INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
May 20, 2025
Washington, D.C.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Colorado: Colorado Gray Wolf Mortality
Louisiana: Louisiana to hold Public Meetings on Wild Turkeys
Connecticut: Bear Hunt Could be Possible After Key Vote
Outdoor Life: Ludicrous Proposal – Keeping Grizzlies on the Endangered Species List
Wilds Sheep Foundation: Screw Worms – Time to Act
Florida: Man Bitten by Bear
Archery Trade Association: Archery Excise Tax Legislation
1. SCI Annual Lobby Day
SCI completed our most impactful Lobby Day to date. Held on May 15th in Washington, D.C. over 100 SCI members, chapter leaders, and policy advocates from across the country convened on Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and key policymakers in a unified effort to defend the freedom to hunt and promote sustainable-use conservation.
With over 200 meetings across both chambers of Congress, this year’s Lobby Day shattered previous participation records and amplified SCI’s influence on critical issues.
“SCI’s presence in Washington has never been stronger,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of Safari Club International. “Our grassroots strength combined with our professional advocacy team continues to be the gold standard in representing hunters’ rights. This year’s Lobby Day proves that when our members speak, lawmakers listen.”
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 2. SCI Names D.C. Office Building After Longtime Hunting Advocate, Dr. Gerald Warnock With heartfelt thanks, Safari Club International is proud to name its Washington, D.C. office building after Dr. Gerald Warnock. Dr. Warnock has been a lifelong supporter of SCI’s hunter advocacy and wildlife conservation work in the U.S. and across the globe. His unwavering support and dedication to SCI will make a lasting tribute to the future of hunting. Look out for invitations to our many events at the Hunters’ Embassy, located in the Warnock Building! |
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| 3. Proposed Grizzly Bear Listing Undoes Years of Progress Last week, SCI submitted a comment in opposition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s new approach to the listing of grizzly bears across the lower 48 states. Since 1993, the Service and its state and private partners have strived to recover individual grizzly bear populations, called Distinct Population Segments. Several of those populations have surpassed recovery criteria and are no longer threatened. In its newly proposed rule, the Service seeks to revise its recovery objective and to declare a new Distinct Population Segment of bears that spans Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. This action follows the Service’s denial of petitions to remove the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide grizzlies from the Endangered Species Act lists and turns against 40 years of grizzly bear regulation. SCI’s comment objects to this change as unwarranted and because the Service’s justification for the proposal likely violates federal law. If the Service goes forward with the rule, SCI’s comment requests additional special regulations to allow take for hunting. Grizzly bear conflicts, especially in Montana and Wyoming, are significant because grizzly bears have well-exceeded recovery goals. The Service needs to authorize limited take for grizzly bear hunting to manage these conflicts. SCI’s comments request the Service withdraw the proposed rule and restore trust with the states and stakeholders who have supported grizzly recovery for generations; and the Service should reconsider and approve the petitions submitted by Montana and Wyoming to delist their recovered grizzly populations. Read the Letter Here |
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| 4. Lieutenant Colonel Mark Nutsch Served as Keynote Speaker at SCI’s Presidents Dinner Lt. Col. Mark Nutsch, a decorated Army combat veteran, served as the Keynote Speaker at SCI’s President’s dinner. Lt. Col. Nutsch discussed overcoming the challenges of being one of the first combat units on the ground in Afghanistan post 9-11, and also his subsequent entrepreneurial efforts. Lt. Col. Nutsch is the former commander of the first Green Beret unit into Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His team’s story was depicted in the film “Horse Soldiers.” Lt. Col. Mark Nutsch received a Bronze Star with valor for his courage and leadership. He is now a consultant for Army Special Operations and has co-founded Horse Soldiers whiskey distillery with his former teammates. |
| 5. SCI Hosts Reception to Honor Sen. John Curtis as Federal Legislator of the Year and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as Governor of the Year On Wednesday, May 14, SCI hosted a reception in the Hunters’ Embassy to honor our Federal Legislator of the Year and Governor of the Year recipients. Both the Senator and the Governor have been champions of the outdoors and staunch supporters of SCI’s mission of hunting advocacy and wildlife and habitat conservation. The embassy was packed with those celebrating the Senator’s and Governor’s successes, including a dozen members of Congress, embassy representatives, representatives of state and federal agencies, and leaders of SCI and other conservation organization. SCI looks forward to working with the Senator and Governor for years to come to protect our freedom to hunt! |
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| 6. SCI Congratulates Kate MacGregor on Confirmation Safari Club International congratulates Kate MacGregor on her confirmation to be the Deputy Secretary of the Interior, following a successful vote in the United States Senate. “Kate MacGregor has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the vital role that hunters and sportsmen play in wildlife conservation,” said W. Laird Hamberlin, CEO of Safari Club International. “Her leadership and dedication to responsible land and wildlife management make her exceptionally well-qualified to serve in this role. SCI looks forward to continuing our work together to ensure that conservation policy is guided by sound science and supports access and opportunity for all hunters.” MacGregor brings years of experience to the position, including senior roles within the Department of the Interior and on Capitol Hill, where she championed policies that balanced conservation goals with the responsible use of public lands and natural resources. |
7. Around the States: FL, CT, WI, NV
Florida: Support a regulated black bear hunting season in Florida!
