WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced the appointment of Don Peay to the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council. The Council was established on January 9, 2018, and is intended to provide the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture with advice regarding the establishment and implementation of existing and proposed policies and authorities with regard to wildlife and habitat conservation.
The Council will begin examining ways to benefit wildlife resources; encourage partnership among the public, the sporting conservation organizations, state, tribal, territorial, and federal government; and benefit recreational hunting and recreational shooting sports.
“We have assembled here some of the best conservationists in America,” Secretary Zinke said. “Over a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt established the American conservation ethic — best science, best practices, greatest good, longest term. These sportsmen carry on the American conservation ethic in the modern day. Bringing these experts together will be key to ensuring the American tradition of hunting and shooting, as well as the conservation benefits of these practices, carries on.”
Don Peay commented, “President Trump and Sec Zinke continue to make major positive structural changes to America’s land and wildlife conservation systems. This new Council made up of the most accomplished hunter/conservationists in North America will assist in revitalizing conservation of our nation’s natural treasures for generations!”
Mr. Peay joins a noteworthy list of national leaders newly appointed to the Council, including:
– Chris W. Cox, Executive Director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action
– Jeff Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
– Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation
– Dan Forster, Vice President & Chief Conservation Officer, Archery Trade Associations
– Dale Hall, CEO of Ducks Unlimited
– And others
The Council is strictly advisory and the duties will consist of providing recommendations for implementation of Executive Order No. 13443 (E.O.): Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation, Secretarial Order No. 3347: Conservation Stewardship and Outdoor Recreation, and Secretarial Order No. 3356 (S.O.): Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, Tribes, and Territories.
Recommendations from the Council to the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture shall include, but not be limited to policies and programs that: conserve and restore wetlands, agricultural lands, grasslands, forests and rangeland habitats; promote opportunities and expand access to hunting and shooting sports on public and private lands; encourages hunting and shooting safety by developing ranges on public lands; recruit and retain new shooters and hunters; increase public awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and the social and economic benefits of hunting and shooting; encourage coordination among the public, hunting and shooting sports community, wildlife conservation groups, state, tribal, territorial, and federal government.
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