PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
The FRONT LINE
PUBLISHER Evan Heusinkveld
EDITOR Brian Lynn
ASSISTANT EDITOR Naomi Hersh
ART DIRECTOR Brian Respress
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Connie Mendoza
PRODUCTION MANAGER Melissa Williams
PRESIDENT ’ S MESSAGE
The Sportsmen ’ s Alliance formed more than 45 years ago because the newly political animal-rights movement came marching into Ohio with the goal of ending trapping . Wildlife managers , businessmen , everyday hunters and rod-and-gun clubs from across the state rose up and fought back . From those grassroots beginnings , the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance of today grew to protect our outdoor way of life throughout the political spectrum .
We won that battle , but the animal activists have only increased their attacks over the last five decades . They quickly moved to other states with other ballot initiatives ; in fact , there have been a dozen ballot initiatives to end trapping throughout the country . Those anti-trapping forces have been successful to one degree or another in Arizona , Washington , Colorado , Massachusetts and California .
Ballot initiatives are especially dangerous for our way of life because it puts decision making in the hands of an uninformed public that is easily swayed by emotional messaging . The most effective messaging is delivered through television , and given the cost of airtime in urban markets , the animal-rights movement , with hundreds of millions of dollars to spare , has a great advantage over our community .
Trapping is perhaps the easiest target in our world — it ’ s misunderstood and easy to further misrepresent . It is , however , the canary in the coalmine . As trapping goes , so go other endeavors like hounding and predator hunting , all of which eventually have an impact on the rest of the ecosystem , upland birds , waterfowl and ungulate herds . Sportsmen must defend scientific wildlife management , and that includes trapping .
As you ’ ll read in this issue , trapping today is a highly regulated , scientific endeavor that has undergone rigorous testing to minimize pain and suffering while maximizing target accuracy . It ’ s been used to relocate and reintroduce endangered predators while also protecting vulnerable endangered prey species and even plants . You ’ ll read the truth behind the most common myths and find answers to hard-to-answer questions , as well as two personal perspectives of trapping from Sportsmen ’ s Alliance staffers — and how one of them has already experienced a generational loss of knowledge due to a ballot initiative ending all but live traps in Colorado .
Evan Heusinkveld , President and CEO
2 SPORTSMENSALLIANCE . ORG
CONTRIBUTORS Adam Heggenstaller Chris Ingram
The Sportsmen ’ s Advocate is the official publication of the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance . Our mission is to protect and advance America ’ s heritage of hunting , fishing and trapping by uniting sportsmen to protect against legal and legislative attacks by the animal-rights movement , win public support for outdoor sports , ensure the future of this heritage by involving families in the outdoor experience , and by promoting the sportsmen ’ s stewardship role in the scientific management of America ’ s fish and wildlife .
EXECUTIVE STAFF Evan Heusinkveld President and CEO Jeff Nations Chief Financial Officer Todd Adkins Vice President , Government Affairs Brian Dowler Vice President , Membership Aaron Carmichael Vice President , Development Brian Lynn
Vice President , Communications and Marketing
Copyright 2024 by Outdoor Sportsman Group , 1040 6th Ave ., 17th Floor , New York , NY 10018 . All Rights Reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission . The Sportsmen ’ s Advocate is a trademark of the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance , 801 Kingsmill Parkway , Columbus , OH 43229 ; 614-888-4868 ; info @ sportsmensalliance . org .
The Publisher and authors make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy , completeness or timeliness of the information contained in this publication . Any reliance or use of the information is solely at your own risk , and the authors and Publisher disclaim any and all liability relating thereto . Any prices given in this issue were suggested prices at the press time and are subject to change . Some advertisements in this magazine may concern products that are not legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions .