INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
August 12, 2025
Washington, D.C.
Congress
The House and Senate are in Recess
WHAT WE’RE READING
WHAT WE’RE READING
Arizona: Poaching case reward increases to $25,000
Colorado:Colorado Gray Wolf 2304 mortality in Wyoming
Kansas:Kansas gets four more months of nighttime coyote hunting under new regulation
Illinois:Joyce measure allowing three-year hunting, fishing and trapping license signed into law
Montana:Hunters launch appeal of gray wolf court decision
Federal Lands:Trump officials aim to divert money meant for buying wilderness land
South Africa:The recent death of an American hunter highlights the dangers of Cape Buffalo hunting in Africa
Four Corners SCI is not responsible for links that take you to away from our website.
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
Episode #205 Wildlife Politics: The Kansas Commission’s Inner Workings w/ Michael Castelli
1. Ready for Round Two? SCI and Colleagues Appeal Wolf ESA Decision
Last week, a district judge in Montana ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service erred in denying petitions to put wolves in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming back under the Endangered Species Act. SCI and our colleagues at Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have already appealed the court’s decision.
SCI has been involved in lawsuits over the ESA listing status of gray wolves since 2003. This case marks another round in the long-running fight. A number of anti-hunting organizations petitioned the Service to reinstate ESA protections for wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains states due to changes in state law that seek to increase the harvest of wolves and reduce wolf populations. Contrary to the plaintiffs’ assertions, these states have been managing wolf populations in the thousands—many times the delisting threshold of 300 wolves across Idaho and Montana. SCI and partners defended the Service’s decision that these healthy wolf populations are not endangered or threatened.
The judge—who has overturned federal wolf and grizzly bear rules in the past—disagreed. His decision sets the stage to put these wolves back on the ESA lists. However, SCI believes there are good grounds for an appeal and looks forward to making our case to the Ninth Circuit.
2. Vote on Florida Black Bears this Week
Tomorrow, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will vote on the proposed final rules for the Florida black bear hunt. If approved as proposed, the hunt will take place this December 6-28 with a total of 187 tags within four distinct Bear Management Units available through a lottery system. Additionally, the hunt would allow for all methods of take and include the use of hounds as well as bait stations. The summary memo for the proposed hunt is available online as well as the full agenda which can be found here.
SCI supports the FWC and their dedicated staff for thoughtfully crafting a science-based approach to a highly regulated bear hunt that will help to manage black bears in the state. Florida’s black bear population has grown well beyond primary habitat and social carrying capacity, leading to a record number of human-bear conflicts, vehicle collisions, and sightings in urban areas. Without responsible management, public safety and the health of the bear population are at risk.
3. SCI sends letter to Secretaries Rubio, Burgum encouraging continued participation and better implementation of the CITES treaty
Last week, SCI sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum encouraging the United States to remain a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The State Department is reportedly considering withdrawing from CITES pursuant to an Executive Order that requires review of all treaties and conventions to which the U.S. is a party. Although SCI does not always agree with U.S. positions at CITES meetings, withdrawing from the Convention would not be beneficial for trade in wildlife and would be harmful to SCI’s interests. SCI advised the U.S. to work from within CITES to reform it in alignment with President Trump’s priorities.
At the end of the year, CITES will hold its 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. SCI looks forward to working with the U.S. and many other Parties to advance sustainable use outcomes at the CoP.
Read the letter here.
3. National Shooting Sports Month
This August, SCI is proud to celebrate National Shooting Sports Month with all our members around the country. Shooting sports are a fantastic way to build skills, learn focus, and exercise Second Amendment rights. National Shooting Sports Month reminds us of the importance of supporting our local shooting ranges, welcoming first-time shooters, and expanding shooting education in all forms. As we all gear up for hunting season this fall, now is the perfect opportunity to get some target practice in, sight-in your scopes, and have fun! Read the President’s declaration in celebration of National Shooting Sports Month here.
5. Texas Trophy Hunters Association
Last weekend, Texas Trophy Hunters Association continued their Hunters’ Extravaganza tour with a successful event in Fort Worth, Texas. SCI was well represented by Federal Liaison Nick Uberti, Member Services Manager Alexis Cassidy, Membership Development Coordinator Dakota Kinsey, and Fort Worth Chapter President Jeff Kennedy among many others! The Hunters’ Extravaganza continues next week in San Antonio!
