SCI FIRST FOR HUNTERS THE PURPOSE OF SCI

SCI FIRST FOR HUNTERS • THE PURPOSE OF SCI…. TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO HUNT AND TO PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION WORLDWIDE oklahomastationsci. org

US/OK residents who hunt (2006) US: Total US population: 229. 2 million US resident who hunt: 12. 5 million (5%) Oklahoma: Total Ok population: 2. 7 million OK resident who hunt: . 2 million (8%)

Hunting in Oklahoma All hunters (res & non)… 2006 • • Hunters. . . . 251, 000 Days of hunting. . . 5, 534, 000 Average days per hunter. . . . . 22 Total expenditures. . . . $476, 657, 000 Trip-related. . . ……. . . . $135, 335, 000 Equipment and other. . …. . . $341, 322, 000 Average per hunter. . . $1, 746 Average trip expenditure per day. . . $24

Hunting in Oklahoma Residents… 2006 • • Hunters. . . . 224, 000 Days of hunting. . . 5, 339, 000 Average days per hunter. . . . . 24 Total expenditures. . . . $418, 504, 000 Trip-related. . . . ……. . . $121, 235, 000 Equipment and other. . . …. . $297, 269, 000 Average per hunter. . . $1, 870 Average trip expenditure per day. . . $23

Hunting in Oklahoma

Some hunting economic facts TOTAL US HUNTING EXPENDITURES IN 2006: $22 BILLION • Hunters spend $605 million on hunting dogs, far more than the $513 million skiers spend on ski equipment. • Each year hunters spend more on food for hunting trips than Americans spend on Domino’s Pizza. • Hunters support more than 500, 000 jobs. • The $2. 4 billion in annual federal income-tax money generated by hunters’ spending would be enough to cover the annual paychecks of 100, 000 U. S. troops.

Oklahoma 1996/2006 Comparison (Numbers in thousands) Hunting 1996 2006 Hunters in state. . . . 297 Days in state. . . . 5, 605 In-state expenditures by U. S. hunters. …. . . $549, 808 State resident hunters. . . 288 Total expenditures by state residents. . … $544, 907 251 5, 534 $476, 657 232 $463, 726 State resident hunters. . . 288 232 ---a decrease of 56, 000, of 19% over 10 years— [In 2001, there were 241, 000 resident hunters in Oklahoma]

SCI FIRST FOR HUNTERS • THE PURPOSE OF SCI…. TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO HUNT AND TO PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION WORLDWIDE

SCI SUPPORTS AND CONTRIBUTES FUNDS LOCALLY & NATIONALLY

Protection of the Freedom to Hunt • FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM TO HUNT & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PRORAMS Thirty percent (30%) of net monies raised by the Oklahoma Station support programs that provide for full time staff lobbyists & biologists in Washington, DC. SCI is the only hunting organization that has full time lobbyists & biologists working to provide sound scientific information to influence legislation and regulations that affect hunting both at the federal and state levels. 70% of funds raised by the Oklahoma Station are used in Oklahoma for hunting education, wildlife conservation and humanitarian services programs. • FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OTHER CHAPTERS NATIONALLY FIGHTING ANTI HUNTING REFERENDUMS IN THEIR STATES

Education • FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR YOUTH EDUCATION & OUTDOOR PROGRAMS - Last Frontier Council - Boy Scouts of America; Eddy Eagle Gun Safety program; Make a Wish Foundation, Youth Hunter Education Challenge & the 4 H Youth Shooting Team. • OKLAHOMA DEPT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COLORING BOOKS - We helped finance 65, 000 wildlife conservation coloring books for school children.

Education, cont’d. APPRENTICE HUNTER PROGRAM -A youth essay writing contest that focuses on America’s hunting heritage; cosponsored by the Okla. Dept of Wildlife Conservation. Three students in the 11 -14 age category will win scholarships to attend a weeklong program at the YO Ranch in Mountain Home, Texas. One boy and one girl, 15 -17, will win a guided pronghorn antelope hunt in New Mexico.

Education, cont’d. THE AMERICAN WILDERNESS LEADERSHIP SCHOOL - Our Chapter and the Okla. Dept. of Wildlife Conservation sponsor one law enforcement officer and one educator for an 8 day experience at SCI’s Granite Ranch near Jackson, Wyoming in fields of wildlife ecology, firearm safety and shooting sports, camping, white water rafting, stream ecology, natural resource management with a base knowledge from which to evaluate conservation efforts.

