R. Michael DiLullo

The Who’s Who of Conservation Organizations

by R. Michael DiLullo


Wildlife and conservation groups are looking for your contributions, but are their policies concerning hunting the same as yours?

Every week I receive several solicitations in the mail and via email to join or contribute to conservation, wildlife, special interest groups and political organizations. And I am not alone, I am sure many of you are on some of the same mailing list as I am. Wildlife and conservation has become a business and raising funds, be it through contributions or memberships, has become very competitive among the countless number of special interest groups out there. Many of these groups spend millions each year on lobbying efforts to help promote their particular cause or goals. However, many of these groups are not always clear on their agendas or stances concerning hunting. Also, local affiliates sometimes differ drastically from their national’s policies concerning hunting, firearm ownership and the shooting sports.

So, who do you support and whom do you send your hard-earned money to with confidence that the funds will be used appropriately? The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has published What They Say About Hunting. The pamphlet summarizes the position of 21 major conservation and preservation organizations and will provide you with a clearer view of these groups views on hunting. To receive a copy of What They Say About Hunting, phone the NSSF at: (203) 426-1320 or write them at: NSSF, Flintlock Ridge Office Center, 11 Mile Hill Road Newton, CT 06470. You can also visit them on the web at: www.nssf.org

Supporting a group or groups whose views and opinions closely match your own is a responsible and noble thing to do. As hunter/conservationist it is our duty to support the organizations that supports our rights and our sports. But, do your homework and find out whose goals you are really going to be supporting!

One of the anti’s strategies is to dive wedges between different hunting groups (the old divide and conquer tactic). They are very happy and have accomplished part of their goal when we begin fighting amongst ourselves. Support others rights to hunt, trap or participate in the shooting sports, as they like. Remember, if they eliminate hunting bears or cougars with hounds today, they might just come after your bird dog tomorrow. The outlawing of my military style semi-auto (“assault” type weapon) will eventually lead to your auto-loading deer rifle or shotgun also being confiscated!

To find out who is funding some of these anti-hunting/animal rights organizations, the Center For Consumer Freedom has set up a website that provides information on many of the familiar and some of the lesser know groups. The Center’s site, www.activistcash.com monitors who is funding these extreme environmental and animal rights organizations and where they are spending their money. Log-on and find out which celebrities, corporations and foundations are supporting these radicals and trying to eliminate your rights and freedoms!

Below is a partial listing of some of the more well-known and more active organizations; this is by no means a complete listing! The list categorized each group as Pro-hunting; supports all legal forms of hunting. Selectively Pro-hunting; Supports only certain types of hunting usually for specific game species, usually to help better manage an area for another species. Anti-hunting; opposes all forms of hunting.

Some of these groups have names that are innocuous sounding; however, their goals are far from that. Remember to always check them out, particularly for policy differences between your local chapter and the organization’s national (official) positions before making a contribution or becoming a member. Many of these organizations are also listed in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and share funds that are not specifically designated to a particular group or organization. If you are a contributor to the CFC, make sure you designate to whom you want your money to go. Otherwise, groups who are fighting to end your rights will receive some of it!

Pro-hunting
  • American Forests
  • Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Firearms
  • Delta Waterfowl Foundation
  • Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU)
  • Gun Owners of America
  • International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
  • Pheasants Forever
  • Quail Unlimited/The Dove Sportsman’s Society (QU)
  • Safari Club International (SCI)
  • The Institute for Legislative Action
  • The Izaac Walton League of America
  • The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association
  • The National Rifle Association of America (NRA)
  • The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)
  • The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)
  • The Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA)
  • The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
  • The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS)
  • The Wilderness Society
  • The Wildlife Management Institute
  • The Wildlife Society
  • Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Alliance (TRCA)
  • United Eastern Virginia Hunting Dog Association (UEVHDA)
  • U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance (USSA), formerly The Wildlife
  • Legislative Fund of America
  • Waterfowl USA
  • Wildlife Forever

    Selectively Pro-hunting
  • Defenders of Wildlife
  • National Audubon Society
  • The National Wildlife Federation
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The Sierra Club
  • World Wildlife Fund (WWF)


    Anti-Hunting
  • Action for Animal Network
  • Alliance for Animals
  • American Humane Association
  • American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
  • Animal Defense League
  • Animal Legal Defense Fund
  • Animal People
  • Animal Protection Institute
  • Animal Welfare Institute
  • Ark Trust, Inc.
  • Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade
  • Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting
  • Doris Day Animal League
  • EarthJustice Legal Defense Fund
  • EarthSave International
  • Endangered Species Coalition
  • Farm Animals Reform Movement
  • Friends of Animals, Inc.
  • Fund for Animals
  • Greenpeace USA
  • Honor and Non-Violence for Animals
  • Human Society of the United States (HSUS)
  • Humane USA PAC
  • In Defense of Animals
  • International Fund for Animal Welfare
  • Last Chance for Animals
  • New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance (ARA)
  • Northwest Animal Rights Network
  • Oregon ProPaws
  • People for Animal Rights
  • People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
  • Physicians for Social Responsibility
  • Progressive Animal Welfare Society
  • Rocky Mountain Animal Defense
  • Society for Animal Protective Legislation
  • The Natural Resources Defense Council
  • The Ruckus Society
  • United Animal Nations
  • Wildlife Conservation Society


    Eco-Terrorist and Underground Groups
    Since the attacks of September 11th 2001, Congressional hearings have been on-going covering every conceivable topic concerning terrorism and protecting our nation, its citizens and our interests. In one such hearing on “Eco-terrorism and Lawlessness in the National Forests” it was revealed that the groups listed below have committed more than 600 criminal acts and cost the American taxpayers in excess of $43 million since 1996. The FBI considers these groups to be the most dangerous domestic terrorists active in the U.S. today!

  • Animal Liberation Front (ALF)
  • Earth First
  • Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
  • The Justice Department (not to be confused with the U.S. Justice Department)


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