PROGRAM of WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 
 
 
1. General Statement. 
    "We stand for the preservation and up- 
    building of the wild life resources of our 
    country, not only game animals, birds 
    and fish, but also the non-game species 
    wchich are beneficial to farmers in sav- 
    ing the crops front insect assaults. Nor 
    do we forget those species, neither game 
    nor of econonic importance, but which 
    contribute to human happiness and en- 
    joyment by their charm and beauty. To 
    the preservation of all of these we pledge 
    support in the future as we have given 
    it in the past." 
  The American Game Protective Association 
is not merely devoted to the interests of one 
certain class or group of citizens, but is com- 
mitted to the task of aiding in the perpetua- 
tion of all useful wild life as a great national 
asset.  Its energies have never been spared 
when opportunity has arisen for promoting 
the cause of any phase of wild life conserva- 
tion. 
 
2. Value of Field Sports. 
    "We believe that the game and food spe- 
    cies should be protected and their nuin- 
    ber increased for the use and enjoyment 
    of the people. We decry bloodthirsti- 
    ness and immoderation in sport, but we 
    take the firm stand that hunting and 
    fishing are sports of ethical and health- 
    giving value to the nation, and should 
    be perpetuated." 
  National enjoyment of field sports must be 
projected into the future as far as possible, to 
insure continuation of that virility which has 
always characterized the American people as 
a nation. 
  Nothing contributes more to health and phy- 
sical vigor than outdoor recreation, and the 
gun and rod are among the most powerful in- 
centives to go afield. 
 
3. Conservation of Coverts. 
    "The pollution of streams and the de- 
    struction of food coverts for wild life 
    are not essential to city or farm life. 
    We affirm our determination to maintain 
    or restore the capacity of forests, farms 
    and waste lands for the production of 
    game, fish and other wild life. 
 
 
    "We urge the retention, in a natural 
    state, of such   forests, swamps and 
    waters as may be necessary for special 
    refuges, breeding grounds and wilder- 
    ness recreation areas." 
  Waste and destruction have characterized 
and disgraced our use of natural water and 
forest areas.  There are indications of an 
awakening of the public to the necessity for 
immediate and drastic measures to protect un- 
contaminated waters, to restore the purity of 
those already polluted, and to preserve all 
water and forest areas as still exist-that their 
use may be continued, but with recognition 
of the rights and needs of wild animal life. 
 
4. Protect Rights of Farmers. 
    "We recognise the rights of the land- 
    owner and are in full sympathy with his 
    resentment against the vandalism     of 
    lawless marauders whom we regard as 
    enemies of both the farmer and the 
    sportsman. We favor all necessary pro- 
    tection against the invasion of the far- 
    mers' property rights." 
  We stand for the preservation of oppor- 
tunity for free shooting and against the Euro- 
pean system of private ownership of game. 
Legitimate free shooting can only be continued 
by giving protection to the landowner against 
excesses of heedless or malicious trespassers. 
Cooperation between the honest and considerate 
sportsman and the landowner offers the only 
certain mlethod of keeping game areas open 
to shooting. 
 
5. Game Refuges. 
    "'Experience has shown that the public 
    soon learns to respect game refuges and 
    the game to take advantage of them. 
    We, therefore, advocate the establish- 
    inent of game refuges everywhere as the 
    tost effective means for insuring against 
    extermination of breeding stock, assur- 
    ing automatic overflow   into adjoining 
    coverts, and preventing game from leav- 
    ing a region." 
  The principle of sanctuary has been the most 
valhable lesson learned in modern conserva- 
tion.  No system   can be successful without 
 
 
the application of this principle, adapted as 
circumstances may require. 
  There are many notable instances of re- 
markable success in restoration of game by 
means of refuges, which are familiar to all. 
6. Public Shooting Grounds. 
    "In America the principle of public own- 
    ership of game is firmly fixed, and by 
    precept and by judicial interpretation is 
    the basis of our laws and policies for 
    wild life conservation. We advocate the 
    establishment of public shooting grounds 
    on state and federal lands. Federal lep- 
    islation recognizing and establishing this 
    policy should be adopted immediately, 
    on a scale commensurate with the in- 
    portance of the subject. We recommend 
    similar legislation for the several states. 
    We are convinced that game may be 
    continued indefinitely under constructive 
    nmanagement. We protest against a game- 
    less America or a system that denies 
    recreational opportunity to any citihien." 
  It should not be understood that public 
shooting grounds can ever be established ex- 
tensively enough to accommodate all, but they 
can be utilized to relieve the excessive bur- 
den on farmers and other landowners, and 
should be established in connection with refuges 
where feasible.  It is not intended that they 
shall take the place of shooting on private lands. 
  7. Game Administration. 
    "The maintenance and increase of game 
    in this country depends upon intelligent 
    gamne administration. If this is not de- 
    ieloped by state and federal action, pub- 
    lic game and public shooting opportuni- 
    ties will cease to exist. Private game 
    management    has   demonstrated   this. 
    There must be trained men in adminis- 
    trative positions capable of putting into 
    effect sound and    successful methods, 
    which must include: 
    "1. Effective law enforcement. 
    "2. Ciame inventories: 
         (a) Through licensed hunters' re- 
             ports of game taken; 
         (b) Through estimates of breed 'ig 
             stock left after the shooting 
             season. 
    "3. Greater authority to game officials 
        to adapt seasons and bag limits to 
        the requirenments of the game sup- 
        ply. 
 
 
    -4. Increase in number of ganie sanc- 
        tuaries and public shooting, fishing 
        and camping grounds. We recom- 
        mend bond issues where necessary 
        in states to secure such necessary 
        lands for public use. 
    "5. Utilization to the fullest extent of 
        scientific knowledge for the increase 
        of birds, animals, fish and forests, 
        for combating disease and natural 
        enemies, for preventing   pollution, 
        for providing food on barren areas 
        and for propagation and stocking. 
    "6. The encouragement of schools for 
        training specialists and of scientific 
        investigation leading to  a  better 
        knowledge of the life histories and 
        status of fish and game." 
  In the intelligent application of the now 
well established principles of game administra- 
tion lies the secret of success. Government 
agencies for administration of game laws are 
no longer regarded as mere police depart- 
ments except in rare instances. 
  Game administration is a field requiring ex- 
perience, technical training and knowledge of 
natural history.  Continuity of policies and 
service are essential to avoid failure. 
 
8. No Politics in Conservation. 
    "We condemn the appointment or reten- 
    tion of conservation officers on the basis 
    of political patronage rather than on the 
    basis of training, experience and execu- 
    tive ability. The cause is greater than 
    any man or any party, and is in essence 
    non-political. In general, the parties 
    have realized this fact, and in general 
    they have given their support to mnea- 
    sures designed to conserve the country's 
    wild life for the benefit of its citizens. 
    We commend the advancement of this 
    principle not only in state and federal 
    legislation, but also in the administra- 
    tion of laws, both local and national." 
  Politics is and always has been a blight on 
the administration of the nation's natural re- 
sources. Politics promotes incompetence and 
offers no encouragement to preparation and 
training for technical service. Administration 
of the wild life resources of our country must 
be regarded as a profession, not merely a po- 
litical job.