How the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Works

When you think about hunting issues today, generally you think of the NRA and gun laws. Gun bans and regulations are often in the news, keeping this at the forefront of the nation's attention. These issues get even more publicity when­ entertainers like Rosie O'Donnell and the late Charlton Heston address them. But the struggle isn't reserved for legislators and high-profile people -- hunters and conservationists fight anti-hunting, trapping and gun laws, too.

­The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation started working on a national level after a 1977 Ohio Ballot issue proposed to amend the constitution and ban trapping within the state. Since that time, the USSA and its partner foundation have continued defending the passions of outdoor sportsmen and women from legislation, ballot issues and even lawsuits through grassroots movements and direct lobbying [source: USSA].

The coalitions within the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance include:

Through their mission of protecting hunting rights, the USSA also works to protect wildlife and conservation efforts across the country. Next, you'll learn more about the mission of this alliance and what it entails.

The missi­on of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance is "to protect and advance America's ­heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping" [source: USSA]. They do this by:

The Foundation of the USSA encompasses programs and funds that further its mission including:

­If you are an avid hunter and you want to do more to help protect the rights of hunters, trappers and anglers in the United States, but are unsure how to do it, you might consider joining the USSA.

Next up, you will learn about the different coalitions that are housed under the USSA umbrella, the different membership levels available and how you can join the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance has several different membership levels and pro­grams you can join right from their Web site. Individuals and clubs can purchase general memberships or a specific coalition:

Club membership benefits include insurance programs, merchandise discounts on gear and other items that are offered through the USSA, banquet packages through the USSA inventory and a personalized Web site program.

Individuals wanting to become members of the USSA receive the following benefits (depending on membership level):

­Special donation programs are available for those individuals or organization that need more than general memberships. The USSA Outdoor Business Council offers ways for businesspersons to form alliances, preserve outdoor sports and promote their sporting legacy to consumers and sportsmen. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation Endowment program provides a way for individuals and organizations to donate through wills or estate planning and decrease federal income and property taxes. The U.S. Sportsmen Legal Defense Fund accepts donations so they can provide legal services and support to government agencies and sportsmen. The Hunting for America campaign seeks donations and volunteers so they may grow their numbers to help ensure they can continue to serve hunters everywhere [source: USSA].

The U.S. Sportsman Alliance has many coalitions and many resources that are used to ensure hunting, fishing and trapping remain available to those passionate about outdoor sports. For more information, visit the links on the next page.