[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL RESOLUTION ON ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR SPORTSMEN

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Safari Club International, an 
international sportsmen's conservation organization dedicated to 
promote conservation of wildlife of the world as a valuable renewable 
resource in which hunting is one management tool among many, recently 
adopted a resolution establishing guidelines for polar bear hunting. 
Since Congress recently amended the Marine Mammal Protection Act to 
allow U.S. citizens to import legally harvested polar bear trophies 
from Canada, the resolution is very timely. I, therefore, commend this 
resolution to my colleagues.
  The text of the resolution follows:

                  Safari Club International Resolution

       Whereas Congress recently recognized the value of the 
     hunter in the management of the polar bear in Canada by 
     passing the Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 1994, 
     which permit U.S. citizens to import legally harvested polar 
     bear trophies, and
       Whereas S.C.I. is deeply committed to the well founded 
     principal that conservation and selective harvest by 
     sportsmen provide for expansion of wildlife populations and 
     the vast majority of funds to accomplish the same for the 
     benefit of all concerned, and
       Whereas S.C.I. is committed to the ethical conduct and 
     supportive role sportsmen and women should play in enhancing 
     respect for the environment, respect for each other, respect 
     for wildlife and respect for the traditions of hunting and 
     fishing, and
       Whereas conservation of polar bears is the cornerstone of 
     management strategies of the U.S. Government, the Canadian 
     Government, and the Government of the Northwest Territories 
     of Canada, and
       Whereas these steps build a foundation for further 
     expansion of the polar bear population in Canada and around 
     the world;
       Therefore Safari Club International hereby establishes the 
     following guidelines for its members who hunt polar bear, and 
     furthermore requests that these guidelines are followed by 
     all who are in any way involved in polar bear hunting. These 
     guidelines are issued in pursuit of deportment and conduct by 
     U.S. hunters and outfitters which will demonstrate their true 
     commitment to preserving our hunting heritage, as well as 
     conserving the polar bear and its habitat:
       Therefore be it resolved, that each hunter avoid even the 
     appearance of impropriety, and
       That each hunter shall strictly adhere to all laws, 
     guidelines and customs, and
       That pursuit, harassment or hazing of bear by helicopter, 
     aircraft or snowmobile will result in ethics committee action 
     and may disqualify a bear from record book entry, and
       That the time honored customs of the area regarding fair 
     chase be honored, and
       That S.C.I. recommends that any video and photography be 
     done in an appropriate manner that shows respect for 
     wildlife, that emphasizes conservation, that focuses on the 
     stalk and a humane termination, and
       That the harvesting of a polar bear must be secondary to 
     participating in the hunt, one of the truly unique 
     experiences in the world of hunting. Dogsled transportation, 
     authentic Inuit clothing, Inuit guides, the Arctic 
     environment, and the search for the white giants on the ice 
     should be reward enough. The trophy should be viewed as a 
     bonus if it comes, and
       That the U.S. polar bear hunter must direct the hunt toward 
     conservation, which means harvesting a mature male polar 
     bear. Harvesting such polar bears is good conservation 
     because it removes cannibalistic males, and leaves younger 
     bears and females in the population. The hunter always 
     accepts the risk of going home empty-handed as a part of the 
     hunt experience. In the case of polar bear hunting, 
     harvesting any bear that is other than a mature male is to be 
     avoided virtually at all costs. The hunter must be prepared 
     to forego opportunities to take lesser bears, even if it 
     means taking no bear at all, and
       That we must encourage, promote and assist continued 
     excellent management of the polar bear in Canada, and assist 
     the government there to continue to adequately fund the polar 
     bear management programs. Stable or increasing polar bear 
     populations are the norm there currently, and every effort 
     should be expended to assure a continued flow of accurate and 
     reliable scientific data, harvest statistics, and other 
     necessary information on the polar bear population. This will 
     insure that future harvest quotas are appropriate, and that 
     the Canadian polar bear population will remain healthy, and
       Be it further resolved, that the U.S. hunter is under 
     observation. We have won a heard-fought victory based on 
     undeniable indications that the change will contribute 
     positively to conservation of the polar bear. We must exhibit 
     our highest level of ethnical behavior in the field while 
     hunting polar bear, to demonstrate our commitment of 
     responsibility to the world, and to model such conduct for 
     our Inuit hosts. With the privilege of hunting these 
     magnificent creatures comes a correspondingly lofty level of 
     obligation that each hunter should recognize before 
     undertaking a polar bear hunt.
                                               D. Patrick Bollman,
     President.

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