Despite Humane Society plea, Gov. Bush accepts hunting group’s award

Martin Griffith

Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000 | 9:39 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Ignoring a plea by the Humane Society of the United States, Texas Gov. George W. Bush has decided to accept a conservation award from an organization of trophy hunters the society says promotes the killing of rare species.

Former President Bush was scheduled to accept the Safari Club International's "Governor of the Year" award on behalf of his son here Saturday night.

The former president was the keynote speaker for the club's 28th annual convention. The Republican governor was in Texas on Saturday resting up for the presidential race.

"The governor receives awards all the time and it's my understanding they're recognizing him for his conservation efforts in Texas," said Scott McClellan, a spokesman for Bush's presidential campaign.

"My understanding is the group promotes conservation and wildlife management, and that's why they're recognizing the governor. He has decided to accept the award."

Humane Society Vice President Wayne Pacelle earlier urged Bush to decline the award, saying he may not be aware the Safari Club "promotes competitive killing of rare wildlife throughout the world."

The society, boasting more than 7 million members worldwide, considers the 32,000-member hunting club "to be a particularly destructive and unethical trophy hunting organization," Pacelle said.

"This activity is way outside the mainstream of sport hunting," he added.

Asked whether the governor shares the Humane Society's concerns, McClellan replied: "He welcomes the input of people and organizations all the time. I refer you to the organization to address their concerns."

The Safari Club says in its literature that it is "dedicated to wildlife conservation, education and the advocacy of hunter's rights."

Despite receiving low marks from environmental groups, the governor has worked on behalf of various conservation measures in Texas, McClellan said.

He cited Bush's launching in 1998 of the Lone Star Legacy Campaign, an effort to privately endow the state's 123 parks, 50 state wildlife management areas and eight state fish hatcheries.

He also cited Bush's support of more than $70 million appropriated in bonds since 1997 to restore state parks.

"He has a good record on conservation and that's why they (Safari Club) are recognizing him," McClellan said.

Safari Club spokesman Mike Walker said a decision to bar the news media from Saturday night's award presentation had nothing to do with the Humane Society flap.

"We're not hiding anything," he said. "The dinner is sold out with more than 5,000 people attending, and there's no room for reporters and TV cameras to maneuver."

Plans to hold a Saturday news conference with the former president also were scrapped.

A small group of protesters from the Green Party staged a protest outside the convention Saturday. They voiced support for the club's wildlife conservation efforts but not its killing of animals.