Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack yesterday announced the creation of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council to promote and preserve America's hunting heritage.

"Sportsmen and women applaud both Secretary Salazar and Secretary Vilsack for providing us with a seat at the table through a formal advisory role on key issues of concern to hunter conservationists," said CSF President Jeff Crane. "Revenue generated from hunting licenses, duck stamps and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment provides billions of dollars for habitat across the nation, and provides the principal source of funding for state wildlife agencies."

The press conference and Charter signing was held at Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial in Washington, D.C, and was attended by many hunting, fishing and conservation organizations, including the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF), who look to be a part of the new Federal Advisory Council on Wildlife Conservation and Hunting Issues. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzerwas also on hand to lend his support for the new advisory council.

"Theodore Roosevelt understood the vital role that hunting plays in American life, as well as the importance of protecting lands and wildlife to sustain that tradition," said Secretary Salazar. "The early efforts of America's hunters and anglers to preserve our nation's wildlife heritage fueled the modern conservation movement and left us the natural bounty we are now entrusted with protecting."

The new federal advisory provides a forum for sports men 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.

"Today's conservation challenges demand that we all step forward and embrace the important work necessary to maintain and conserve the wildlife habitat and water resources that are so important to America's hunting and angling heritage," said Secretary Vilsack.

The new Council replaces the previously existing Sporting Conservation Council (SCC) by expanding membership to include the archery, hunting and shooting sports industries, as well as including broader representation from the nation's major hunting organizations. Crane served as Vice Chairman of the SCC, and CSF Board Member, Bob Model, served as Chairman of the SCC.

A podcast of today's announcement is available at: http://doi.gov/news/podcasts/-- Jay Cassell

February 3, 2010 (WASHINGTON, DC) - Member organizations of the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (C.A.R.E), including the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF), reaffirmed their commitment to the National Wildlife Refuge System today in a meeting at the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI).

Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director, Sam Hamilton, and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks and DOI Chief of Staff Tom Strickland spoke to the members about the importance of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the collective efforts of the C.A.R.E. coalition to support necessary funding to the system.

"The conservation agenda for the 21st century should surpass the conservation agenda that goes back to the days of Theodore Roosevelt," said Secretary Salazar. "We are doing some heavy lifting against the backdrop of huge budget deficits, including funding for the refuge system and DOI in general."

"Sportsmen's access to America's refuge system is a key to maintaining sportsmen support, especially in light of the fact that waterfowl hunters help pay for the refuge system through the federal duck stamp program," said CSF President Jeff Crane.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of C.A.R.E as it was created in 1995 as a loose coalition of diverse organizations concerned about the ability of our National Wildlife Refuges to fulfill their missions. C.A.R.E has worked together as a coalition representing over 15 million Americans who enjoy wildlife refuges for hunting, fishing, and conservation and whose purpose is to increase the level of operations and maintenance funding for the 150 million acre system.

With support from CSF through the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, along with the other member organizations of C.A.R.E., the system has received a steady increase of funding, and C.A.R. E. has requested $578 million in operations and maintenance funding for 2011, which is an increase of $75 million over FY 2010.

"A more targeted approach with engagement by sportsmen might broaden bipartisan appeal on Capitol Hill, potentially leading to the increased funding sought by the C.A.R.E. partners," offered Strickland.

The current members of CARE are:

American Birding Association
American Fisheries Society
American Sportfishing Association
Assateague Coastal Trust
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Defenders of Wildlife
Ducks Unlimited
Izaak Walton League of America
National Audubon Society
National Rifle Association of America
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Refuge Association
Safari Club International
The Corps Network
The Nature Conservancy
The Wilderness Society
The Wildlife Society
Trout Unlimited
U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance
Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Management Institute

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) received laboratory confirmation on January 19, 2010, that a white-tailed deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). This is the first confirmed case of CWD in Virginia. The deer was killed by a hunter in Frederick County less than one mile from the West Virginia line. With this case, Virginia now joins 17 other states and Canadian provinces with CWD, five of which are east of the Mississippi River.

“This was not unexpected,” stated VDGIF Executive Director Bob Duncan. “Our wildlife professionals have been preparing for this for some time. The surveillance efforts have been critical and we appreciate the hunters, check station operators, and other cooperators who have supported our efforts.”

CWD is a disease of deer and has not been found to be transmitted to humans or other animals.

This is the first positive test sample out of nearly 5,000 deer tested in the Commonwealth since 2001. VDGIF has been sampling hunter-killed and road-killed deer from the Active Surveillance Area in western Frederick and Shenandoah counties since 2005, when CWD was first detected near Slanesville, West Virginia, within ten miles of the state line. Between 2005 and 2009, CWD has been detected in 62 deer in Hampshire County, West Virginia, out of nearly 10,000 total deer sampled during that time. Several have been found within five miles of the Virginia line.

To learn more about CWD in Virginia and about the agency’s CWD Response Plan visit the VDGIF web site: www.dgif.virginia.gov/cwd -- Jay Cassell