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On January 30, 2017, over forty members of the hunting community came together for the second meeting of Crucial to Conservation (C2C). This meeting was hosted by Safari Club International (SCI) two days prior to the SCI Convention. Those in attendance included leaders of pro-hunting NGOs, as well as guides and outfitters associations from across the globe. The purpose of C2C is to unite our efforts to change the negative perception of hunters in the mainstream media. Formal presentations were given by attendees, followed by informal discussion.
John Boretsky, opened the meeting with remarks about this recently formed coalition. Boretsky spearhead the initial C2C meeting in August of 2016 and is the driving force behind the continuation and future success of this effort.
Ben Carter of Dallas Safari Club (DSC) took the floor next. He explained that DSC has invested significant resources and hired a PR firm to help change the narrative of hunters in the media. The purpose of their campaign is to discuss the good things hunters do and to get the general public to realize that hunters support conservation of wildlife. Carter advised everyone in attendance to put egos aside and work together.
Tony Schoonen of Boone and Crockett Club presented next. Schoonen asserted that any effort the pro-hunting community puts forth will only be as effective as the image hunters themselves project. Schoonen discussed the history of hunting, touching especially on Teddy Roosevelt and “fair chase” as reflecting the conservation ethics of hunting. Schoonen claims that somewhere along the way, hunters stopped talking about fair chase and ethics, and began emphasizing the kill. This shift does not help the general public’s perception of hunters. “Hunt Right. Hunt Hard. Hunt Fair Chase.” is Boone and Crockett’s two year broad-based outreach and education initiative targeting sportsmen and women to invigorate our commitment to fair chase and strengthen the image of the North American hunter.
Next, the group experienced the video “A Conservationist’s Cry,” about the beauty of Africa and the challenges facing it and hope for the continent. The Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa created this video and first shared it at CITES in September 2016. You can view the powerful video:
Scott Ellis from Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) spoke about the vocal opposition in British Columbia to non-resident grizzly bear hunting. He wants to ensure that the right people are working on these issues. He believes the science supports his position.
Craig Pattee spoke to the group about how to engage non-hunters and mainstream consumers using the media. Pattee described how traditional media is evolving to a digital landscape. Pattee then discussed what our strategy, as the C2C Coalition, could look like moving forward.
Carla Rhyant, the managing director of the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS), led the discussion on the working group for the C2C Coalition. The group had an open debate regarding a proposed mission statement for the C2C Coalition. Overall, attendees agreed that we need to move forward as a pro-hunting community and work together to change the image of hunters in the media and in the minds of the general public. SCI will stay engaged in the process. More information regarding the activities of C2C will be available in the near future.
Source: Safari Club International (SCI)
John Boretsky, opened the meeting with remarks about this recently formed coalition. Boretsky spearhead the initial C2C meeting in August of 2016 and is the driving force behind the continuation and future success of this effort.
Ben Carter of Dallas Safari Club (DSC) took the floor next. He explained that DSC has invested significant resources and hired a PR firm to help change the narrative of hunters in the media. The purpose of their campaign is to discuss the good things hunters do and to get the general public to realize that hunters support conservation of wildlife. Carter advised everyone in attendance to put egos aside and work together.
Tony Schoonen of Boone and Crockett Club presented next. Schoonen asserted that any effort the pro-hunting community puts forth will only be as effective as the image hunters themselves project. Schoonen discussed the history of hunting, touching especially on Teddy Roosevelt and “fair chase” as reflecting the conservation ethics of hunting. Schoonen claims that somewhere along the way, hunters stopped talking about fair chase and ethics, and began emphasizing the kill. This shift does not help the general public’s perception of hunters. “Hunt Right. Hunt Hard. Hunt Fair Chase.” is Boone and Crockett’s two year broad-based outreach and education initiative targeting sportsmen and women to invigorate our commitment to fair chase and strengthen the image of the North American hunter.
Next, the group experienced the video “A Conservationist’s Cry,” about the beauty of Africa and the challenges facing it and hope for the continent. The Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa created this video and first shared it at CITES in September 2016. You can view the powerful video:
Scott Ellis from Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC) spoke about the vocal opposition in British Columbia to non-resident grizzly bear hunting. He wants to ensure that the right people are working on these issues. He believes the science supports his position.
Craig Pattee spoke to the group about how to engage non-hunters and mainstream consumers using the media. Pattee described how traditional media is evolving to a digital landscape. Pattee then discussed what our strategy, as the C2C Coalition, could look like moving forward.
Carla Rhyant, the managing director of the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS), led the discussion on the working group for the C2C Coalition. The group had an open debate regarding a proposed mission statement for the C2C Coalition. Overall, attendees agreed that we need to move forward as a pro-hunting community and work together to change the image of hunters in the media and in the minds of the general public. SCI will stay engaged in the process. More information regarding the activities of C2C will be available in the near future.
Source: Safari Club International (SCI)
