September 24, 2007

There are a number of organizations founded by hunters and by those interested in preserving wildlife populations and habitats. One of the oldest and most well-known organizations is Ducks Unlimited. Another internationally recognized hunters’ conservation organization is Safari Club International.

Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife and people. It currently has approximately 850,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.

Ducks Unlimited was founded by Joseph Knapp in 1937 in the United States as a result of concern by himself and other like-minded influential business people about the loss of wetlands as habitat for waterfowl and the impact this would have on waterfowl hunting.

DU has become a leader in habitat preservation and has conserved more than 11.6 million acres of waterfowl habitat in North America. DU partners with a wide range of corporations, governments, other NGOs, landowners and private citizens to restore and manage areas that have been damaged and to prevent further degradation of existing wetlands. DU is also active in working with others to recommend government policies that will positively influence wetlands and the environment. DU generates $200M in revenues each year, 87 percent of which goes directly toward habitat conservation. Their sources of revenue include federal and state habitat reimbursements (32 percent), conservation easements (27 percent), sponsors and members (25 percent), major gifts and donations (11 percent) and royalties/advertisement (5 percent). By its efforts, DU attempts to benefit biodiversity, water quality, the environment and the economy in the areas in which it is active.

Safari Club International
Safari Club International is an international organization composed of trophy hunters and supporters of hunting. The organization claimed approximately 47,000 members and 180 chapters worldwide in 2005.

SCI was founded by trophy hunter C.J. McElroy, who was eventually forced to resign his leadership role. McElroy has 335 hunted animals listed in SCI record books, including African elephants, Pacific walrus, southern white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, Scimitar-horned oryx, addax, hippopotamus, pygmy hippopotamus, dama gazelle, polar bear, African lions, bengal tigers, wolves, leopards, jaguar and others. Some of these species have become endangered and can no longer be hunted in their native habitats.

In 2007, SCI elected a new president, Dennis Anderson, of Anaheim, Calif. Anderson has hunted in Asia, Africa, Europe, the South Pacific and North America, completing the “North American 29” in 2003. Anderson has reported hunting a polar bear, ibex, gazelle, roe deer, wolf, Asian elk, bighorn sheep, rhinoceros, bontebok, rhebok, vaal, reedbuck, lynx, elephant and hyena.

– Source: Reference.com