NSSF Joins Hunt Fair Chase Initiative

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has joined in support of a hunter ethics initiative being launched by the Boone and Crockett Club to highlight the core values of fair chase and to strengthen the image of the North American hunter.

"Somewhere along the way we stopped talking about our values and ethics: the adventure, experience and the life lessons learned through hunting," said CJ Buck, the Club's vice president of communications. "We need to get back to that story, especially for our younger generation, and to be putting our best foot forward."

The Hunt Right, Hunt Hard, Hunt Fair Chase initiative will launch later this summer. Its purpose is to teach and invigorate a commitment within the hunting community to the values hunting teaches such as, self-reliance, self-determination, self-restraint and self-respect.

"Every once and a while it's a good idea to dust off those things that make hunting great and talk about them more," Buck explained. "We intend to walk sportsmen back to a time when they were respected within our society for their skills, character, ethics and commitments to wildlife and conservation."

Theodore Roosevelt and the Boone and Crockett Club popularized the concept of fair chase at a time in history when the unregulated harvest of game was a significant factor in the extinction of some species and the near loss of others. Conservation was being promoted as the new model for the treatment of natural resources, to not only recover wildlife populations, but also to ensure they would never be threatened again.

Sportsmen of that era took it upon themselves to embrace conservation and aid in the recovery of the game they cherished. They also embraced a new code of conduct that spoke to their character and commitments.

Buck explained, "Having an industry leader like NSSF on board with this effort speaks volumes. Fair chase is rich with benefits, both personally and to the continued public support of hunting. The good news is we're hunting today because the majority of sportsmen hold themselves to a high standard. We intend to keep this support."

Said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti, "NSSF congratulates Boone and Crockett Club on this new, timely campaign about fair chase, ethical hunting and conserving wildlife and habitat that shows hunters are as dedicated to these values today as they were when they first began to champion them more than a century ago. NSSF is proud to be part of this initiative."

The Hunt Fair Chase initiative will launch this August with an interactive website and social media effort.