As the two oldest sportsmen groups with decades of commitment to fundamental wildlife policies, the Boone and Crockett Club and Wildlife Management Institute welcome the initiative of members of the House who have joined to consider the Endangered Species Act. We encourage Democratic members to do likewise and for the two parties to come together on this issue.  

Real and imagined fears of "gutting" the Act have squelched this debate and collaterally stopped any improvements as well. To revive a meaningful and helpful debate, there must be positive ideas and a commitment to improving species conservation. We believe better conservation will reduce needless burdens on landowners and other citizens.

"Sportsmen have always led the way toward conservation breakthroughs, starting with the efforts of the Boone and Crockett Club's founder, Theodore Roosevelt," said Bob Model, co-chairman of the B&C Policy Committee. "In that spirit, we are happy to encourage this discussion and others like it on species conservation."

"It has been 25 years since the last improvements to the Endangered Species Act," said Steve Williams, president of the Wildlife Management Institute. "We need--at least--to be discussing improvements. That discussion should begin with how the listing and delisting decisions are made."