nel to agencies that benefit deer health research and hunting access? The bottom line is this: When politicians control wildlife funds, wildlife loses!

Isn’t it also ironic that Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) has 75,000 members, while the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has recruited twice that number? The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) boasts 545,000 members. Unbelievably, Ducks Unlimited (DU) has 10 times the membership as a group representing the welfare of North America’s

most prized big game animal, the white-tailed deer.

There are 3 million turkey hunters for 7 million turkeys and 15 million whitetail hunters for 30 million whitetails. So why is there such disparity in support? WTU was founded 25 years ago by a man with foresight, Pete Geri of Wisconsin. It has generated $33.4 million for various habitat, education and research projects during its existence. The N W TF came about 34 years ago and has now invested well over $230 million in turkey reintroduction,

The U.S. is home to
1. 7 million waterfowl
hunters, 3 million
turkey hunters and 15
million deer hunters.
Amazingly, the birds
are much better
represented.

habitat, education and research.

DU is in its 70th year. In 2006, this well-organized waterfowl association’s annual revenue hit $163 million. Eighty-three cents of every dollar goes back into habitat, research, hunter recruitment and education. More than 50,000 volunteers work at 3,700 annual money-raising events across the continent. Imagine what a small portion of these annual funds could do for deer!

Our Own Worst Enemies?

Two of the major problems faced by white-tailed deer organizations are the disparity between trophy hunters and non-trophy hunters and the lack of commitment and networking. The latter has been the biggest issue faced by most state deer managers. It seems when deer hunters disagree with their states about deer management, most throw up their hands and fail to participate in regional meetings, where feedback is important.

“The state will do whatever deer management wants, regardless of our input,” is a majority attitude. Although this might be true in some cases, failing to organize a counterproposal ensures one-sided deer management, which too often engages political whim.

Disputes between trophy and non-trophy hunters regularly surface among club members, lease holders, property partners and on public hunting property. These squabbles are counterproductive to a strong deer alliance. The biggest confrontation at a WTU meeting I attended in the early 1990s was this very issue: Trophy hunters verses Nontrophy hunters. Although WTU was formed only to benefit whitetails and their habitat, many saw it as a big-buck club and shunned member-