U.S. House Rejects Polar Bear Hunting Ban

U.S. Sportsmen work to defeat amendment

(Columbus) – The nation’s sportsmen have stood up on behalf of polar bear conservation. Congressmen have refused to impose restrictions on big game hunters that would have crippled polar bear conservation.

On June 27, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated a last minute amendment to HR 2643, the House Interior Appropriations Bill, which would have banned the import of polar bear trophies. Voting 188 to 242, the House turned down anti-hunters’ efforts to prohibit American big game hunters from pursuing healthy, sustainable polar bear populations in Canada.

“It appears U.S. representatives recognized that the effort to ban Americans from polar bear hunting is baseless from a conservation standpoint,” said U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Senior Vice President Rick Story. “Science that shows polar bear populations are at historic highs and that there are no imminent threats to the healthy, huntable populations.”

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance worked along with the National Rifle Association and other sportsmen’s groups to help defeat the amendment. The American Wildlife Conservation Partners sent a letter of opposition signed by many of its members to all congressional offices.

American sportsmen comprise approximately 90 percent of the foreign hunting clientele in Canada, annually pouring millions of dollars into polar bear conservation and management, not to mention the financial benefits to the local communities. American hunters are the primary source of essential funding for conservation and research that allows for continued success of the populations.

Language banning the hunt has already been included in the Senate Interior Appropriations Bill.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organization that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

My Comments:
I thank all of you that made a tremendous effort to get on the phones, sent emails and contacted their congressmen to defeat this idiotic legislation. Congressmen Inslee needs to learn about the North American Hunter Conservation Model. The reality is that the Humane Society will not stop until they stop all hunting nationwide. All hunters nationwide must share this knowledge strongly and vocally and alert everyone they know to stop giving them money and stem the flow of funds to this two-faced organization. People giving them money do not even know that they are supporting an organization working to ban hunting and stop the flow of money for conservation and the protection of habitat.

Here is the reality, there is always going to be people who are anti-hunting. I get that and understand that they have a differing view then I do. I can accept that and while I will continue for the rest of my life to share with them the good things that hunters do for the environment, for conservation, for wildlife and share the human stories, I understand they may never change their mind. That is their right! What absolutely bothers me is that organizations like the Humane Society lie to the donors about their intent with the money that is being donated to their organization. That dishonesty bothers me.

All of us most continue to support organizations like the US Sportmen's Alliance, Conservation Force, the NRA and others that are working to protect the rights of hunters. We must also continue to support the great organizations who are working to protect our habitat and the conservation of the wildlife we as hunters so dearly love.