Hunting organizations
SCI: promoting wildlife and the freedom to hunt
In 1972 in the United States, John Mc Elroy founded the Safari Club International (SCI), an organization which has well thought out operating principles which work towards the goals of
bringing hunters together and promoting their interests and the freedom to hunt,
– protecting wildlife and habitats,
– improving social acceptance of hunters,
– full support and guidance for hunting,
– deepening hunting knowledge,
– which, in turn, creates the resources to allow for the education of future generations of hunters.
Because of Mc Elroy’s educational programs, there is much less anti-hunting sentiment in the United States than in Europe. He was able to highlight the fact that hunting and conservation can harmonize with each and work together as one for the common good of all.
SCI has given more than $ 100 million towards the protection of species threatened with extinction in the wild. The SCI is the world’s largest international voluntary hunting organization with branches in 36 countries worldwide including Hungary. It boasts more than 60,000 members in nearly 190 regional chapters. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), between 1970 and 2005, a quarter of the earth’s land animal species became extinct but it is exactly the philosophy of the SCI to slow this unfortunate situation and to stop the hunting of certain animals. SCI income stems from membership fees and various publications, events, its registered trophy record book and various other fees associated with the award system.
Grand Slam Club/Ovis
Grand Slam Club/Ovis is an organization of hunter / conservationists dedicated to preserving wild sheep and goat populations worldwide. The Club was officially founded in February 1956.
In March 2001 the Grand Slam Club technically became known as Grand Slam Club/Ovis, it has nearly 5.000 members worldwide. Grand Slam Club/Ovis have accomplished funding over $4,060,584 toward conservation, within the period 1990 – 2008.
The purposes and objectives of Grand Slam Club/Ovis are to:
Continue to be the established documentation and records-keeping organization for legally-taken Grand Slams of North American wild mountain sheep, Ovis World Slams of wild sheep of the world, and Capra World Slams of wild goats of the world.
Many hunters do not stop after achieving the 12 sheep or goats required to document an Ovis World Slam or Capra World Slam. For those, GSCO has the additional designation of the Ovis World Slam Super 20, Super 30 and Super 40, requiring the documentation of 20, 30 or 40 species/subspecies of sheep, and the Capra World Slam Super 20 and Super 30 for the registration of 20 and 30 species/subspecies of goats.
An additional recognition is awarded to those who have completed a Grand Slam, an Ovis World Slam and a Capra World Slam. This combination of all three Slams is known, appropriately, as the Triple Slam™.
Encourage the use of legally issued permits, tags, and/or licenses for the hunting of wild mountain sheep and goats.
Inform and educate people of the world about wild mountain sheep and goats.
Use financial resources received from membership dues, donations, or fund-raising events to benefit, directly or indirectly, wild mountain sheep and goats of the world by contributing these funds to/through established state, provincial, federal, or governmental game and wildlife agencies or other non-profit wildlife conservation organizations.
The three main groups of wild mountain sheep and goats are as follows:
– North American Wild Sheep
– International Sheep
– Goats, Tahr and Capra