NABF Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Brian Bachman, President/CEO, NABF

Together We Make A
Difference

Fall 2007

There is a very real threat to wildlife management in this country. Groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States arc focusing on ending all hunting in this country and around the world. Their best chance to succeed is through legislation. They have had successes at both the state and national level. They are well funded and well organized. They have adopted a "divide and conquer" tactic. We as conservationists must not allow this to happen. We must work together.

The NABF works on many issues on a state and local level. We have developed good working relationships with many state organizations. We have met with many state legislators and offered testimony before a number legislative committees on bear related issues. On the state level we can be effective, but on the national level we were just another small organization that went unnoticed. Many other organizations felt the same. Their concerns were not being properly addressed. So in August of 20(X) thirty-five conservation organizations met in Montana and formed the Association of Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP). They were of various backgrounds and interests but all had a strong desire to see conservation brought to the forefront in the federal legislative process. The North American Bear Foundation joined the AWCP in 2005.

The AWCP works primarily on national issues, by influencing national policy and law making efforts. Any group can bring an issue in front of the group usually in the form of a letter addressed specifically to an agency head or to legislators in reference to specific legislation. Each group then has the decision to sign on or not, to each specific issue. They are then listed on that specific document as a supporter. State and regional issues are occasionally addressed in a similar manner. The AWCP has become very effective in influencing government policy and having our concerns heard. The NABF has signed on to many letters that have successfully influenced change. Most importantly a few that are specific to hears and hear management issues.

Through the AWCP and their partners we arc able to make a difference at the national level. Quite a large impact for a relatively small organization. It is important at all levels to work together towards a common goal.

Together we make a difference.

*****

DEDICATED FUNDING

FOR WILDLIFE AND

NATURAL RESOURCES

Winter 2008

Missouri was the first state to pass dedicated funding for wildlife and natural resources. Arkansas became the second, but it was not easy and did not pass on the first attempt. Minnesota is now attempting to follow in their path. The funding is tied to sales tax and the wildlife and natural resources in Missouri and Arkansas have greatly benefited. I do keep in contact with game and fish professionals in these states and there are drawbacks to the system. In times of reduced spending as we have now. revenue generated from sales tax have decreased, leaving programs under-funded in mid-year. Because budgets are planned a year ahead, they must he based on assumed revenues. When those revenues are not there, cuts must he made. These are hard decisions and uncomfortable to implement. The o vertl benefits of dedicated funding seem to greatly outweigh the drawbacks. The process for estimating sales tax revenues will always be a limiting factor. This brings us back to Minnesota's quest for dedicated funding. As in Arkansas, the decision to implement such funding is ultimately made by the public in a referendum vote. This vote will take place this fall in general election. This has been a long process just to get the issue on the ballot. The Minnesota Senate and House had to agree on the language of the funding. This has been going on for years, but has finally passed the difficult first hurdle. The revenues generated will be split between wildlife, clean waters and the arts. Many feel if it doesn't happen this year it will most likely never happen. Now the hard part lies ahead. There arc a few groups pushing to make dedicated funding in Minnesota a reality. One of the groups is the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance (MOHA). MOHA was instrumental in getting the amendment for the right to hunt, fish and trap passed. Many states have followed in getting similar amendments passed. MOHA is made up of representatives of most of the conservation groups in the state. Although all the groups may not see eye-to-eye on all the issues, they work together for the common good. As the amendment now stands, there is a major stumbling block standing in the way: Who is going to decide how and a here to spend the money? Many legislators want this control and most of those in the conservation community are strongly opposed to this. The mistrust stems from a past attempt to implement funding for wildlife. A state lottery was passed under the premise that the majority of the funds generated would he used for wildlife. The conservation groups rallied behind the lottery and it was passed. Only to have the money in the fund reappropriatcd by the legislature and very little actually going towards the original purpose. Some sportsman are reluctant to push for this dedicated funding only to have this happen again. Here lies the rub. There is a push to put a citizens oversight committee in charge of the funds to see that they are used for their intended purpose before the amendment comes up for a vote this fall. As you can imagine there is more than a little resistance from those legislators that want to have control over the funding. It is important that you get out and vote this fall and if you live in Minnesota you will have the opportunity to have a say in how wildlife management is funded. There is no question that dedicated funding can do great things for wildlife and natural resources, but with this funding comes great responsibility. Make yourself be heard this fall wherever you live.

*****

Education, Education, Education - Fall 2006

As some of you know, I am a real estate investor in my spare time. There
is an old adage in the real estate world: There are three things you
need, to be successful in real estate - LOCATION, LOCATION,
LOCATION. Now there is a little more to it than that, but location
is very important. At the North American Bear Foundation we feel education is one of the most
important ways that we can have a lasting effect on how bears are viewed and managed.

I am pleased to announce that we are about to release our comprehensive educational DVD
on Understanding and Living with Black Bears. Dan Bertalan with Great Outdoors Multimedia
has been the driving force behind this project. Dan has been working on this project for almost two
years, collecting black bear film footage and interviewing wildlife professionals to bring you the most
complete education production on black bears available today. Our Partners include the states of Arkansas and New York as well as the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen. All of which will have their own customized version.

