Wildlife Council Toolkit
From grassroots support to legislative language and partner connections, let the Nimrod Society help you!
Why Establish a Wildlife Council?
Utilizing hunters and anglers as active participants through funding wildlife councils (i.e. legislation), these citizen-led bodies are uniquely positioned to educate the general public about the positive role hunters and anglers have. Citizen-led, volunteer wildlife councils can help instill the positive and critical role hunters and anglers play through education campaigns highlighting the facts about hunting, fishing and their role in wildlife management.
Ballot-box Biology
Increasingly, anti-hunting organizations are using ballot initiatives in states where available to attack hunting rights and science-based conservation principles.
Wildlife Management
Wildlife management and protection of America’s iconic species is funded almost wholly by hunters and anglers. Total, hunters and anglers contribute $1.2 B DIRECTLY toward conservation annually.
Habitat & Public Access
Hunter and angler license dollars fund wildlife habitat and public land access, and ensure activities like bird watching, camping, mountain biking and other recreational activities are possible.
Science & Conservation
Modern-day hunting and The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation are founded in scientific principles. No species has gone extinct due to hunting under the North American Model and numerous recovered.
State Wildlife Agency Budgets
Hunters and anglers account for about 70% of state wildlife agency budgets. This amounts to roughly $3.6 B annually. Without these dollars, state wildlife agency work as we know it would be impossible.
Steps to Establish a Wildlife Council
Follow these essential steps to create an effective wildlife council:
1
Grassroots Messaging
Develop clear and compelling messages to engage your community and raise awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation.
2
Partner Engagement
Collaborate with local organizations, conservation groups and other stakeholders to build a strong network of support. Mobilizing grassroots support is critical to establishment of a council.
3
Legislative Advocacy
Work with the Nimrod Society and its partners to connect with legislators, draft and promote legislation that supports wildlife conservation and the establishment of a Wildlife Council.
4
Hiring a third-party Marketing Firm
Engage a professional, third-party marketing firm to help spread Wildlife Council messages placing hunters and anglers in a positive light.
1. Key Features of Grassroots Messaging
Community Engagement
Effective grassroots messaging starts with engaging the community through local events, social media, and public forums.
Clear and Consistent Messaging
Ensure that your message is clear, consistent, and resonates with your target audience to build trust and support.
Collaborative Partnerships
Form partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and influencers to amplify your message and reach a broader audience.
2. Partner Engagement
Working toward the establishment of a Wildlife Council, conservation organizations, sportsmen and sportswomen, and hunters and anglers are doing their part in helping the general public understand conservation, how it is funded and who funds it.
Establishing strong partnerships early on in the process of establishing a Wildlife Council will help achieve long-term success. These partnerships help form a cohesive message and strategy toward establishing a Wildlife Council.
The Nimrod Society and its partners can help connect organizations and prospective advocates together. Connecting with us is easy, and we look forward to connecting you with partners supportive of The Wildlife Council Model.
3. State-based Advocacy
Establishment of a Wildlife Council requires passage of legislation. Ensuring legislators understand the value of a Wildlife Council and what benefits it will bring is critical.
The Nimrod Society and its partners can help connect you with legislators and partners to help navigate the legislative process.
Below, you will find model wildlife legislation that was successfully used to establish the Michigan Wildlife Council. You can also download a model Pittman-Robertson Act Compliance resource to help ensure your Wildlife Council receives the best chance at success and receiving funding.
Need help? Want to meet other advocates and partners? The Nimrod Society is here for you!
Model Wildlife Council Legislation
The Nimrod Society has prepared model legislation that can be used when establishing a Wildlife Council.
This legislation was successfully used when establishing the Michigan Wildlife Council.
Click the PDF above to download model legislation establishing a Wildlife Council!
Pittman-Robertson Act Compliance
The Nimrod Society has prepared a document helping a Wildlife Council comply with the Pittman-Robertson Act.
This document will help ensure federal funding is leveraged and utilized when establishing a Wildlife Council.
Click the PDF above to download Pittman-Robertson Act Compliance document!
4. Hiring a Marketing Firm
Published Reports and Studies
Successful marketing is backed up by meaningful and proven data. Learn more about public attitudes and what has been accomplished by wildlife councils.