on this item, please do NOT respond. Please refer any media requests to: Rachel Harris at rharris@theheraldgroup.com.

 
Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.SafariClub.org, or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

International Headquarters · Washington, DC
www.SafariClub.org