Did you know that in many parts of the country there are more black bears today than there has been in the last 100 years? Keeping this in mind, it is understandable that more people than ever before are confronted with living amongst black bears. As you will see in the DVD, living with black bears requires three things. First, understand bears and their behaviors. Second, knowing the Dos and Don'ts of visiting and living in bear country. Third, using this information to minimize or prevent bear encounters. Now, more than ever, bears are in the news. It is unfortunate that they have often become political and media pawns along the way. Bears are usually portrayed as either comical backyard
entertainment that are completely harmless, or as man-eating monsters to be feared and hated. It is our
responsibility at the North American Bear Foundation to dispel myths and give people a better understanding of bears. As the public is asked to voice their opinion and in some instances cast their votes on bear management issues, it is imperative that they have the unbiased information to make
sound rational decisions. This is a major goal of the North American Bear Foundation. Our DVD
titled Understanding and Living with Black Bears is a big step in seeing this goal become a reality.

The DVD will be available on our website, and will also be used as a membership incentive in the
future. We are looking for sponsors to assist us in distribution and marketing. Quantity discounts will be available for groups and organizations that are looking for a tool to assist them in their fundraising efforts as well. It is our goal to get as many copies out to the public to help educate them about black bears.

We will be taking orders soon. They are valued at $19.95, but will be available to our members at a greatly reduced price. More information on how you can get your copy will be available in the next issue of the North American Bear or keep checking our website.

*******

A Call For Members - Summer 2006

Fall is rapidly approaching. Many of us are looking forward to a successful hunting season. Talking with old friends and hunting partners about past seasons and making plans for the upcoming one. There are many preparations to be made, almost a ritual. Going through our old equipment and getting it ready for another season. Looking through the magazines and walking the stores looking for new products. Watching hunting videos and the many television shows. Trying to find that new piece of equipment or bit of knowledge that will gives us the edge this year. The anticipation. The excitement. This is the time of year I look forward to. I have made it to another fall. This is my time of year, as it is for many of you as well.

It has been a good year for the NABF. Bill Hilts, our editor has done a great job with our
magazine. It continues to grow and improve. Many thanks to Bill and all those who have
contributed to the magazines success. We have many plans for the foundation and the expansion
of our publication. It is our intent to bring you more coverage of what is happening in the bear
world. Last year saw many successes in responsible bear management. New Jersey was allowed
to manage their growing bear population by holding their second successful bear hunt in the
last 2 years, and it looks like they will have another hunt this year. Referendums to restrict and
limit how game departments manage their bears were defeated in Maine and Alaska. Many more
attacks are sure to come and we intend to play a greater role in the defense of responsible game
management. This is where your help is so important. For the NABF to grow and have a greater
influence we need to increase our membership. If you are reading this and are not a member, I
can not begin to stress how important it is that you join the NABF today. If you are already a
member, I implore you to ask your friends and colleagues to become members of the NABF.
There is a membership form in this magazine or you can call us at 218-746-3774 or email us at
membership@nabf.org.

So as we prepare for the fall and look forward to many autumns to come I do hope you are
able to help us so we can continue to help you.
Have a great fall.

*****

Conservation Vs Hunting - Winter 2004

I am asked many times "How can you claim to be a conservation organization and promote hunting at the same time?" My answer comes quickly and is direct, "You can't have conservation without hunting." For those who do not understand hunting, this is a difficult concept to understand. Those that want to see hunting ended do so under the misleading information that by stopping hunting, wildlife will benefit. When in fact the opposite is true. President Theodore Roosevelt, himself a hunter and conservationist, saw the need for wildlife conservation. President Roosevelt was responsible for initiating many of our conservation programs.

Hunters through license fees and dedicated taxes on sporting equipment and ammunition, fund much of our modern day conservation efforts. A growing percentage of funding and hands on assistance is coming through organizations like the North American Bear Foundation. By eliminating hunting this funding will cease to exist and wildlife would suffer. We have the knowledge and the ability to manage wildlife populations. Hunting is the most efficient and cost effective ways of doing so. Hunters actually are paying through license fees for the opportunity to work for the state in managing their wildlife populations. Without hunting, some species would need to be controlled through sharp shooters or trappers and this is expensive. Some are saying that wildlife can be managed through contraceptives. In a time when the public is demanding less drugs and foreign substances in the environment, this seems a risky solution and is also unproven and very expensive.

Wildlife actually has two thresholds. The first being biological carrying capacity. When this is exceeded there are large die-offs due to starvation and disease. Through hunting we are able to maintain populations below this threshold and keep their numbers stable. The other threshold that is more important with bears is the social carrying capacity. This is the population level that people will accept and is exceeded long before the biological carrying capacity. The main goal of the North American Bear Foundation is to educate the public about bears. Through education the social carrying capacity can be increased as their fear of bears is reduced. As both human and bear populations increase, encounters and conflicts will increase as well. Bears are very intelligent and the fear of people in hunted populations is easily instilled. Bears in states that are not hunted lose this fear and are becoming serious nuisance problems in these areas.

The hunting of bears is easily made into an emotional issue and by doing so laws are enacted that limit the ability of states to manage their population of bears and in the end it will be the bears that suffer. So do not be afraid or ashamed to tell people you hunt. Hunters like you are the true conservationist.

North American Bear Foundation
9960 390th Street
Pillager, MN 56473
218-746-3774

Email NABF