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: Beth Ruth (614) 888-4868 ext. 214

May 16, 2007

Bill Introduced in Congress to Ban Polar Bear Hunting



(Columbus) – A bill to outlaw polar bear hunting yesterday was introduced before Congress. Sportsmen are campaigning against the measure that will wipe out the programs that provide the principal revenue for polar bear conservation.



On May 15, Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Washington, and Frank LoBiondo, R-New Jersey, introduced HR 2327 to repeal an exemption within the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which allows sportsmen to hunt polar bears in Canada and return trophies to the United States. The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the nation’s premier sportsmen’s advocacy group, helped establish the exemption in 1994. Polar bear numbers are at an all-time high, and the overall population is considered healthy by wildlife professionals.



“From a conservation standpoint, there is no reason to stop polar bear hunting – it’s all politics," said Rick Story, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance senior vice president. "All we are seeing is an early salvo in the war to outlaw the taking of all wildlife. If the federal government can amend the law to stop polar bear hunting for no good reason, then it and state governments can do the same thing with deer, turkeys, elk, you name it. All it takes is enough pressure, and we say it’s time to fight back.â€



The bill will bring Canada’s successful polar bear conservation programs to a screeching halt, as essential funding from hunting programs will immediately fall off.



American sportsmen account for approximately 80 hunts per year, which means more than $2.4 million annually into polar bear research, conservation and native communities in Canada. Canadian polar bear populations are stable and increasing, but if U.S. citizens are shut out of these hunts, a primary funding source for polar bear management will be eliminated and the now-healthy bear populations will be at risk.



Anti-hunters support HR 2327 despite the fact that it will eliminate crucial conservation funding.


“The anti-hunters are willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater,†adds Story. “They are not interested in what is best for wildlife, which would be the continuation of the hunting programs. Their goal is a hands-off approach to wildlife management, and they want hunting banned no matter what the cost.â€



In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed to list polar bears, including Canada’s stable and increasing populations, as federally threatened. The service offered the proposal to appease environmental groups over potential global climate change and shrinking Arctic sea ice, but ignored the 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 opposes the listing.



The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance urges hunters and supporters of sound conservation practices to oppose HR 2327. Contact U.S. representatives today and ask them to protect sound scientific wildlife conservation and polar bear management, oppose HR 2327. Call (202) 224-3121 or use the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org.
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.

Well, it shows what bureaucracy wants, ....they fought the polar bear importation for years, cost the Inuit and Canadain government millions to provide the data on 28 areas that the F&W demanded, and now, at the first chance, they're going to stop it. As was explained several years ago to me, this importation of trophies just creates a pile of work for some bureaucrats that would rather spend the time on long lunches.

The U.S. gov't feels they're obliged to be seen as doing something to pander to the both the anti's and the global warming crew (aren't they the same?), so a good smokescreen is to ban the importation of polar bears. This, despite the recognized fact that only one small population hasn't increased dramatically in the past 15 years. Our recognized biologists all say the bears would adapt to any warming, and the populations is now sufficient to increase harvests. The naysayers are calling for a die off! So who knows best and draws the most attention? .........The Hillory Clinton and Jane Fonda crowd!
Just the rumors that this may happen has slowed the Arctic hunts this year, and every successful hunter immediately exported their hides, killing a few of our good taxidermists that were depending upon that business.
The net result of this ban? ...........The natives will start using the quotas for themselves, assuring a much bigger kill, more booze and drug problems, and less food on the table for their families due to the shortage of cash!

"nuff said!"
~Arctic~

I don't have the reference at the moment but the photo that recently has been published showing bears on a melting iceberg is a fraud !! The photo was taken 2 1/2 years ago and in the summer when the ice melts anyway.They'll stop at nothing to "prove" their claims that the bears are becoming extinct .And in the process their dreams will come true .

I saw this comming 10 years ago. Glad I got the chance to hunt the worlds most majestic animal. What a shame.

Since when does the "U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance" have the power to tell Canada what animals they can kill? Bunch of dummies.
They can make it illegal to import them into the USA, that's it.

Thanks for posting Kathi