Also, at the end of it all, the various shows by the critter clubs (RMEF, WSF, NRA, SCI, DSC and so on) make their money off shows and specifically off foot traffic and forced donations by exhibitors. If you look at the balance sheets of the various critter clubs you will see that they spend an enormous amount of money raising money and for overhead. Ask - what percentage of your total revenue goes to "conservation". The answers will suprise you. Not that much. DU probably has the highest percentage of money raised that goes to "conservation", but does any of it do any real good???
Well, that is the question. For DU a wet winter means lots of water in breeding areas, then in turn, lots of ducks.... For Wild Sheep, take a look at the latest issue of their magazine and review the sheep numbers in North America over the last 20 years. Not much to see except Mexicio where high fence sheep hunting has truly caught on. Weather in Alaska determines Dall sheep numbers, not your money.
So, do we as the hunting public continue to fund $300,000 per year CEO's at each of these orgs (there are over 100 that I can name) in hopes that somehow our dollars actuallly help?
Further, if you want to see money actually work - look at long term anti-poaching work in various African countries. That seems to work.
Next go to Asia where conservation is not high on the radar. The sheep there are subject to the whims of the governments and their need for cash.
Next, go to New Zealand. No limits, no boundaries on any big game. There seems to be plenty and the outfitters are doing reasonably well. No critter clubs on the ground there.
Now, go to most of the hunting countries in civilized Europe. Again, the landowners manage "conservation" for profit and sell meat in the local butcher shops. The system seems to work well in a highly populated area where we hunt.
Now go to Texas where conservation groups are everywhere. The ranchers manage game for profit and the African/Asian game in Texas is plentiful... for a price. No serious conservation other than by ranchers, lease holders and deer farmers.
Now go the Rocky Mountain states where they sell sheep tags for enormous money as well as premium elk and antelope tags. Are sheep numbers increasing? No. Is there more and better access to elk areas?? Depends on what our government does with access to BLM land.
So, all of this to say - are the critter clubs truly helping? To a small degree I would say yes, but their overall impact is not terribly significant..
Prove me wrong....
