SCI & NRA Join Forces To Battle Antis In Elephant Import Lawsuit

Safari Club International and the National Rifle Association of America continue to defend the importation of elephants from Zimbabwe (and other species throughout Africa).

At stake is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service memorandum from March 1, 2018, that announced a new approach to the issuance of import permits. Instead of relying on countrywide findings made through rulemaking, the Service decided that the best approach would be to determine enhancement and/or non-detriment on a case-by-case basis.

While the March 1 memo withdrew several enhancement and non-detriment findings, the Service explained that it would continue relying on the information contained in those findings along with information provided by the permit applicant, the range countries and other sources, to make the findings.

Last year, two groups of anti-hunting organizations sued to challenge positive enhancement findings for Zimbabwe elephants and lions the Service had made. When the March 1 memo came out, the groups amended their lawsuits to challenge it also.

SCI and NRA, along with the federal government, recently asked the court to dismiss both cases. The groups, led by (1) the Center for Biological Diversity and the Humane Society of the United States, and (2) Friends of Animals, want to deprive the Service of its discretion to decide how best to issue import permits and make the required findings. What they really want to do is stop hunting in Africa altogether.

SCI and NRA will file a final brief later in the summer. Then we will wait for the court to either schedule a hearing or make a ruling without one.




Source: Safari Club International (SCI)

I'm planning a trip to Zim in 2020 and would like to hunt trophy elephant, but would settle for tusk less I guess. Anyway I got to thinking about the non import situation. After corresponding with,the outfitter I was reminded their elephant population is nowhere near endangered and they need to harvest many. So I drafted a two page letter to Mr Zinke on why we should be able to import and there isn't a valid reason why we should not be able too. I may not get a response but I'm taking a stand and that's better than remaining silent. So if your interested in bringing an elephant back write the Sec of Interior and let our voice be heard. Thx

I too have elephant on my short list for the very near future. Importation is important to me. Hopefully it all gets sorted out.

I’ve been told that since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued their memorandum of March 1, 2018 that no new import permits have been issued for any elephants or lions and even leopards taken from anywhere in Africa?

Does anyone here have any information that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued any permits under the new case-by-case basis system?

Does anyone know that type of information permit applicants need to provide?

I think you wrong on leopards...

johnnyblues said:

I think you wrong on leopards...

Click to expand...

Sir John,
Do you think or do you know?
I've talked with two different and highly recommended import brokers (one of which upon your recommendation I have given my power of attorney) and both have leopard permits pending approval for the past three months with no word of if or when action by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be forth coming?

Alea iacta est ("The die is cast") is a Latin phrase attributed by Suetonius (as iacta alea est [ˈjakta ˈaːlea est]) to Julius Caesar on January 10, 49 B.C. as he led his army across the Rubicon river in Northern Italy. With this step, he entered Italy at the head of his army in defiance of the Senate and began his long civil war against Pompey and the Optimates. The phrase, either in the original Latin or in translation, is used in many languages to indicate that events have passed a point of no return.

Cities permit usually takes several months to get. I remember in 2015 when SSI applied for mine it took several months. So if you have indeed hired SSI Rosella is definitely the one to ask. They have their finger on the pulse of these matters. They are my go to folks when I have this type of question.

johnnyblues said:

Cities permit usually takes several months to get. I remember in 2015 when SSI applied for mine it took several months. So if you have indeed hired SSI Rosella is definitely the one to ask. They have their finger on the pulse of these matters. They are my go to folks when I have this type of question.

Click to expand...

Rosella, did warn me that she has yet to receive a leopard permit approval under the new case-by-case basis system?
I'm all in and plan to throw down my AFGE Federal Government Law Enforcement Union Card followed by playing the Combat Veteran Trump Card?
Wish me luck?

GEEEEZZ.. Yes good luck!

I've read conflicting reports that the executive order Trump signed is still in force and until it's rescinded there won't be any permits issued anyway. Can anybody clarify that situation? We are tentatively planning an elephant hunt next year and it would be helpful to know. If we find the right situation it won't matter that we can't import, I'd just like to know.

cbvanb said:

I've read conflicting reports that the executive order Trump signed is still in force and until it's rescinded there won't be any permits issued anyway. Can anybody clarify that situation? We are tentatively planning an elephant hunt next year and it would be helpful to know. If we find the right situation it won't matter that we can't import, I'd just like to know.

Click to expand...

That executive order I understand applied to Lions and Elephants only? But it appears that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is including Leopards as well? Does anyone here have access to Trumps executive order on African Hunting? I didn't hear about any executive order all I read in the news is a twitter statement he sent out?

Contact @Conservation Force

I didn’t hear of an executive order. If that’s the case then why doesn’t SCI and the NRA file a lawsuit against that also? I don’t get why Trump is playing up to the anti hunting crowd when they voted against him and still attack him and his sons. Speaking of his sons, they have been quiet on this issue, haven’t heard a word out of them on this.

UNT2007 said:

I didn’t hear of an executive order. If that’s the case then why doesn’t SCI and the NRA file a lawsuit against that also? I don’t get why Trump is playing up to the anti hunting crowd when they voted against him and still attack him and his sons. Speaking of his sons, they have been quiet on this issue, haven’t heard a word out of them on this.

Click to expand...

I'm pissed that both Trumps Sons are African Trophy Hunters yet he still tweets out that he's opposed to Trophy Hunting in Africa...Just like after the FLA School shooting he hold a public news conference and states "confiscate the guns due process later" and then a month later shows up at the NRA convention and clams I'm the greatest Second Amendment President in history???? WTF!

He's all for the Rich top 1% hunting in Africa yet the rest of us deplorable peasants need to stay in our place and pay out taxes like good little worker drones??

I could be wrong, but I read elsewhere where there was a deal and SCI jumped the gun and thats why we are where we are at. Word is also no imports until second term. Maybe SCI will come back and answer, or are they done on AH now the one of them is on the NRA board.

wesheltonj said:

I could be wrong, but I read elsewhere where there was a deal and SCI jumped the gun and thats why we are where we are at. Word is also no imports until second term. Maybe SCI will come back and answer, or are they done on AH now the one of them is on the NRA board.

Click to expand...

We have a thread to ask questions like this, go right ahead. I'm sure they will answer, if able.

https://www.africahunting.com/threads/sci-questions-and-suggestions-make-them-here.42340/