Education, cont’d. STEP PROGRAM – Okla. Dept of Wildlife Conservation’s Shotgun Training Education Program – OSC-SCI supported this program by purchasing a 26 foot long gooseneck equipment trailer. This trailer carries the program’s portable trap machines, firearms, ammunition and safety and gun maintenance equipment. In the past 10 years 75, 000 persons in the state of Oklahoma (65% are youth under the age of 18) have participated in STEP, leaning the importance of hunting as a conservation and management tool and improving their shooting skills to ensure the humane harvesting of wildlife. This trailer enabled the ODWL to expand this program, reaching thousands more Oklahomans.

Education, cont’d. OKLAHOMA WILDLIFE EXPO 2005 – Our Chapter supported the Okla. Dept Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Expo with workers and with funds. This was the biggest and the most successful comprehensive hands-on outdoor education experience and recreation event in State history. Our Chapter participation was presenting the mounts of the only 6 wild turkeys in the world. It was well received by attendees for its information and educational value. 10, 000 expected; approx 45, 000 attended.

Education, cont’d. WILDLIFE HERITAGE CENTER MUSEUM, ANTLERS, OK. – Our Chapter contributed to the building of the museum/learning center in SE Okla. The operation is a joint agreement of the Okla. Dept of Commerce, Okla. Tourism and Recreation Dept and the Okla. Dept of Wildlife. The facility will be utilized as a regional tourism attraction while at the same time serving as a wildlife and natural resource conservation, public education center.

Education, cont’d. OLYMPIC SHOOTING TEAM - Chapter financial support and coaching by T. D. Smith, Olympic Gold Medalist.

Humanitarian Services • MID-AMERICA CHAPTER OF PARALYZED VETERAMS OF AMERICAN - Chapter donated a “Hunt. Master” for paralyzed veterans. • SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER – Chapter originally funded 100% of operating expenses for the program in excess of $200, 000. In addition, managed the program State-wide in excess of 10 years. • SENSORY SAFARI DAY - A hands-on adventure for sightless and sight-impaired children and adults. Members loan their animal mounts for these people to see for the first time, through their fingertips, animals from around the world. The event is co-sponsored by the Okla. Dept. Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma Station - SCI and the H&H Gun Range.

Conservation • OKLAHOMA HABITAT DONOR PROGRAM - Financial support for the Hackberry Flats Wetlands project, Frederick, OK. Financial support for a “Quality Deer Management” program in Lincoln County, OK. • RESTORATION OF RUFFED GROUSE & PRAIRIE CHICKEN - Financial support towards research and restoration of habitat. • NUISANCE BEAVER CONTROL - Assisted the Okla. Dept of Wildlife Conservation.

Conservation, cont’d. INTRODUCED EIGHT (8) COW AND BULL ELK INTO THE EXISTING HERD IN SE OKLA. - Chapter financed the purchase, transportation and release of 8 elk to improve the gene pool in the existing elk herd in SE Oklahoma in cooperation with the Timberline Elk Ranch, Cushing, Oklahoma and the ODWC.

Conservation, cont’d. 2005 AIR BOAT (18 X 8’), 502 CU. INCH CHEVROLET ENGINE 502 HP RATING WAS PURCHASED FOR OKLA DEPT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION USE. Over the past several years, the ODWC has worked to develop comprehensive lake level plans supporting Japanese millet-seeding programs on Oklahoma Corp of Engineer lakes. The vast majority of these areas are inaccessible to conventional boats due to very shallow water depths and are quite extensive in size ranging from just a few acres to several hundred. The airboat offers a much higher degree of safety and durability, in addition to increased accessibility to the seeding areas, essential to ensuring the program’s continued success.

Conservation, cont’d. ODWC Contributions – Since the foundation of the Oklahoma Station of Safari Club International, over $ 200, 000 has been funded for various Wildlife Department programs either through direct funding or purchase of equipment for ODWC use.

SCI FIRST FOR HUNTERS • THE PURPOSE OF SCI…. TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO HUNT AND TO PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION WORLDWIDE oklahomastationsci. org