INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
April 15, 2025
Washington, D.C.
CONGRESS
The U.S. House and U.S. Senate are not in session this week.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Patrol: Volume 51
New Jersey: Statewide Fall Tukey Hunting Season is CLOSED
Alabama: Statement of Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship on HB 509 Concerning Deer Breeders
Louisiana: Pollock Man Cited for Turkey Hunting Violations in Natchitoches Parish
Louisiana: Agents Cite Houma Man for Charter Guide and Hunting Guide Violations
Outdoor Wire: Indiana Gov. Graun to Dedicate New Fish and Wildlife Area in Sullivan County
Mentions
Colorado: Colorado Coalition of Hunters, Anglers Opposes 2026 Wolf Reintroduction Repeal Efforts.
Outdoor Wire: SCI Expands Global Presence with New Office in South Africa
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 1. Safari Club International Expands Global Presence with New Office in South Africa We are proud to announce the official opening of our newest international office in South Africa — a global hub for hunting and biodiversity. This strategic expansion underscores SCI’s long-standing commitment to science-based conservation, sustainable hunting, and international advocacy. Opening an office offers a unique opportunity to further engage with African leaders, local partners, outfitters, and conservation agencies to advance the shared mission of protecting wildlife and preserving hunting heritage. The new office will serve as a regional base for SCI’s operations that fund and support projects across the African continent through the SCI Foundation — including wildlife surveys, anti-poaching programs, and support for rural communities that coexist with all game species. The South Africa office represents a significant step in formalizing SCI’s presence and leadership in the region.  2. SCI Continues Fight in Gray Wolf Litigation Last week, SCI continued its decades-long fight for sensible gray wolf management by filing its final brief in the latest round of litigation in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. SCI, NRA, Utah, and the federal government are still defending the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2020 decision to delist wolves from the Endangered Species Act throughout most of the lower-48 states. A California federal district court overturned the delisting in favor of anti-hunting organizations that challenged the delisting. SCI and NRA were the first to jointly appeal the judge’s ruling. We remain hopeful that the Circuit Court will finally put an end to unnecessary and unproductive litigation and put wolves back under state management where they belong.  3.Happening on the Hill SCI joined a coalition letter with other conservation groups supporting the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act of 2025. The bill would reauthorize the transfer of interest from Pittman-Robertson funds to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act through 2033. Read the letter here. Last week, the House Natural Resources Committee held a markup and advanced several bills, including H.R. 845, the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. This bill, sponsored by Representatives Tiffany (R-WI) and Boebert (R-CO) would delist the grey wolf, a species that has met ESA recovery goals for over two decades. SCI applauds the passage of this legislation through the Committee and looks forward to seeing it voted on by the full House of Representatives.  4. Around the States: South Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Arizona, Washington, Kansas, Colorado South Carolina: Last week, SCI Eastern States and Local Liaison Bee Frederick visited Columbia, SC to attend the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus reception. During and following the event, Frederick met with elected officials – including former SCI State Legislator of the Year Rep. Bobby Cox –, DNR staff, and partners to promote SCI and discuss priority issues. Included among the issues were pending changes to the bear hunting season and public land no-net-loss legislation. Pictured Top Left (L-R) – Bee Frederick, Sportsmen’s Caucus Co Chairs Representative Bobby Cox and Representative Heather Bauer, CSF’s Conner Barker, South Carolina DNR’s Duncan Crotwell. Texas: SCI Grassroots Engagement Coordinator, Tipton Wagner, traveled to Midland, TX to attend the Texas Trophy Hunters Inaugural Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza during the weekend of April 11- 13th. While there, Tipton engaged with current members and recruited new members to both SCI and TTHA. Picuted Top Right (L-R): Tipton Wagner, Christina Pittman, TTHA CEO, and John McLaurin, SCI President. Pennsylvania: Pittsburg Chapter President Brian Pitell attended the Pennsylvania Game Commission meeting and gave public comments supporting efforts to expand Sunday hunting in the state – specifically Senate Bill 67 – and also asked that the Commission give consideration to proactively identifying opportunities to work on mutually shared objectives like advancing the freedom to hunt and