RESOLUTION

UNITE NC SPORTSMEN FOR CONSERVATION VIA THE NC CAMOUFLAGE COALITION

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation was founded by sportsmen in 1945; and,

WHEREAS, the founders established said "statewide organization for the purpose of promoting and encouraging improvement of wildlife and fishing conditions in North Carolina"; and,

WHEREAS, these founding sportsmen worked for the creation of a science-based wildlife management agency which was accomplished with establishment of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in 1947; and,

WHEREAS, sportsmen’s issues have been a continuous focal point of the Federation’s six decades of conservation efforts as the leading organization working for all North Carolina wildlife and its habitat; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina hunters and anglers have historically been and continue to be among the States’ most committed and effective conservation leaders; and,

WHEREAS, a recent report, “Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy – a Force as Big as All Outdoors,” estimates approximately one million hunters and anglers reside in North Carolina and contribute $1.7 billion annually to the state’s economy through expenditures on recreation-based activities; and,

WHEREAS, a united sporting community will provide a formidable force in ensuring healthy streams, forests and fields and continuation of a strong hunting, angling, and traditional values heritage; and,

WHEREAS, there has been a proliferation of species-specific sportsman groups established over the years, including : bow hunters, fox, raccoon, black bear, salt and freshwater anglers, quail, wild turkey, bass, white-tailed deer, waterfowl, and many others; and,

WHEREAS, these entities are very effective voices for their special interests; however, the overall strength and effectiveness of the hunting and angling community can be enhanced by close coordination of these many diverse groups; and,

WHEREAS, current issues dictate that sportsmen unite now in common cause and effort to have a powerful impact on the management of natural resources and to counter threats to hunting and fishing values and habitat conservation; and,

WHEREAS, a sportsman’s coalition would provide the necessary unification and mobilization of sportsmen; and,

WHEREAS, such unification would be afforded via a statewide electronic network of North Carolina sportsmen allowing hunters and anglers to monitor important issues that affect hunting, fishing and/or conservation at the local, state and national level; and,

WHEREAS, these coalition members, banded together by the internet, would receive critical and timely information regarding legislation and policy changes that could affect wildlife management and outdoor recreation and that said information will allow members to conveniently and effectively voice their viewpoint to their elected officials.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered at the Annual Meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC on February 23, 2008, will unite hunters and anglers to protect fish and wildlife habitat and the sports of hunting and fishing by establishing the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, demonstrating its commitment to sportsmen, will maintain and operate in full the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition and will ensure that there will be no financial cost for interested sportsmen to join or utilize the services of the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition and that all funds given in support of the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition will be accounted for and spent only on activities of the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation pledges to utilize the North Carolina Camouflage Coalition as a united voice to achieve the common sportsman objective of sound natural resource management at all levels of policy making.