Michigan State University

The University Program at Michigan State has successfully integrated multiple disciplines into its curriculum, particularly through two key courses: Integrating Fisheries and Wildlife Science and Policy, and Hunting and Conservation. Students engage directly with the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, providing oral and written testimony on current issues and analyzing regulatory outcomes. The courses incorporate law, public administration, policy, and economics through guest lectures focusing on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (NAMWC) and examining hunting’s role across various governmental levels and organizations.

By the Numbers (2024) 9 Fellows 24 peer-reviewed publications	3 popular articles 9 presentations Endowed Professorship - Dr. Jerry Belant

Mission Alignment and Conservation Focus

The program actively promotes hunting as a conservation tool, with eight out of ten fellows incorporating hunting into their research. The newly established Wild Foods Institute integrates conservation and sustainable use with food security and livelihoods. Program alignment with Boone and Crockett Club’s mission is maintained through regular discussions with the MSU Boone and Crockett Steering Committee, annual stakeholder meetings, and participation in annual B&C meetings. This comprehensive approach ensures that research, education, and outreach activities consistently support the Club’s conservation mission while training the next generation of wildlife professionals.

Research, Funding, and Publications

In 2024, the program secured substantial funding from diverse sources, including Tribal organizations (Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), federal agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), state wildlife departments (Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Alaska), and private foundations (Conservation Frontlines Foundation, Hal and Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation, Safari Club International, Kodiak Brown Bear Trust). Total research expenditures reached $1.1 million, with a leveraging ratio of 1:6 for Boone and Crockett dollars to additional funding sources.

The program demonstrated strong academic productivity with 23 peer-reviewed publications in 2024. Notable publications addressed ecosystem services provided by wildlife harvests, food security implications of wildlife harvesting, age-based scoring in trophy hunting, and wolf harvest management. The program also produced three popular articles, including a piece on the Wild Foods Institute for Fair Chase magazine.

Program leader Jerry Belant maintained significant professional engagement through service on the USDA National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee, as science advisor to the Kodiak Brown Bear Trust, and on editorial boards for BioScience and Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. The program delivered nine invited presentations throughout the year.