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The Super Slam of North American Big Game™ is the completion of taking and registering the 29 traditionally recognized trophy animals of North America. One of the 29 is the polar bear. (view the complete list) The anti-hunting world, along with the USF&WS and the global warming contingent, have recently made a push to get the polar bear on CITES Appendix I. This, of course, would render the polar bear as an endangered species and for all practical purposes would stop polar bear hunting… except by the native peoples of the Arctic. Many Grand Slam Club/Ovis™ members who are working toward their Super Slam have been concerned about this push to list the polar bear. They have been asking questions such as, “What is GSCO and the Super Slam going to do if the polar bear is uplisted to endangered and becomes unhuntable?” This of course is a legitimate question and the reason for this press release. Good news! It appears that for now, the polar bear and the native peoples of the Arctic have won. Below is a report from John Jackson III and Conservation Force: No one worked closer with our Arctic friends at the 15th CoP of CITES in Doha than Conservation Force because we represent them in the polar bear listing litigation. The U.S. proposal to list their bear on CITES Appendix I was opposed by Canada, the 27 countries of the EU, and even WWF and the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group. The CITES Secretariat also urged rejection. They did not think it met the listing criteria at all, but the USF&WS and anti’s wanted it listed. The U.S. was ready and willing to further compromise the bear's conservation and the welfare of the Arctic people to tout climate change. In effect, the USF&WS is willing to punish these innocent people and sacrifice them when they have done nothing wrong. The Canadian Wildlife Service, Denmark, and numerous authorities told the USF&WS that listing as proposed would harm the bear, but they wholly disregarded those concerns. The anti’s hosted lunches, gave out hundreds of small bear pins and labels, travel tags and more. The Arctic representatives pointed out that there are no trees or plants where they live, and the bears will be taken by them regardless. The bears are healthy and abundant and, if listed, the parts of the bears taken will still be used but at less return. It must be remembered that these people have already largely lost seal trade, which are so abundant, and now some want their bear too. They still need and want hunters. I urge everyone to help Conservation Force protect our Arctic friends, lest they end up on Government welfare rolls. Without guiding hunters, they won't have the money to buy equipment to hunt, such as snowmobiles. We were proud to champion their cause at CITES. Polar bears are at record numbers and need hunting. Thanks, John, for this up-to-date report. Even though U.S. citizens are still not able to import polar bears, these plentiful bears are however, at least huntable. We are convinced that hunting is the greatest conservation tool. By the polar bear continuing to be hunted, it will have the greatest value and thus insure its conservation. GSCO is pleased to continue requiring the polar bear as one of the 29 needed trophies for the coveted Super Slam of North American Big Game.
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