Safari Club International

Infobox_Organization
name = Safari Club International
image_border = Scilogo.jpg
caption =
membership = 50,000
headquarters = Tucson, Arizona
formation = 1973
website =

http://www.safariclub.org/

Safari Club International is an international organization composed of hunters. SCI has more than 50,000 members and 180 local chapters. [cite web|url=http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/docs/content/167/Welcome%20Kit.pdf|title=p.2|format=PDF]

Safari Club International Foundation, the 501 (c) 3 branch of SCI, funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services. [cite web|url=http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/docs/content/167/Welcome%20Kit.pdf|title=New Member Welcome Kit|format=PDF]

Leadership

SCI was founded by hunter C.J. McElroy,Safari Magazine, Safari Club International, Special Edition June, 1988] who was eventually forced to resign his leadership role. McElroy has 335 hunted animals listed in SCI record books, including African elephants, Pacific walrus, southern white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, Scimitar-horned oryx, addax, hippopotamus, pygmy hippopotamus, dama gazelle, polar bear, African lions, Bengal tigers, wolves, leopards, jaguar and others. Some of these species have become endangered and can no longer be hunted in their native habitats. [ [http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/bengal-tiger.html Bengal Tiger Profile] ] [ [http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/endangered-species/dn4109 Poaching causes hippo population crash] ]

In 2007, SCI elected a new president, Dennis Anderson, of Anaheim, California. Anderson has hunted in Asia, Africa, Europe, the South Pacific and North America, completing the "North American 29" (see below) in 2003. [cite web|url=http://huntinglife.blogspot.com/2007/06/safari-club-international-elects-new.html|title=Safari Club International Elects New Leadership] Anderson has reported hunting polar bear, ibex, gazelle, roe deer, wolf, Asian elk, bighorn sheep, rhinoceros, bontebok, rhebok, vaal, reedbuck, lynx, elephant, and hyena. [cite web|url=http://www.huntingreport.com/email_extra/|title=The Hunting Report (sign-up required)]

The organization's headquarters is in Tucson, Arizona.An annual convention is held in Reno, Nevada.

Mission statement

The Safari Club International mission statement reads as follows:

Safari Club International is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.
* Providing value to members by shaping policies and legislation that protect the freedom to hunt locally, nationally and internationally.
* Keeping members informed regarding issues that impact hunting while educating and entertaining members with articles about hunting in all forms of media.
* Providing a community for hunters worldwide where information is exchanged, and where members are able to participate in a market for hunting goods and services.
* Promoting a positive image of hunters and portraying them as responsible citizens who fund wildlife conservation, education and other programs which benefit the community. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_ID=159|title=SCI Mission Statement]

Conservation projects

SCI conservataion and education programs are conducted by Safari Club International Foundation, a non-profit organization "dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services." [http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/] Although this foundation was set up by SCI and shares board members with SCI, it is a separate legal entity.

Humanitarian services

Sportsmen Against Hunger began in 1989, [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_id=324|title=Sportsmen Against Hunger] and through the network of SCI chapters, provides food banks with meat from harvested animals. In 2006, over 250,000 pounds of wild game were donated to charitable relief organizations. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_id=324|title=Sportsmen Against Hunger] The Sensory Safari program allows sight-impaired individuals to get a “visual” perspective of what animals are like by feeling mounts, skins, skulls, horns, and antlers. [cite web|url=http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr18/Issue4/f180412.htm|title=Buckeye Bulletin] The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) asked SCIF to host a Sensory Safari at its annual convention. In 1997, the NFB signed a memorandum of understanding with SCI to host Sensory Safaris at all future NFB national and state conventions. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/humanitarian/default.htm#sensory|title=SCIF Sensory Safari] Hunters who participate in the SafariCare program take bags filled by SCI chapter with medical, school, and relief supplies to clinics and schools to remote regions of the developing world. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_ID=360|title=SafariCare / SafariWish] The SafariWish program is part of the SafariCare program, designed to give children with life-threatening illnesses a chance to go hunting. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_ID=360|title=SafariCare / SafariWish] The Disabled Hunter program, through SCI chapters, provides sponsorship for hunting trips for disabled sportsmen. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_ID=240|title=Disabled Hunter]

