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Simon Darling
Aoraki Guided Hunts
New Zealand

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6.5 Million People Expected To Attend 2010 Fall Hunting Classics Across America And Canada

Monday, July 26, 2010

Springfield, Missouri -The Fall Hunting Classics are a tradition at Bass Pro Shops and an event that some 6.5 million people are expected to attend this year. Why is this important? “Because hunting is big business,” says Bass Pro Shops spokeswoman Katie Mitchell.

And, indeed it is. A report by the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation cites America’s 34 million hunters and anglers are an economic powerhouse-spending some $8.6 million an hour. If this $76 billion-a-year industry were a corporation it would be among America’s 20 largest, ahead of Target, Costco and AT&T.

“The Bass Pro Shops Fall Classic is a huge event and hunters and other outdoor sportsmen and -women look forward to it all year long,” said Mitchell. “Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to learn the secret techniques and strategies used by professionals to gain a better advantage in the field, see all the latest products and attend workshops and seminars. And, there is a ‘ripple effect’ as other area retailers, gas stations, hotels and restaurants benefit as well from the increased traffic the Classic generates,” Mitchell added.

This 17-day event will be held August 6th through August 22nd at 51 Bass Pro Shops retail locations across the United States and Canada and it is all free.

Hunting and fishing sportsmen directly support 1.6 million jobs, spend more than a billion dollars just on licenses, stamps, tags and permits, and they generate $25 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes. More than 12.5 million hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts pump $24.9 billion into the economy each year.

But the buck doesn’t stop there. It is vitally important that today’s youth get involved in the outdoors so they can become the stewards and conservationists of tomorrow to insure the maintenance and well-being of our natural resources. “I’ve heard it said that if you don’t have a fishing rod in the hands of a youngster by the time they are 8 years old, the chances of getting them to go fishing later in life diminishes dramatically,” said Mitchell. “I would think the same applies to getting them introduced to hunting and shooting sports,” she continued.

This is important because the sale of hunting licenses, tags and stamps is the primary source of funding for most state wildlife conservation efforts. Hunters and anglers have always been, and continue to be, the largest contributors to government wildlife conservation programs. Through excise taxes and license revenues, these sportsmen have contributed more than $10 billion dollars to conservation and provide more than 80% of the funding for most state fish and wildlife agencies. Just from hunters alone, nearly $200 million in hunters’ federal excise taxes are distributed to State agencies to support wildlife each year.

(All statistics are from the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation report “Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force as big as all outdoors.” It can be accessed online at www.sportsmenslink.org)

Some of the special events during the Bass Pro Shops 2010 Fall Hunting Classic include:
• Aug. 6-8 – Bass Pro Shops Free Hunting University. Nationally recognized professional hunters and outdoorsmen will be at stores to give seminars and talk about their experiences. Friday 5-9pm Saturday and Sunday Noon – 5pm (Visit www.basspro.com/classics for individual store location listing of seminar pros, topics and times)
• Aug. 6-22 – Preferred Rewards
• August 9 – 18 Additional savings up to $100 off when using your Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Rewards Visa. U.S. stores only.
• Aug. 12-17 – Binocular Trade-In. Trade in your old pair of binoculars and save on any new binocular purchase. See a store associate for details.
• Aug. 21-22 – Next Generation Weekend. Noon to 5pm. Activities include Free youth seminars (1pm and 3pm), Free Shooting Arcade*, BB gun/pellet gun range*, archery range*, paintball cage, (*in stores where available), deer sun catch craft 12N to 2pm (while supplies last). Youths will receive a punch card to be punched once for every activity they complete. Once the card is full youths will receive a “Bass Pro Shops Next Generation” logo drawpack (while supplies last).
• Aug. 21-22 – PictureU Free Photo. Picture yourself on the cover of an Outdoor Life Magazine! Saturday and Sunday Noon – 5pm
• Aug. 14-15 and 21-22-ATV Test Drive* 12Noon – 5pm

In addition, customers will be able to register August 6th – 22nd for a sweepstakes to win a 3-Day Spring Turkey Hunt in Kansas with Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, Hosts of “The Crush” TV show and RedHead Pro Hunting Team Members (visit www.basspro.com/winahunt for details). Plus, one winner in every store will win a RedHead® Hunting Gear Package with a retail value of $560.00 (US), $733.00 (CAD) that includes a RedHead deluxe gear bag, Enigma Hub-Style hunting blind, Epic binoculars, RedHead 12-can soft side cooler, RedHead caliber waist packs and RedHead bow/rifle pack. (Contest rules: Customers may also enter to win online at www.basspro.com. 52 First Place winners will be drawn and one Grand Prize winner will be drawn nationally. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes begins 08/06/10 and ends 08/22/10.)

