First off, a great big thank you to everyone who has offered to assist with the legal fees to recover my trophies from seizure by Fish and Wildlife, the generosity of the folks on this forum never fails to amaze me. I am most humbled.

I have decided to have John Jackson of Conservation Force take the case and fight US Fish and Wildlife on this. Mr. Jackson thinks that it is important to win this and set a precedent. According to him I am the first hunter to have trophies from a CITES Appendix II species seized under Fish and Wildlife's new rules. These new rules have nothing to do with CITES and were adopted by USFWS as a result of pressure from anti-hunting groups. Maybe if we are successful it will prevent this happening to someone else.

So, here is what I am thinking. I don't want to just take everyone's money. Mr. Jackson has agreed to represent me for a discounted fee of $1,250, half his normal rate. He feels that Fish and Wildlife's actions are egregious and that it is an easy case to win and will set a favorable precedent against this type of abuse in the future. There are 4 hippo sjamboks that have been seized, that means the cost of recovering, if successful, is about $300 apiece.

I was thinking that if you guys want to donate to the cause and help fight this. if we could raise $300 from the forum I will pay the other $900. If we are successful we could put the names of everyone that donated into a hat and draw a name and that person would get a genuine Zambian sjambok carved from my Luangwa River hippo. Likewise if we raised half the money, I will pay the other half, and if we are successful we'd draw 2 names of donors from the hat and they would each would get a sjambok, anything donated in excess of $600 (if that should happen) could be donated to a worthy cause (Conservation Force, NRA-ILA, SCI, etc). If for some reason giving the sjamboks away is illegal then I guess they would just show up mysteriously at the door of the winner.

What do you guys think?

Andy

I'm in for $20

I'm also in for $20

Andy, put me down for $50. Let me know where to send funds. This would be a good one to win.

I am in also. Please post a mailing and perhaps ask Saeed to post this as a sticky at the top for the length of the fundraising.
Frank

I am always on board to help fight the bunny huggers. Put me down for $20.00 and let me know where to send it.

Here's to a succesful battle by a worthy warrior!!!

I'm in for 20...

Better than the lottery!You should run this like a raffle;every 20 buys one ticket in the hat....

Send address

Dan

I'll pay the balance whatever it is. Send me an address.

Those guys can be a problem. Sorry you are having to deal with it.

I'm in for $20. Don't let the bastards get you down!

Andy,

I'll send a check after the Dallas show.

Mark

Andy....I'm in for $50 and a six pack to toast the victory!

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Blacktailer....is it the camera angle or that impala HUGE???

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Can you post where to send the check. I'm in for 20

I'll give you the $300 as it is important for me not to have to deal with shit like this resulting from stupid rules - it is simply bad for the industry. I'll give the money to Mark in Reno.

But as I've said before, ask SCI for ALL of it ... that would be something of benefit for hunters everywhere - first for hunters!

Put me down for $20.00! Always happy to join a Band of Brothers! Let me/us know where to send the $$$$$. Cheers, Luke lukeswoveland@hotmail.com

Ya...

Like SCI would open it's purse strings for anyone other than a board member....


Dan

It looks like Andy's gonna do fine with our collective donations to this cause. Hooray

for the good guys! Awaiting the address to mail check to with anticipation of victory!!!

If SCI steps up, all the better. If I read what I THINK I read posted by L.S., my hat is

off to him, and his willingness to fight for something that's big enough to be not clearly

measurable right now. Countless hunters could be affected by this issue and it must be

corrected.

woodmanDan,

A BROOKLYN BOY ay?

I've NOT seen you before as far as I recall.

WELCOME to a GREAT PLACE!

BigFiveJack

Sorry to disappoint but the small town up the Hudson about 90 from the first Red Hook in NYC...The Mid Hudson Valley across from Kingston.

But I have worked in Brooklyn back when I had a union card...And know of which you speak...

Dan

Thanks everyone, your generosity is truly humbling. I will call John Jackson back tomorrow and see if you all can just remit your donations directly to him and just denote Accurate Reloading on the memo area on your checks.

Thanks again,

Andy

I am in for $20!

Ah Heck, I'll just put $20 in with that disc I was sending you...

Give 'em Heck.

See I can be PC.

I am in for $20.

PM me with name and address to send check. I got a $20.00 with your name on it.

Andy B

Email or PM me with the address if you cannot post it. I'm in....

You guys are truly awesome

Thanks everyone!!

I have decided, on second thought, not to pursue this any further.

Thanks again for your generous offers of assistance.

Andy

quote:

I have decided, on second thought, not to pursue this any further.

Not pursue your stuff or the donations????

Neither. I haven't accepted any donations. I appreciate everyone's generosity but I'm going to let this one go.

Andy

Too bad. I was coming in for 20, also...

It would have been nice to win this one, Andy - but I surely don't blame you one little bit for your decision.

Litigation is a major PITA and not to be wished on one's friends and allies.

I sure do understand where you are comming from. As has already been stated "litigation is a pain".

But until we stand up and demand accountability how are we gonna get it?

I am very sorry that you are not going to recieve you Sjamboks though.

For those who want to help with situations like this as well as many other issues on the table right now with US FWS, donations sent to John Jackson at Conservation Force is money well spent.