On June 8, the U.S. Senate passed the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity (WILD) Act (S. 826) by Unanimous Consent. Included within S. 826 is the reauthorization of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, which supports private landowners who commit to wildlife conservation.
On June 20, twenty-five wildlife conservation organizations sent a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, thanking them for their leadership in the passage of S. 826 through the Committee and to the Senate floor.
The letter stated, “The Partners program supports landowners who voluntarily commit to take actions benefitting federal trust wildlife such a migratory birds and threatened and endangered species. The 30th anniversary of this important program was recently celebrated with support from DOW AgroSciences, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and other diverse organizations. The WILD Act will keep the program’s track record of success and collaboration going.”
The WILD Act, which was introduced in April by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Senator John Barrasso (WY), now advances to the House of Representatives.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
