While the politics of Washington, DC may seem a thousand miles from your favorite hunting grounds or fishing spots, elected officials and government decision-makers have a direct impact on your ability to enjoy the great outdoors. Having a voice in our nation’s capital to promote and protect our hunting and fishing traditions is critical to the future of these valued outdoor pastimes.

Fortunately, there is an organization in Washington, DC whose mission is to serve as the sportsmen’s link to Congress – it is the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

CSF provides advice, support and information to members of Congress through its affiliation with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus – a bi-partisan group of more than 300 U.S. Representatives and Senators who are allies of sportsmen. This gives CSF a unique niche that is unparalleled by any other sportsmen’s organization.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), founded in 1902, represents the government agencies responsible for North America’s fish and wildlife resources. IAFWA applies expertise in science, policy, economics and coalition-building to serve its members as a national and international voice on a broad array of wildlife and conservation issues.

With the same dedication it has brought to restoring wild turkey populations across North America, the NWTF is delivering, and in some cases re-introducing, the beauty and excitement of the outdoors to thousands of disabled people through its outreach program, Wheelin' Sportsmen.

The program was created by a merger between the Alabama-based Wheelin' Sportsmen of America and the NWTF. Wheelin' Sportsmen is the realization of both organizations' commitment to creating a national effort to provide the disabled with opportunities to get out and enjoy outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, bird watching and much more.

Today, disabled women, kids and men of all ages are once again enjoying the outdoors. For more information about Wheelin' Sportsmen, call (800) THE-NWTF.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (Fomerly the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America 'WLFA') provides direct lobbying and grassroots coalition support to protect and advance the rights of hunters, fishermen, trappers and scientific wildlife management professionals. This is accomplished through coalition building, ballot issue campaigning and legislative and government relations. Contributions to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, a 501 (C) 4 organization, are not tax deductible unless you are in an outdoors related industry.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation protects and defends America's wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits -- hunting, fishing and trapping -- which generate the money to pay for them. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs, coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Contributions to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation, a 501(C) 3 organization, are tax deductible.

The Mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The NSSF's purpose is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and delivering programs and services to meet the identified needs of our members by measurably advancing participation in and understanding of the hunting and shooting sports.

Formed in 1961, The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is the trade association for the firearms and recreational shooting sports industry. The purpose of their web site is to foster a more free and accurate exchange of information about all aspects of hunting and the target shooting sports—between industry and public, the media and their audiences, and within the industry.

The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a congressionally chartered veterans service organization founded in 1946, is devoted to meeting the special needs of its members— veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the nation’s largest recreational marine industry association, representing over 1,600 boat builders, engine manufacturers, and marine accessory manufacturers. NMMA members collectively produce more than 80 percent of all recreational marine products made in the United States. Recreational boating is a popular American pastime, with almost 71 million boaters nationwide and over 13 million registered boats. The recreational boating industry is a substantial contributor to the nation’s economy with expenditures on recreational marine products and services of over $37 billion in 2005 alone.

The NWTF is a 521,000-member, grassroots, nonprofit organization with members in 50 states, Canada and 15 other foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.

National Hunting and Fishing Day is always observed the fourth Saturday in September.

National Hunting and Fishing Day, the 34-year-old annual celebration honoring the contribution of hunters and anglers to the nation's economy, conservation causes and heritage, is shifting headquarters. Along with the move to Wonders of Wildlife, the National Fish and Wildlife Museum in Springfield, Missouri, is promise of a new injection of enthusiasm and funding to promote the day of recognition.

NHF Day was founded and fostered by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, beginning with President Richard M. Nixon signing the Congressional act to proclaim the first celebration in 1972. That proclamation sets aside the fourth Saturday in September as the day of sportsmen's recognition, and that first year all 50 governors and 600 mayors proclaimed National Hunting and Fishing Day within their borders as well.

News Release - August 19, 2006 - POMA teams with Wonders of Wildlife