CONTENTS
MESSAGE
FROM THE
PRESIDENT
WHAT’S INSIDE
A
4
The Great Bait
Debate
Portrayed as lazy or unethical, the
use of bait is often necessary
2
5
President’s Message
A word from Evan
Heusinkveld, President and
CEO of Sportsmen’s Alliance
The Blurry Line
At what point does habitat
management become baiting?
8
Legislative Block
The status of Alliance-backed
legislation and legal action
throughout the country
11 Alliance Partners
Working with the industry’s
best companies to protect
our hunting heritage
Social media
What’s trending?
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1
SPORTSMEN’S MONTHLY
July | August 2017
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t the Sportsmen’s Alliance, we’re
dedicated to protecting hunting,
fishing and trapping. We have been
for nearly 40 years.
We don’t just protect one species
and its habitat nor just one method.
We go where the fight takes us, and
that means our efforts vary between
species, methods and states. We
support the science that made this
country’s wildlife management
model the best in the world.
This across-the-board
defense can cause issues from an
organizational standpoint, however.
No single group of sportsmen
identifies with and supports us
singlehandedly. But we view this
as a blessing, not a curse. All
sportsmen have something at stake
when it comes to the animal-rights
movement, and all sportsmen should
support the Sportsmen’s Alliance.
Where our no-holds-barred
defense of all sportsmen and all
methods of take can be an issue, is
when some in our own ranks actually
perpetuate the myths spread by anti-
hunters. We often stand the chance
of alienating the hunters who don’t
see the big picture and are willing to
shortsightedly sacrifice a method.
A prime example: the use of bait.
Targeted by animal-rights groups,
baiting is painted as unethical; an
easy kill that takes no skill. They
spread this message in the media
with marketing and big budgets.
We’ve seen it in Maine, Washington
state and elsewhere.
When you read this month’s
issue, keep one thing in mind.
Despite their rhetoric, the truth
is: anti-hunters don’t care what
method you use. They want to end
all hunting. They may claim it’s just
about ending baiting or another
method, but we know better. Their
efforts might start with one practice,
but the use of dogs, archery
equipment or even food plots are
points they’ll argue as unethical.
Let’s not be fooled by their agenda
and true goal of ending all hunting.
Please support your fellow
hunters who participate in different
forms of hunting, and support the
Sportsmen’s Alliance in our never-
ending defense of all hunting. After
all, it’s our heritage, our fight!
Evan Heusinkveld | President and CEO