North American Assembly of Outfitter Associations to discuss sustaining the heritage of hunting, wildlife management issues at Bozeman workshop
BOZEMAN, MT – July 3, 2018
The preservation of hunting and the latest science on chronic wasting disease are two topics that will be highlighted when the North American Assembly of Outfitter Associations convenes in Bozeman at the Best Western GranTree Inn on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11.
The talks are part of an annual workshop for a collection of 19 outfitting associations in the United States and Canada that represent 20,000 small businesses. Safari Club International has been holding the workshop since 2001 to foster collaboration on issues important to the outfitting and guiding industry.
Samantha Gibbs, a wildlife veterinarian with the Fish and Wildlife Service and a leading expert on chronic wasting disease, will share the latest research on CWD, a neurological condition affecting ungulates that was detected in a number of deer in Montana last year. CWD has significant implications for wildlife management and hunting; outfitting industry groups have been working with wildlife managers to proactively address it.
Experts speaking about initiatives geared toward sustaining hunting’s heritage across North America include Tuesday night’s keynote speaker, Michael Sabbath, a Denver-based attorney and author of The Honorable Hunter: Defending and Advancing Our Hunting Heritage; John Boretsky, the Guide and Outfitters Liaison for Safari Club International and a board member of the International Conservation Coalition; Daniel Brooks, Safari Club International Foundation’s Director of Education and Humanitarian Services; and Diana Rupp, the editor-in-chief of Sports Afield who will present on the efforts of the Nimrod Society, an organization formed to educate the non-hunting public about the beneficial role hunters and anglers play in society. Information on the National Rifle Association’s Hunters’ Leadership Forum will be available as well.
“This workshop can turn into a force multiplier on policy decisions for international issues like the future of hunting and chronic wasting disease,” said Mac Minard, the Executive Director of Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. “This collection of industry leaders will help associations from New Mexico to Quebec leverage their experiences to sustain the future of outfitting and guiding.”
This is the first year that the workshop is being held in Bozeman. In addition to discussing important industry trends and issues, attendees will have the opportunity to explore some of the touchstone Montana experiences like an afternoon of fly fishing on the Gallatin River, a tour of Ted Turner’s 113,000-acre Flying D Ranch and a horseback ride into the Spanish Peaks.
“The Montana Outfitters and Guides Association is absolutely delighted to be hosting such a neat event,” said Minard, who is serving as the U.S. chair of the workshop. “Outfitting is a cornerstone of Montana’s economy and we look forward to showcasing the best Montana has to offer.”
About MOGA
The Montana Outfitters and Guides Association is proud to include more than 200 of Montana’s professional licensed outfitters and guides with operations that span the state’s regions. With years of experience guiding hunters, fishermen, horseback riders, skiers and snowmobilers, our outfitters will show you the best of Montana in a vacation that’s personalized to your needs.
About SCI
Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI has approximately 200 Chapters worldwide and its members represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the homepage at www.safariclub.org or call 520-620-1220 for more information.
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