OSCF Supports 2024 WMI North American Conference as Bronze Sponsor

MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – March 20, 2024 – Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) is proud to support the Wildlife Management Institute’s 89th Annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 25-29, 2024.

The WMI North American Conference is one of the largest gatherings of staff from fish and wildlife agencies and conservation groups in the United States. Hundreds of professionals gather under one roof to spend four days exchanging ideas, strategies and best practices to help improve habitat, fish and wildlife management, and have a better understanding of current conservation issues and solutions.

“The WMI North American Conference has been instrumental in helping agencies and organizations share their findings and strategies on conservation efforts across the continent,” said OSCF Executive Director Jim Curcuruto.  “We thank WMI and wildlife agency staff for their dedication to conservation and are proud to sponsor and attend this important conference.”

The conference is organized to allow attendees a better understanding of the origins, complexities and likely solutions to current conservation issues. It also seeks to provide a better sense of the need for and the methods to achieve coordinated, cooperative management of the continent’s wildlife.

Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works with all facets of the outdoor industry to improve cultural acceptance of hunting, fishing, trapping and target shooting. We use research-based communications and engagement programs that help recruit the next generation of HATS (Hunters, Anglers, Trappers and Shooters) and promote the fact that HATS are primary funders and stewards of conservation in America.

To learn more about the Wildlife Management Institute, visit www.wildlifemanagement.institute. To learn more about the 2024 WMI North American Conference, click here.

To learn more about the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation visit  www.outdoorstewards.org,  Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.

About OSCF

Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works with all facets of the outdoor industry to improve cultural acceptance of hunting, fishing, trapping and target shooting. We use research-based communications and engagement programs that help recruit the next generation of HATS (Hunters, Anglers, Trappers and Shooters) and promote the fact that HATS are primary funders and stewards of conservation in America. To learn more about OSCF programs; “Fill A Bag While Filling Your Tag”, “Come With!”, “Connecting with Conservation” and the “Outdoor Industry Communication Council”, please visit www.OutdoorStewards.org  or contact Jim Curcuruto at (203) 450-7202, jim@stewardsofconservation.org.

About Wildlife Management Institute

WMI is a professional conservation organization that works to improve the professional foundation of wildlife management. The Wildlife Management Institute was established in 1911 by sportsmen/businessmen gravely concerned about the dramatic declines of many wildlife populations. Its founders saw a need for a small, independent and aggressive cadre of people dedicated to restoring and ensuring the well-being of wild populations and their habitats. To learn more, visit https://wildlifemanagement.institute/.

OSCF Partners with Rather Outdoors and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on New “Connecting With Conservation” Episode

MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – March 14, 2024 – The Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation has partnered with Rather Outdoors and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) for a new episode of “Connecting with Conservation.” This series was developed to thank 60+ million active HATS (Hunters, Anglers, Trappers and Shooters) for being primary funders of land, fish and wildlife conservation in the U.S.

The latest video showcases a visit to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as well as a visit to Rather Outdoors headquarters in Columbia, S.C., to share how the purchase of fishing licenses, and fishing equipment can help improve the outdoors such as fish habitat, boat ramps and more.

“It was really great getting to see firsthand all the hard work that DNRs are doing and all the pride the folks at Rather Outdoors have in supporting conservation funding,” said Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation’s Executive Director Jim Curcuruto. “Without HATS out there buying fishing licenses, products, rods, reels and lures, none of this would be possible. Thanks to all HATS for being primary funders of conservation, keep getting outside and having fun.”

In 1939 Congressman Frank Buck proposed a bill that imposed an excise tax on the sale of motorboat and small engine fuel, fishing tackle and tariffs on imported fishing equipment to support wildlife conservation. After battling for his bill to be used for the funding of wildlife conservation to preserve the country’s fisheries, Buck was victorious in 1950 thanks to efforts by Congressmen John Dingell and Edwin Johnson. The Dingell-Johnson Act, also known as the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Recreation Act, ensures that revenues generated from these excise taxes are allocated toward habitat acquisition and restoration, fish stocking, research and surveys.

“There are three key components to maintaining our fisheries: the resource agencies that are responsible for monitoring and providing access to the resource, the manufacturers who support that activity through funding and the sale of products, and most importantly the anglers who are purchasing the products and fishing licenses,” said Ross Self, SCDNR chief of Freshwater Fisheries. “The sale of fishing licenses is so key to our ability to manage fishery resources. We’d like to take an opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to all the anglers in our state.”

“I’ve fished for as long as I can remember, and I never knew until I got into this industry that a portion of all of the fishing tackle we purchase as fishermen funds conservation,” said Kelly Long, vice president of communications for Rather Outdoors. “We are so proud to be a part of conservation, and on behalf of Rather Outdoors I want to thank the HATS for fishing and for being a primary funder of conservation.”

To learn more about OSCF, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Rather Outdoors, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl0DvDFkYgo. 

This 'Connecting with Conservation' video was produced with the support of The Murray Road Agency. Funding for this project is provided by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (F23AP003940), a program supported with funds from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and jointly managed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

About OSCF

Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works with all facets of the outdoor industry to improve cultural acceptance of hunting, fishing, trapping and target shooting. We use research-based communications and engagement programs that help recruit the next generation of HATS (Hunters, Anglers, Trappers and Shooters) and promote the fact that HATS are primary funders and stewards of conservation in America. To learn more about OSCF programs; “Fill A Bag While Filling Your Tag”, “Come With!”, “Connecting with Conservation” and the “Outdoor Industry Communication Council”, please visit www.OutdoorStewards.org  or contact Jim Curcuruto at (203) 450-7202, jim@stewardsofconservation.org.

About SCDNR

The agency as organized on July 1, 1994, under the S.C. Restructuring Act is composed of the former Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Water Resources Commission (non-regulatory programs), Land Resources Commission (non-regulatory programs), State Geological Survey (State Geologist), and S.C. Migratory Waterfowl Committee. These have been combined into the present division structure. The Department has developed a vision for the future to guide the agency in its mission and provide the public with a clear understanding of its plan to preserve South Carolina's natural wealth.

About Rather Outdoors

Rather Outdoors is a global outdoors corporation uniting some of the most recognizable brands in the fishing space. With historic and iconic brands such as Lew’s, Strike King, Quantum, Zebco, Fox, Matrix, Salmo, and Fox Rage, Rather Outdoors provides a wide assortment of fishing products worldwide in an effort to enhance angler’s success and the enjoyment of outdoor pursuits. To learn more about the Rather Outdoors brands, visit www.ratheroutdoors.com.