In August of 2000 the Boone and Crockett Club organized an historical conservation summit that has had a profound effect on the future of wildlife. This landmark meeting resulted in the creation of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners—a coalition of 35 wildlife organizations. Today, AWCP has grown to a consortium of 50 organizations that represent the interests of America’s millions of hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists. While individual organizations have their own primary areas of interest, collectively we all are dedicated to ensuring the vitality of our wildlife resources and providing for sustainable public use and enjoyment of those resources under the science-based management of the state and federal fish and wildlife agencies, in cooperation with habitat and land management by the federal, state, county, and local governments.
Download the W21 Mid-Term Report, released in August 2022.
Our members live in your backyard—in every county of every state in the nation.
In 2018, 15.7 million American's hunted and 49.4 million Americans fished. Hunting and fishing are important to our economy. Hunters and target shooters spent $44 billion last year supporting 854,000 jobs. In FY 2020 they contributed $917.5 million to state fish and wildlife agencies for Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Programs — $22.9 billion in the history of the programs. Sportsmen and sportswomen–and hunters in general–are an important segment of our society. Their needs and opinions cannot be ignored.
HOW SPORTSMEN AND SPORTSWOMEN SUPPORT THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CONSERVATION FUNDING
LAST YEAR ALONE.... NEARLY $3 BILLION
WILDLIFE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
The American Wildlife Conservation Partners present the following recommendations, Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume VI, for the next White House Administration and the next two Congresses. Adoption of these recommendations will improve federal agencies’ stewardship of our nation’s fish, wildlife, and habitats and enhance access to federal lands and waters for outdoor and wildlife-associated recreation, which contribute significantly to the quality of life and economic well-being of our citizens and future generations. These recommendations represent a general agreement of the partners, and each partner organization reserves the right to establish independent positions on any issue herein for the next four years.
Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume VI is available for download at left, or download individual recommendations below.
AWCP SIGN-ON LETTERS
In order to further the mission of AWCP, to ensure wildlife conservation, and sustainable public use of these natural resources, AWCP members interact and engage with federal agencies and Congress regularly to advance policies, both legislative and regulatory, which promote wildlife conservation and public access to lands.
Below are letters sent to Members of Congress, Congressional committees, federal agencies, and other governing entities, from various AWCP groups. Click on individual letters to download a PDF.
AWCP ORGANIZATIONS
AWCP is a coalition of 50 organizations that represent the interests of America’s millions of hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists.
2023 Chair – Dan Wrinn
Ducks Unlimited
2023 Vice-Chair – Taylor Schmitz
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
TERMS EXPIRE 2023
Kevin Hurley, Wild Sheep Foundation
Collin O'Mara, National Wildlife Federation
Torin Miller, National Deer Association
Evan Heusinkvled, Sportsmen’s Alliance
TERMS EXPIRE 2024
John Devney, Delta Waterfowl
Dan Forster, Archery Trade Association
Jim Inglis, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Kurt Thiede, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
TERMS EXPIRE 2025
Ryan Bronson, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Ben Cassidy, Safari Club International
William Kelleher, The Conservation Fund
Caroline Murphy, The Wildlife Society
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (PRECEDING CHAIRS)
Joel Pedersen, National Wild Turkey Federation
Len Vallender, Camp Fire Club of America
Tom Franklin, National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (retired)
Jen Mock Schaeffer, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Blake Henning, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Tony Schoonen, Boone and Crockett Club