Pictured above from L/R: SCI Federal Liaison Nick Uberti, TTHA CEO & President Christina Pittman, SCI Fort Worth Chapter President Jeff Kennedy, SCI Membership Services Manager Alexis Cassidy, SCI Membership Development Representative Dakota Kinsey.
6. Happening on the Hill
Recently, Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) introduced a bill that would prohibit harvest over bait for hunters operating on federal land. SCI opposes this bill and continues to oppose all measures that limit legal and ethical hunting and encroach upon state-led wildlife management. The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Committee on Agriculture.
7. SCI, DFFE teach Uganda delegation about sustainable use
SCI, in collaboration with the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, hosted a high-level delegation from Uganda’s Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, led by Hon. Minister Martin Mugara Bahinduka. The delegation included the Commissioner for Wildlife Conservation, Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, and key staff of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The purpose of the visit was to undertake a benchmarking tour on hunting and sustainable utilization in South Africa, coordinated by SCI. The program included visits to community hunting areas, a community hunting project in Limpopo, and key components of the taxidermy industry, among other sustainable use initiatives.
During the tour, the Ugandan delegation engaged directly with South African outfitters, professional hunters, and local communities involved in the hunting sector, gaining valuable insights into the role of sustainable hunting in conservation and rural development.
8. Around the States (PA, IL)
Pennsylvania: Late last week, Pennsylvania Chapter leadership met in Benezette, PA for a focused discussion on expanding the reach, impact, and coordination amongst the 7 in-state chapters. Included among the agenda items were expanding membership, advocacy, public relations, and coordinated support of projects and charities. Chapter leaders from the Blue Mountain Chapter, Pittsburgh Chapter and Lehigh Valley Chapter were joined by one SCI Regional Representative, two SCI Directors-at-Large and two national SCI staff members at the Keystone Elk County Alliance (KECA) for the time together. Attendees enjoyed elk viewing at KECA which is one project that the chapters have collectively supported over the years with over $200,000 contributed to various special projects.
Pictured above from L-R: SCI Eastern State and Local Liaison Bee Frederick, Regional Representative Chris Muller, Blue Mountain Chapter Treasurer Mike McConahy, SCI Chapter Services Specialist Sean Jackson, Lehigh Valley President Dan Soliday, Blue Mountain President Matt Smith, Pittsburgh President Brian Pitell, and Director-at-Large Chris Gemondo.
Also in attendance, but not pictured, was Blue Mountain Chapter Vice President Trey Minskey.
Illinois: SCI sent a letter opposing House Bill 2627, which would grant the Department of Natural Resources authority to implement “rewilding as a conservation strategy” including the reintroduction of apex predators. SCI objected to any forced introduction of apex predators onto the landscape, pointing out that forced reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado has led to significant human-wildlife conflicts. The letter pointed out that reintroduction of gray wolves or other predators would create even greater challenges in Illinois. Read the letter here.
9. Women go Hunting
Vannessa Falk Lindner has hunted all around the world, experiencing dozens of cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and pursuing species unknown to most people. Over the last three years, she has entered more than 100 species in the Women Go Hunting Challenge and discovered 90 of them qualified as entries in the SCI Record Book. While she has been hunting since a young girl, she had never thought to enter her trophies in the Record Book until joining SCI’s Women Go Hunting initiative. The process of recognizing each animal she had taken and all the places she had visited to do it made her realize just how much she has accomplished and experienced as a hunter. To read her story and her message to other women hunters click here.
10. AWCP Heads to Canada to Find Answers
American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) met in Calgary, Alberta this week marking twenty-six years of conservation alliance work. Of particular note were member views that the legislative process is being hindered by significant political gridlock resulting in fewer wins. It’s unlikely that this situation will improve over the next couple of years. Conservation efforts will need to be more focused on long-term initiatives, providing federal agencies with actionable ideas and implementation strategies. Areas of special concern include wildlife migration corridor preservation, boosting CRP and EQIP funding, and access across federal lands. SCI’s Chris Everett, Chapter and Advocacy Specialist for Canada, had this to say: “Seeing the members of the AWCP come together and discuss important matters for hunters and conservation across the USA in a respectful and meaningful way makes me excited for the future of hunting. These groups working in a collaborative way means that the hunters of America have incredible voices standing up for them collectively.”
11. Picture of the Week
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!
