| Today when one thinks of environmentalists, | | | | environment. It was widely held among |
| hunters and anglers don’t usually come to | | | | sportsmen that a true sportsman would follow |
| mind. In fact, sportsmen and women are probably | | | | these rules in both the letter and the spirit of the |
| among the last things that many would associate | | | | law. Furthermore, it was expected that game |
| with the environmental movement. And yet, | | | | would not be sold out of season for profit, wildlife |
| American sportsmen have a long history of taking | | | | would not be hunted in unreasonable quantities, |
| measures to conserve and protect the nature we | | | | and game would be caught and killed strictly for |
| enjoy. From the mid-19th century to the early | | | | the challenge of the sport and not through tactics |
| 20th century, sportsmen and women were | | | | deemed unfair to wildlife such as traps. |
| leaders of the American conservation and | | | | One organization named the Boone and Crockett |
| environmental movements, understanding how | | | | Club was co-founded by our former President |
| important it is to take an active role in preserving | | | | Theodore Roosevelt in 1887. Members of the |
| our environment in a practical and sensible way. | | | | Boone and Crockett club created the first forest |
| They understood there must be a balance | | | | reserve, Yellowstone National Park Timberland |
| between the protection of our natural resources | | | | Reserve. The members of this club set forth |
| and the utilization of those resources for the | | | | goals including: promotion of manly sport with a |
| benefit of our society. | | | | rifle; promotion of travel and exploration in the |
| The modern conservation movement began in | | | | wild and unknown as well as partially known |
| the United States in the middle of the 19th | | | | portions of the country; preservation of the large |
| century. At this time in American history, the | | | | game of this country and assist in enforcing the |
| population was beginning its shift from primarily | | | | existing laws to protect our resources; promotion |
| rural-based communities to mixed and | | | | of work to inquire and record observations on the |
| urban-based communities. Thus, as more and | | | | habits and natural history of the various wild |
| more Americans began to settle in cities, their | | | | animals; encouraging the interchange of opinions |
| appreciation for nature became an increasingly | | | | and ideas on hunting, travel, exploration, hunting |
| detached appreciation. With the population’s | | | | rifles, and related subjects. |
| expansion, America’s natural resources began | | | | In addition to forming environmental clubs and |
| to suffer from misuse and overuse. Furthermore, | | | | raising general awareness about conservation, |
| the open wilderness became fair game for | | | | American sportsmen have produced publications |
| anyone with two hands and a need for income. In | | | | such as Forest and Stream and Field and Stream. |
| other words, the give-and-take relationship | | | | On the one the one hand, these publications have |
| between man and nature that was predominant in | | | | served the sporting community by providing |
| rural communities – a relationship in which the | | | | education, dialogue, and general awareness about |
| environment was cared for so that it would | | | | hunting and fishing in America. However, these |
| continue to provide sustenance – was altered. | | | | publications have also given sportsmen and |
| Consequently, it was the American sportsman - | | | | women a voice to express to the general public |
| exploring the wilderness through new eyes - that | | | | how important it is to conserve natural resources |
| first noticed the affects of this altered relationship | | | | for generations to come. |
| in the forms of resource abuse and depletion. | | | | Indeed, it is one of the lesser-known truths in |
| After witnessing the reduction in America’s | | | | modern day environmental dialogue that the |
| natural resources, American sportsmen began | | | | conservation movement in the United States has |
| taking a stand against this environmental injustice | | | | its roots deeply planted in the tradition of the |
| by forming local environmental associations and | | | | American sportsman. America’s sportsmen |
| clubs to prevent the loss of wildlife and in order | | | | and women have for centuries enjoyed hunting |
| to restore species that had been brought to the | | | | and fishing under the conviction of a profound |
| brink of extinction. In fact, the sportsmen’s | | | | appreciation for nature and wildlife. As |
| actions were so influential that by the mid | | | | conservationists and environmentalists in America |
| 1870’s, sportsmen had formed more than | | | | continue to work for the preservation and |
| 500 local environmental organizations throughout | | | | protection of our natural resources, American |
| the country. These organizations followed specific | | | | sportsmen and women can be counted on to |
| rules of conduct, the most important of which | | | | carry the torch on the front lines of the |
| were: (1) always give game a chance to survive, | | | | movement. |
| and (2) always maintain an appreciation for the | | | | |