INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
June 24, 2025
Washington, D.C.
The House and Senate are in session this week
WHAT WE’RE READING
Colorado: Bear encounter near Aspen drives campground tent ban
Connecticut: Debate continues over whether to legalize bear hunting in Connecticut
Tennessee: TWRA withdraws license fee increase – legislature commits to alternative funding
Wisconsin: DNR Advisory committee recommends a sharp-tailed grouse hunt this fall
Wyoming: Cow moose shot and killed in confrontation with angler in Bighorn National Forest
Wyoming: Wyoming considering long-range hunting restrictions amid ethical debate
Outdoor Life: Hunters now have a real chance to defeat the Public Land Sales Bill. Here’s why
Four Corners SCI is not responsible for links that take you to away from our website.
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
3 Million Acres of Public Land… – Your Mountain
Sportsmen’s Alliance Uncovers “Bad Government on Steroids” Within Washington Wildlife Commission | Outdoor Life
1. SCI Opposes Public Lands Sales that Harm Our Hunting Heritage
SCI unequivocally opposes language from the recent federal budget reconciliation process proposing the sale of federal public lands in the Western United States.
SCI vigorously supports access to federal public lands for hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and other outdoor pursuits. The Senate proposal threatens this access.
The voices of conservation organizations and SCI members have been loud, and Senator Mike Lee has noted his intent to make changes to the proposal. Just last night, the Senate Parliamentarian also ruled that the proposal does not satisfy Senate rules – meaning it has to come out. Still, Sen. Lee’s most recent indications would involve selling land, albeit a significantly reduced amount, outside of the established process. It is important to continue the fight, to ensure that Congress knows that hunting, fishing, and shooting access on federal lands must be protected.
2. New Website for the SCI Center for Conservation Law and Education
As previously announced, SCI has created and now officially launched the SCI Center for Conservation Law and Education, an initiative that cements SCI’s position as the global leader in championing sustainable-use wildlife conservation and hunting rights and shaping education of the public and policymakers. No other hunting organization brings this level of firepower: a team of global in-house attorneys, dedicated state liaisons, and the iconic “Hunters’ Embassy,” SCI’s headquarters in Washington D.C. Together, this sets the standard for safeguarding hunting access, reinforcing conservation efforts, and ensuring a thriving future for wildlife.
The SCI Center for Conservation Law and Education, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, will empower SCI’s global community of 100,000+ members and advocates through education, engagement, and the opportunity to provide tax-deductible support. The Center will chart a bold new path for SCI’s legal, state, and educational initiatives. More information is available on the Center’s website at http://ccle.safariclub.org. Read the full press release here.
Breaking News: E&E News reported on this exciting new step for SCI!
3. Happening in New York
With the adjournment of New York’s General Assembly last week, two longstanding SCI priorities are officially done for this year. Neither the perennial “Big Five African Trophies Act” (Senate Bill 5014) nor an attempt to restrict the use of traditional ammunition moved forward before legislators gaveled out and headed home for the year. Unfortunately, the “Big Five African Trophies Act”/Senate Bill 5014 did pass the Senate earlier this session and will be available for the House Environmental Conservation Committee to take up next year when legislators return to Albany in early 2026. SCI has and will continue to vigorously defend against emotionally based trophy import bans that, if actually adopted, would have a negative impact on the conservation of these species, and are preempted by federal law.
4. Around the States:
Colorado: Anti-hunting forces have filed another Initiative Petition, IP 98, notwithstanding being rebuffed by the voters at the ballot box in November in an attempt to ban the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats. IP 98 is the third attempt at creating an alternative wildlife commission called the Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation Commission, one that would focus on rewilding, after having withdrawn their first proposal prior to the review and comment hearing by the Legislative Council staff. The second Initiative Petition, IP 82 was fraught with problems but has not been withdrawn yet. SCI will continue to monitor and engage as necessary. Read the Initiative Petition here.
Iowa: Senior Litigation Counsel Regina Lennox fulfilled a bucket-list item by headlining at a casino: in other words, she gave the keynote address at the SCI Iowa Chapter Banquet on Saturday, June 21. Lennox spoke about SCI’s broad advocacy program, especially its 40-year-old legal program. She informed the chapter about the breadth of SCI’s involvement in litigation. SCI’s cases range from protecting youth hunting to ESA delisting to protecting access to traditional ammo on federal lands.
Nevada: The Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife, of which SCI is a member, sent two letters and a resolution to the Congressional House and Senate Appropriations Committees addressing concerns for fully implementing the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The Northern Nevada Chapter and Arizona Chapter of Safari Club International joined the letters as signatories. Read the letters and resolution here.
5. European Parliamentary Question on Hunting
A group of 19 Members of the European Parliament submitted a parliamentary question to ban hunting trophy imports.
The European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Mrs. Jessica Roswall answered that “well-regulated trophy hunting programs can deliver benefits for both wildlife conservation” and these benefits are also for the local populations that live surrounded with wildlife. She acknowledges that the EU list of species for stricter import measures is being revised not excluding the addition of new species. Nevertheless, in her answer, the European Commission recognizes that trophy hunting “does not provide a basis for suspension of trade” if there is no adverse impact on the conservation of wildlife.
SCI applauds the European Commission, for once again staying firm in their answers to the anti hunters in Europe.
6. Women Go Hunting
In April of 2025, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation hosted a ladies’ trip for 14 women to experience a Field to Fork experience at the FTW Ranch in Barksdale, Texas. The program is an immersive experience for women of all skill levels to learn hunting skills, how to process their own animals, and how to prepare them in the kitchen. I was fortunate enough to be among the ladies participating.
For several months I dreamt about harvesting a blackbuck as my first large game mammal. During the trip, we had four scheduled hunting opportunities where we experienced all different types of hunting environments and techniques including blinds, spot and stalk, travel on foot and in a vehicle, and watching a feeder. On our final morning, my guide and I followed a beautiful blackbuck all over the property. We finally had him at 400 yards, but FTW advises against shooting at a blackbuck at more than 250 yards. Before we could get closer, he ran away. While I was unsuccessful, I experienced the full exhilaration of what a true hunting experience could be like.
Somewhat disappointed, I had a crazy idea. What if we could go on one more hunt?
7. Great News for Giraffe
The Giraffe Conservation Fund just published its “State of Giraffe 2025” report. The report contains some huge news—the populations of three of the four giraffe subspecies are increasing! In particular, the Southern giraffe, which is found across southern Africa and sustainably hunted in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, shows “remarkable growth.” The Giraffe Conservation Fund estimated 68,837 Southern giraffe, representing a staggering 50% increase in just five years. As SCI explained in our comment opposing the Endangered Species Act listing of this species, it is inappropriate to list a population that is increasing, especially when ESA listing could negatively impact successful conservation through hunting.
Hunting Heals is a humanitarian project offered by Four Corners SCI. We’re dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities by offering them transformative hunting experiences. CLICK TO LEARN MORE!