On March 26 2008 North Dakota discovered packages of ground venison donated to food pantries through the Sportsmen Against Hunger program that tested "strongly positive" for lead, prompting the state Department of Health to urge pantries not to use or distribute the venison. Minnesota also announced that it will stop distributing hunter-donated meat through its food pantries. [cite web|url=http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/03/29/news/state/22-lead.txt|title=Montana's poor still get game meat] [cite web|url=http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2008/03/28/news/local/152067.txt|title= More research planned on lead issue]

On April 3 2008, Iowa, which halted distribution of donated venison based on the North Dakota report, resumed distribution of meat from food pantries. Ten samples of ground venison from a food pantry were tested by the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory and found to "have less than 1 part per million of lead, eight had no detectable amounts and two only had trace amounts" sufficient for the Iowa Department of Public Health to caution young children and pregnant women to consume limited amounts of the meat. [cite web|url=http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=196606|title=Deer meat analysis: little lead]

Annual hunters convention

For the last 35 years, SCI has hosted an Annual hunters convention. In 2007, over 22,000 SCI members, and 1,000 exhibitors participated in the convention. [cite web|url=SCI|title=New Member Welcome Kit pg. 3]

Publications

The organization publishes Safari magazine, a bi-monthly publication that features hunting stories, issues affecting the hunting sportsman, reviews of books and equipment, as well as conservation reports. Safari also has a special awards issue, which honors trophy hunters each year.

It also publishes Safari Times, the news publication of the organization.

Awards

SCI has its own scoring and record book system which ranks the biggest tusks, horns, antlers, skulls and bodies of hunted animals. Hunters are rewarded with trophies for completing a “Grand Slam;” a “Special Awards Issue” of SCI’s magazine is dedicated to this topic and those who win awards are listed in SCI’s “Record Book of Trophy Animals.” This book ranks every species of game animal using the SCI official scoring method. “Highest scores go to the animals with the largest measurements.”

Every animal killed that meets the minimum score required for a record book entry makes the hunter eligible to enter the medallion program and is assured of receiving at least a bronze medallion.

Political lobbying

In 1979, when SCI was fairly new, it sought government approval to import 1,125 trophies from 40 different species (gorillas, cheetahs, tigers, orangutans, snow leopards, and others) into the US for "scientific research and incentive for propagation and survival of the species." Because the animals were to be hunted, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied the request.cite web|url=http://www.hsus.org/about_us/about_hsus_programs_and_services/eye_on_the_opposition/a_view_to_a_kill_how_safari_club_intl_works_to_weaken_esa_protections.html|title=The Humane Society of the United States, "A View to a Kill: How Safari Club Int'l Works to Weaken ESA Protections"]

Since that time, SCI has had more successes.Fact|date=January 2008

Polar bear imports

In 1994, SCI successfully lobbied for a change in the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act 1972 to allow for the importation of previously banned sport-hunted polar bear trophies into the United States from Canada. [cite web|url=http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2007/05/post.html|title=The Humane Society of the United States, "Polar Bears Hunted in Dwindling Habitat."] In 2007, SCI testified at a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service hearing opposing the proposed listing of polar bears as a "threatened" species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The FWS is concerned that climate change is or will place polar bears at risk of extinction. [cite web|url=http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/tow_release.php?ID=114066&session=27qrtr69j7ahm7fe|title=Safari Club International press release, Outdoor Wire, March 7 2007.] SCI/SCIF argued that the science cited by the FWS speculative and incomplete at this time. Relatively healthy populations of polar bears exist in the areas where hunting is allowed and it said that sport hunting of these populations would provide funding for habitat and study as well as income for native populations. SCI stated that, " [...] [T] he U.S. decision to list will merely change the identity of those who hunt the animals from U.S. hunters to exclusively native residents [...] " [cite web|url=http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/docs/content/392/Comments%20of%20SCI%20on%20PB%20Listing%20-%20USGS%20Reports%20-%20%2010%2005%2007.pdf|title=SCI Comments on USGS Reports/Polar Bear October 2007.]