promoting conservation in the state of Pennsylvania. Pitell also spent the earlier part of the week advancing SCI’s advocacy efforts through participation in a partner organization’s Wildlife Coalition meeting and Hill Day at the Capitol in Harrisburg. Pictured Bottom Left: Pittsburg Chapter President Brian Pitell addressing the Pennsylvania Game Commission Alaska: Last week, SCI took to the halls of the legislature in the Last Frontier state for Alaska Day on the Hill, meeting with several legislative champions on issues of concern to SCI members. Pictured Bottom Right (L-R): SCI Deputy President-Elect Mike Crawford, Alaska State Senator Jessie Bjorkman and Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Chapter President Ted Spraker. Senator Bjorkman is a past board member on the Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Chapter and an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Arizona: SCI’s CEO Laird Hamberlin submitted comments on the 2025-2026 Hunt Recommendations in the Copper State in general support of the bear and mountain lion recommendations. Read the letter here. Also, in the Grand Canyon state, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission denied two anti-hunting petitions regarding banning pursuit only seasons for bears, mountain lions, and racoons and banning the use of dogs to hunt mountain lions, and bears, as well as other mammals. SCI Arizona Members took action though our HAAC showing their support for denying the petitions and were heard! Washington: Evergreen State Governor Bob Ferguson nominated for re-appointment two current pro-hunting commissioners and replaced an anti-hunting commissioner with a new nominee for consideration by the Senate. Kansas: Sunflower State Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a controversial bill that pitted sportsmen against each other and would have limited nonresident waterfowl hunters to hunting three days on public lands per week. The bill stems from complaints of continued overcrowding on very limited public property. Kansas has the lowest percentage of public property of any state in the nation. Colorado: Centennial State Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 3, despite the pleas of hunters and shooters to reject the proposal. The bill originally started as a so-called assault weapons ban but changed into a permissive permit to purchase scheme directed at modern sporting rifles. Also in Colorado, SCI joined a coalition letter opposing Initiative Petition 35 for a variety of reasons including that the proposed effective date of suspending wolf reintroduction efforts would be December 31, 2026 and would likely not restrict the state’s ability to comply with the current mandate of reaching sufficient minimum breeding pairs to establish a sustainable population. Read the letter here. |
 5. Guides and Outfitters Association of British Columbia SCI was in attendance at the Guides and Outfitters Association of British Columbia annual meeting, held in Kelowna during the week of March 27, engaging with SCI partners and members. Pictured (L-R): Scott Ellis CEO of GOABC, SCI Deputy President-Elect Mike Crawford, and Michael Young, President, GOABC.  6. XIV Hunting, Fishing, and Local Products Fair in Picos De Europa In the North-West mountains of Picos de Europa bordering the National Park, the little village of Potes (Cantabria), welcomed the XIV Hunting, Fishing, and Local Products Fair during the weekend of April 4th-6th. The SCI Iberian Chapter led by Mr. Jose Maria Losa informed hunters of the advocacy work SCI has done and challenged others in the community to advocate and defend hunting though positive messaging and outreach. The fair opened up dedicated to women in the hunting industry. In attendance for this grand opening were Regional and local authorities such as President Mrs. Saenz de Buruaga and Minister for Rural Development, Cattle Ranging, Fishing and Food Mrs. Susinos as well as the President of Royal Club of Monteros, Mrs. Bassaran and outdoor influencer Mrs. Pilar Montero. The Region of Cantabria is the frontrunner in Spain to adapt legislation for hunting and hunters, although the National Park of Picos de Europa occupies a large part of the territory where hunting and fishing is strictly forbidden. The wolf is a major concern for the local farmers who try to maintain centuries-old traditions. Among the activities happening during the fair, a panel on “The Wolf: Why Are They Cheating Us?” was organized. The panel was moderated by Mr. Celada, the Director of the National Park of the Picos de Europa, Mr. Serdio, Director General of Mountains and Biodiversity, Mr. Jose Maria Losa, SCI Iberian Chapter President, and Juan Magaz, SCI EU liaison. During the presentation the panel explained the wolf situation on regional and national levels regarding proposed legislation to change the legal protection status of wolves in the EU Habitats Directive.  7. Post of the Week @official_sci Chris Tymeson, SCI’s Deputy Director of Advocacy, traveled to Mexico where he caught this incredible Barracuda. |
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