The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation sets North America apart in the world as it focuses on among other things, public responsibility for wildlife, democratic rule of law, and the opportunity to hunt for all American citizens. The Model over the past century, supported by sound public policies, has proven its many benefits to society while creating momentum for the American System of Conservation Funding.

Federal, state and private lands access for the purposes of hunting and recreational shooting with firearms and archery equipment are important elements of America’s outdoor heritage. Access to well-managed game populations for hunters and anglers that in-turn purchase hunting and fishing equipment, supplies, and licenses, generate excise taxes that fund wildlife restoration and sport-fish restoration programs. These programs are the main source of support for state fish and wildlife agencies to enhance and sustain the abundant and well-managed game populations. Continued access is needed to perpetuate this “American System of Conservation Funding” into the future.

Today, the tenets of the North American Model are dependent on the success of the American System of Conservation Funding. Both face many new challenges that have the potential to seriously hamper the future of hunting and wildlife conservation. Without sustained participation, education, recruitment and retention of hunters and anglers, funding and volunteer efforts for habitat conservation will continue to decline.

On May 15, 2008, Secretary Kempthorne, Secretary Schafer, and Chairman Connaughton discussed the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation with the Sporting Conservation Council.

Left to right: CEQ Chairman Jim Connaughton, DOI Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, and USDA Secretary Ed Schafer

North American Model meeting attendees

Secretary Kempthorne and meeting attendees

Left to right: Simon Roosevelt, great, great grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary Kempthorne

Left to right: Bob Model, Chair of Sporting Conservation Council and Boone and Crockett Club, and Secretary Kempthorne

Left to right: Don Young, President, Ducks Unlimited, CEQ Chairman Jim Connaughton, DOI Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Congressman Don Young (Alaska); USDA Secretary Ed Schafer; and John Tomke, Sporting Conservation Council member and Past President of Ducks Unlimited of the USA

Left to right: DOI Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Steve Williams, Sporting Conservation Council member and President of the Wildlife Management Institute, and John Baughman, Sporting Conservation Council member and former Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies