U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance

801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229

Ph. 614/888-4868 • Fax 614/888-0326

Website: www.ussportsmen.org • E-mail: info@ussportsmen.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Contact: Greg R. Lawson (614) 888-4868 ext. 214

February 12, 2009                                Sharon Hayden (614) 888-4868 ext. 226

Leading Conservation Groups Respond to Attacks on Alaska Governor

(Columbus) – A consortium of conservation organizations today sent a letter of support of Alaska’s wolf management program to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

The letter, spearheaded by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and signed by 8 other organizations representing nearly 3 million conservationists nationwide, came in  response to unwarranted attacks on the Alaska wolf management program by the animal preservation group Defenders of Wildlife (DoW). 

The attack includes a television ad featuring actress Ashley Judd. The ad is as part of an aggressive media campaign to cast public disfavor on Alaska’s scientifically valid and sound method of predator management.

The conservation groups’ letter clarifies that the Alaska program avoids game population decimation, especially for moose and caribou “through a rigorously controlled, scientifically based system.”

The letter also highlights “the critical importance of science in wildlife management” and states that “the future of effective wildlife management necessitates that emotional pleas not substitute for reasoned analysis.”

According to USSA Senior Vice President Rick Story, “It is imperative that people understand how important science is to maintaining healthy populations of wildlife species. In the absence of this program, not only would wildlife be destroyed, eventually, disease and hunger would kill far more wolves.” 

Story concluded, “It is simply wrong for an environmental group to use Hollywood glitz and glamour to hide science from the public.”

The signers of the letter include:

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
The Archery Trade Association and Bowhunting Preservation Alliance
Boone & Crockett Foundation
Conservation Force
The Dallas Safari Club
The National Shooting Sports Foundation
North American Bear Foundation
Pope & Young Club
The Texas Wildlife Association

To view the letter please visit: http://www.ussportsmen.org/Palin

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations 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.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Incorporated 1871

11250 Waples Mill Road – Fairfax, VA 22030

For Immediate Release                                                    For More Information, Contact:

January 29, 2009                                                                   Danielle Sturgis (703) 267-1595

NRA Disabled Shooting Services Plan
Open Range Day for April 11, 2009

NRA DISABLED SERVICES LAUNCHES

NRA KEWL KIDS

FAIRFAX, Va. — NRA KEWL Kids is the latest program offered by the National Rifle Association’s Disabled Shooting Services. The event is scheduled for May 2, 2009 at the Izaak Walton League in Fairfax, VA. The day will focus on outside activities for children between the ages of 8 -18 with physical disabilities and will include .22 rifle, air rifle, archery and fishing.

Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Warner expects approximately 30 participants for this event. “KEWL stands for Kids Excel Without Limits and was created to show children with disabilities that participating in the world of outdoor sports can be a reality,” Warner said. “This inaugural event is to be the pilot for what we intend to become a national program that will help other clubs to bring children with disabilities to their facilities.”

Warner has secured the support of Avery Outdoor Outfitters, Bass Pro Shops, Beeman Precision Airguns, Birchwood Casey, EPS-Doublet, Lapua, and Mars Supermarkets. “We are still accepting product donations for ‘give-aways’ and door prizes,” Warner said.

The event will kick off with safety instruction conducted by NRA-certified instructors. Participants will then head to the ranges, where Range Safety Officers and volunteers will continue the supervision and instruction. There is no fee for participants and lunch will be included.

“We are very excited to offer the NRA KEWL Kids program to the disabled community,” said Mike Krei, Director of Competitive Shooting. “Although the program was designed specifically with the needs of children with disabilities in mind, the entire shooting community stands to benefit from the experience.”

For additional information or to register for the event contact Vanessa Warner at NRA Headquarters at (703) 267-1495 or disabled-shooting@nrahq.org. To learn more about NRA’s Disabled Services, visit http://www.nrahq.org/compete/disabled.asp

for Release

2009 Ice Bowl Disc Golf Event to be Held at Big Sioux Recreation Area

BRANDON, S.D. – Try out the new disc golf course at Big Sioux Recreation Area and give to the local food bank at the 2009 Ice Bowl Disc Golf Event on Feb. 22. Registration starts at 11 a.m. with play under way at noon.

The cost is $20 per person, plus non-perishable food items. Your entrance fee includes an ice bowl disc and a $5 donation to the Brandon food pantry. Discs are guaranteed for the first 35 entrants. In addition, participants are encouraged to bring food for a potluck.

Everyone will play 18 holes. Divisions include: competitive divisions (open, advanced, and intermediate) and a recreational division for new players/families. Prizes will be awarded for winners in each division. There will also be a $2 ace pool with added prize. Additional contests to be held include a putting contest, closest to the pin, and a ham toss (closest to the ham wins the ham).

“We have 9 of the new 18 holes completed at the new Big Sioux disc golf course,” said Jason Baumann, park manager at Big Sioux Recreation Area. “So we will play these holes plus the original 9 for this event. It’s the last time these holes will be used, as the new course will be completed this spring.”

The Ice Bowl event is held in parks all over the country during January and February and allows disc golfers to raise food and money for their local food banks while getting out in the wintertime to play a round of disc golf.

“Our motto is ‘no wimps and no whiners,’ as this event will not be cancelled due to cold weather or snow,” added Baumann.

A park entrance license is required to enter the park. For more information, contact John Wheeler at 605-336-5040 or chainbangers@yahoo.com.