In August 2000, thirty-five conservation organizations attended a summit that could have a profound effect on the future of wildlife during the 21st Century.

The summit was facilitated by the Boone and Crockett Club at their George C. Hixon Conservation Summit Center in Missoula, Montana. This meeting brought together the leadership of 35 wildlife organizations representing 4.5 million hunter/ conservationists and resulted in the formation of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP).

The AWCP met for the purpose of building unity, identifying key wildlife issues and developing a vision for wildlife for the 21st century that could form the basis for the conservation agenda for decades to come.

A key tactic that has evolved over the years of the AWCP partnership is the use of “sign-on” letters that are sent to key Committee Chairs and/or Members of Congress, as well as to federal agency secretaries, to address specific issues of concern. Any individual AWCP group can generate a sign-on letter on an issue or topic of concern, and through the AWCP network, other organizations are invited to sign onto the letter as co-signatories.

Working with the Congress and the leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus on a daily basis, a well-placed letter with 30 or more hunting conservation organizations, representing millions of sportsmen and women, can have a significant impact on the legislative debate.

The AWCP has leveraged this power of a broad sportsmen’s coalition to win key victories in the Congress, including the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, Firearms Lawsuit Liability Protection Act, the Electronic Duck Stamp Act, the Reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and many others.

“In an arena where groups compete for membership, sponsorship dollars and recognition, the AWCP partnership is cutting across the lines and delivering results that benefit the greater conservation good, while still enhancing the records of success for the individual organizations.”  Jeff Crane, CSF President.

Read Jeff Crane's Article in Boone & Crockett's Fair Chase