Criticism

Canned hunts

SCI does not accept any trophies that were not hunted using “fair chase" methods. SCI published a list of what the organization defines as fair chase, including requirements that: escape cover for the animal must cover at least 50% of the property, animals can not be tame or former exhibit animals, and animals can not be driven or herded to awaiting hunters, among others. [cite web|url=http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_ID=122&Content_Menu_ID=106|title=www.scifirstforhunters.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_ID=122&Content_Menu_ID=106 ]

Endangered species

SCI has been criticised by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for supporting the hunting of endangered African antelope species at fenced "game" ranches in Texas and Florida and for giving awards for the hunting of big cats and leopard, elephant, lion, rhino and buffalo in Africa. [cite web|url=http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/trophy_hunting_group_asks.html|author=The Humane Society of the United States|title=Trophy Hunting Groups Asks Federal Court to Endorse "Canned" Hunting of Endangered Animals Trapped Behind Fences|date=2005|accessdate=2008-02-12]

SCI counters that hunting can be an integral part of management of these species and provides needed funds for habitat preservation and enhancement. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/content/index.cfm?action=view&content_ID=230&Content_Menu_ID=227|author=Safari Club International|title=SCIF's Conservation Efforts|date=2007|accessdate=2008-02-12] [cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4444/is_200604/ai_n17184537/pg_1|author=Fred Nelson - and County Foundation Community Based Conservation Network|title=Black Rhinoceros Conservation and Trophy Hunting in Southern Africa: Implications of Recent Policy Changes|date=2006|accessdate=2008-02-12] SCI, along with other hunting and non-hunting organizations, intervened in a federal suit where HSUS challenged regulations that allow hunting of captive scimitar-horned oryx, dama gazelle and addax. The U.S. FWS found that, “ [c] aptive breeding in the United States has enhanced the propagation or survival of the scimitar-horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle worldwide by rescuing these species from near extinctions and providing the founder stock necessary for reintroduction. Sport hunting of surplus, captive-bred animals generates revenue that supports these captive-breeding operations and may relieve hunting pressure on wild populations.” [cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/policy/library/05-17432.html|author=U.S> Fish and Wildlife Service|title=Federal Register: September 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 170)|date=2005|accessdate=2008-02-18] As of February 2008, this case is still pending. [cite web|url=http://www.endangeredlaws.org/case_cary.htm|author=Endangered Environmental Laws Program|title=Recent Cases|date=2007|accessdate=2008-02-17] In the case of black rhino, 83% of those countries represented at the 2004 CITES meeting approved sport hunting of the species in very limited numbers. [cite web|url=http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/articles/index.cfm?action=view&article_ID=2879|author=Safari Club International|title=CITES Final Report|date=2007|accessdate=2008-02-12]

Promoting questionable tax deductions

In 2005, controversy erupted over tax write-offs taken by big game hunters for donations of trophies to museums. IRS rules allowed only the fair market value of such donations to be deducted, but many donors filed returns claiming deductions at "replacement cost," calculated to include airfare, guide fees, taxidermy, shipping, permits, and all other costs associated with the original hunt. [cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A26324-2005Apr4?language=printer|title=Washington Post, "Big-Game Hunting Brings Big Tax Breaks," 5 April 2005]

The tax code was amended in 2006 by the United States Congress. Current law allows for the deduction of either the market value of the trophy or taxidermy costs, whichever is less. [cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/04/AR2006080401400.html|title=Washington Post, "Pension Bill Also Curbs Hunters' Tax Break," 5 August 2006] The IRS code also now specifically prohibits deducting "direct or indirect costs for hunting or killing an animal, such as equipment costs and the costs of preparing an animal carcass for taxidermy". [cite web|url=http://www.irs.gov/publications/p526/ar02.html#d0e1499|title=Internal Revenue Service, "Publication 526,"]

In literature

"Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals and the Call to Mercy," Matthew Scully, 2003. This book contains extensive details of SCI's annual conference.

Revenue sources

For the tax year ending June 2006, SCI reported $2.87 million in revenue from SCI publications, $3.17 million in membership dues, $205,967 in interest on savings and temporary investments, $75,771 from sales of assets other than inventory, $6.86 million from special events such as the annual convention, $156,014 from sales of inventory, and $6,089 miscellaneous income. [cite web|url=http://www.scifirstforhunters.org/docs/content/165/SCI_2005_990.pdf|title=www.scifirstforhunters.org/docs/content/165/SCI_2005_990.pdf |format=PDF]

In 2007, the New York legislature earmarked $50,000 of taxpayer dollars for SCI. [New York Times. April 11 2007. “A Budget That Covers All Bases”]

References

Footnotes

NY Times article is from April 9, not 11 and should now be linked (NY Times archives now freely available)

External links

* [http://www.safariclubfoundation.org/conservation/ Safari Club International - Conservation Efforts Home]
* [http://www.safariclub.org/ Safari Club International - Official website]