Florida’s black bear recovery is one of the great wildlife success stories in North America. From just a few hundred bears in the 1970’s, their population has surged to well over 4,000 today. This remarkable recovery is a testament to strong conservation practices, put in place by dedicated biologists with a clear vision of long-term sustainable bear population management, including through regulated hunting. It is time for Florida to take that next step by instituting a regulated hunt that will help to sustainably manage the population. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will vote on the proposed Bear Hunting Options on Wednesday, May 21, at their meeting in Ocala. The full agenda for the meeting can be found here. Read the Agenda Here
Connecticut: Last week, Senate Bill 1523 (An Act Concerning the Taking of Wildlife that Damage Crops or Black Bear that Injure or Kill Livestock) overwhelmingly passed the full Senate as amended on the Senate floor. The revisions to the bill now allow for a depredation permit for any intruding bear and essentially extends the existing law, allowing citizens to shoot a bear that is an immediate threat to themselves or their animals. The amendments also give the Governor authority to order the state wildlife department to promulgate regulations for a future bear hunt. The department has continually advocated for the need for a regulated hunt, due to increased conflicts with the rapidly expanding bear population. SCI strongly supports this effort. The bill now heads to the House for further consideration.
Wisconsin: Last week, SCI’s Eastern State and Local Liaison Bee Frederick and SE Wisconsin Bowhunters Chapter President Dan Trawicki traveled to Madison, Wisconsin for a Lobby Day with conservation partners in support of a regulated sandhill crane hunting season. SCI joined Delta Waterfowl, the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, Ducks Unlimited, and others in meeting with elected officials in support of Senate Bill 12 and Assembly Bill 117. These bills, formed through the Legislative Study Committee process this past year, would assist agricultural producers in preventing damage to corn crops from sandhill cranes, authorize the hunting of sandhill cranes, and increase hunting surcharges that support payments for crop damage caused by wild animals. SCI and its Chapters will continue to actively engage on this issue and heavily support this legislation.
Nevada: SCI joined a coalition letter opposing Assembly Bill 245. AB 245 would prevent the possession of a centerfire shotgun or rifle by an individual under the age of 21, severely hampering recruitment of new hunters in the Silver State. Read the Letter Here
8. Happening on the Hill:
SCI joined an American Wildlife Conservation Partners letter in support of the introduction of the Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act, which will address the critical issue of foreign manufacturers avoiding the federal excise tax on sportfishing and archery equipment through online marketplace facilitators. Read the Letter Here
Yesterday, Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced a bill to address one of SCI’s top priorities, the Outdoor Recreational Outfitting and Guiding Act. This bill removes burdensome restrictions for guides and outfitters, excepting them from labor regulations detrimental to seasonal outdoor businesses. The bill aligns with President Trump’s March 14 Executive Order, which directs the withdrawal of a labor regulation that imposes similar wage and hour requirements on outfitting companies operating on federal lands. SCI thanks Rep. Owens and Rep. Moore for their leadership on this commonsense legislation. We look forward to working with Congress to see this bill passed. Read More Here
 8. Photo of the Week Over 100 SCI Members strong on the steps of the Capitol! |
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