For more information on the free Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic go to www.basspro.com/classic.

About Bass Pro Shops Group:
Bass Pro Shops -56 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 109 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.

Tracker Marine Group – Manufactures and sells Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Tahoe, Grizzly, Fisher, Pro Craft, Kenner, Mako, and SeaCraft boats through Bass Pro Shops retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide. Visit www.trackerboats.com

Resort Group – Big Cedar Lodge and other resort properties including restaurants and golf course. Visit www.bigcedar.com for more information.
Contact:
Larry Whiteley (417) 873-5022 lwhiteley@basspro.com
Katie Mitchell (417) 873-5618 kamitchell@basspro.com
Jenna Kendall (417) 873-5059 jmkendall@basspro.com

Monday, July 26, 2010

WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have announced the appointments of 18 people to the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, a group created earlier this year to advise the two departments about recreational hunting and shooting sports activities and associated wildlife and habitat conservation.

“Inspired by the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt, hunters long have taken the lead in the conservation of our nation’s wildlife and its habitat, and I am pleased so many of the leaders in our nation’s hunting and conservation community have accepted an invitation to serve on the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council,” said Salazar. “At the recent America’s Great Outdoors conference, President Obama said that few pursuits are more satisfying to the spirit than discovering the greatness of America’s outdoors. I look forward to working with the council to help fulfill my generation’s obligation to ensure that the next generation enjoys a thriving wildlife heritage.”

“Maintaining and conserving wildlife habitat and water resources that are so important to America’s hunting and angling heritage in the face of today’s conservation challenges requires a coordinated effort between federal, state, and local officials and partners in the private sector,” said Vilsack. “The members of Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council will play a crucial role in our ongoing efforts to improve the health and management of America’s public and private lands.”

The secretaries announced the appointment of the following individuals – whose terms begin immediately – to serve on the council for a two-year term:

M. David Allen (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)
Jeffrey S. Crane (Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation)
Robert R. Fithian (Alaska Professional Hunters Association, Inc.)
John E. Frampton (SC Department of Natural Resources)
Thomas Franklin (Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership)
Ron Heward (rancher, Bates Hole/Shirley Basin Sage Grouse Working Group)
Robert Manes (The Nature Conservancy)
Frederick D. Maulson (Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission)
Tommy Millner (Cabela’s)
Robert Model (Boone and Crockett Club)
Joanna Prukop (Freedom to Roam)
Stephen L. Sanetti (National Shooting Sports Foundation)
Larry Schweiger (National Wildlife Federation)
Christine L. Thomas (College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin)
George C. Thornton (National Wild Turkey Federation)
John Tomke (Ducks Unlimited)
Howard K. Vincent (Pheasants Forever)
Steve Williams (Wildlife Management Institute)

The council is an official advisory group under the Federal Advisory Committee Act that will help to promote and preserve America’s hunting heritage for future generations. It will also provide a forum for sportsmen and women to advise the federal government on policies related to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that (a) benefit recreational hunting; (b) benefit wildlife resources; and (c) encourage partnership among the public, the sporting conservation community, the shooting and hunting sports industry, wildlife conservation organizations, the states, Native American tribes, and the federal government.

The new council replaces and improves upon the previously existing Sporting Conservation Council by expanding membership to include the hunting and shooting sports industries, as well as including broader representation from the nation’s major hunting organizations. The council’s charter also more clearly defines its responsibilities in supporting the public, the sporting conservation community, the shooting and hunting sports industry, wildlife conservation organizations, and the State and Federal governments.

The five federal agencies playing a key role in supporting and maintaining America’s hunting heritage – the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Farm Service Agency – will appoint organizational members to the council to provide additional support, guidance and coordination.
Contact:
Hugh Vickery, DOI (202) 208-6416
Joshua Winchell, FWS (703) 358-2639
USDA Communications Office (202) 720-4623