Draft of the Millennium Accord on North America's Hunting Heritage Accord

Presented at the Governor's and Premier's Symposium on North America's Hunting Heritage -August 2000 in Ontario, Canada.

Discussion on adoption of a final Accord is scheduled for the Governor's and Premier's Symposium on Hunting Heritage in Austin, Texas in 2002.

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Four Purposes are identified for the Accord:

1. Create a philosophical environment for consensus and action on hunting related programs, strategies and initiatives.
2. Showcase and renew hunters contributions and commitments to wildlife conservation.
3. Provide focus to hunters' efforts mot only in wildlife conservation, but in hunter education, safety, recruitment, ethics and cooperative initiatives with others.
4. Provide a basis for progress reporting by agencies and organizations associated with hunting.

• whereas hunting is the lawful and responsible pursuit of wildlife, including the opportunity to harvest animals for food, clothing and cultural purposes; and
• whereas hunting remains a relevant and enduring part of our culture and heritage, providing sustenance for the human spirit and a vital link to understanding and appreciating an ever-changing natural world; and
• whereas hunting provides a continuing and sustainable source of healthy natural food that enriches the body as well as the soul; and
• whereas early leaders of the hunting community-Audubon, Seton, Thoreau, Roosevelt, Leopold, Clarke and others-recognized and promoted the need for conservation policies and programs to benefit all wild creatures in North America; and
• whereas the hunting community has always been in the forefront of ensuring the continuing welfare of all wildlife and their habitats; and ' whereas the hunting community generates many billions of dollars annually in support of habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement that has benefited all wildlife; and
• whereas hunting is carefully regulated to prevent the endangerment of wildlife populations; and
• whereas hunted species continue to be sustainable in response to science based management, careful regulation and habitat conservation; and
• whereas the hunting community stands ready to work co-operatively with all groups whose goal is to ensure the well being of all wildlife populations; and
• whereas the hunting community strives to improve understanding among all participants including aboriginal peoples and
• whereas the hunting community and government agencies have developed and implemented hunter safety and education programs that have reduced accidents to a rate which is lower than most other outdoor activities.

Therefore, the North American hunting community and the agencies that regulate the activity, hereby declare their support for and agree to take action on the following articles. By these undertakings, the activity of hunting will continue to be ecologically sustainable, safe, lawful, ethical and true to the hunting heritage of our forefathers.

Article 1: The North American hunting community pledges to conduct itself in a manner that will maintain and strengthen public acceptance of hunting and hunters.

Article 2: The North American hunting community and associated agencies and organizations will work co-operatively and constructively in the funding and delivery of hunting-related programs and in the collection and use of science based information to manage wildlife populations and their habitats.

Article 3: The North American hunting community will develop, articulate and personally adhere to ethical principles and practices, including the spirit of fair chase, which will guide their conduct before, during and after the hunt.

Article 4: The North American hunting community will maintain and strengthen its longstanding commitment to the conservation of wildlife and its habitat, through the funding and support of ecologically sustainable initiatives.

Article 5: The North American hunting community will participate, as appropriate, at the global level, in support of wildlife conservation, including the consumptive uses of wildlife that are legal and ecologically sustainable.

Article 6: The North American hunting community will continue to support initiatives that promote natural resource conservation and public safety, and that preserve hunting cultures and traditions.

Article 7: The North American hunting community will continue to seek an appropriate balance between the use of new technologies in hunting and their impact on the resource, the experience, the application of skills and the maximization of opportunities for hunter access.

Article 8: The North American hunting community, associated agencies and organizations that finance, deliver and regulate hunting programs will ensure staff are knowledgeable of the richness and diversity of our hunting culture and heritage.

Article 9: The North American hunting community and associated agencies and organizations will develop and implement initiatives that retain and recruit participants.

Article 10: The North American hunting community will share the rich history and traditions of hunting in all its forms with future generations in a manner that reflects respect for the quarry and the responsibilities of the hunter.

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