Although conservation groups do their best work outdoors, the basis for their survival comes from events that happen inside.
Banquets serve as a main source of revenue for most conservation organizations. Complete with good food, auctions, artwork and raffles, the events are a time for those with similar interests to get together and spend a little money on a good cause.
The problem is, in the age of COVID-19, there is little opportunity for anyone to get together, and that means revenue and new memberships aren’t being generated as easily.
The hurt is real, and it shows.
I spoke to the National Deer Alliance – which used to be known as the Quality Deer Management Association – about the difficulties of trying to stay afloat without the ability for branches to hold banquets. What some may view as simply a good meal and a night out, banquets are actually the life-blood of organizations such as NDA. As a result of the pandemic, NDA official Kip Adams estimates the organization lost $1 million in fundraising revenue nationally.
In an attempt to make up for the banquets, many groups have turned to virtual events – gun raffles, online auctions, Facebook meetings, etc. The new approach helps ease the pain, but it’s not enough.
“It’s hurting bad. You can only do so much online,” said Rick Watts, a member of NDA’s Pennsylvania State Advisory Council. “I have no idea where we’re going to go with this whole thing.”
One possible path, Watts suggested, is a merger between conservation groups.
I think it’s a good idea.
Granted, a merger doesn’t necessarily mean that Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever will unite as one on a national scale. I don’t think we’re going to see a Ducks/Pheasants/Wild Turkey Forever emerge from the pandemic rubble.
No, as national organizations, these groups need to remain independent. But on a state level when it comes to projects, working together may be the key to survival.
Habitat projects are a good place to start.
Perhaps the pheasant guys can help the deer guys with their winter browse cut. In return, the deer guys can help the pheasant group plant a few acres of switchgrass in the spring.
Maybe the grouse people can help the waterfowl group plant aquatic vegetation in the summer.
The possibilities for joint ventures on habitat work are endless, as are the benefits.
With the ability to hold banquets off the table, for now, conservation organizations lost a main driver for generating memberships. If fewer members are a result, these groups will need all the volunteer help they can get to conduct habitat work. In many cases, it’s already a struggle to get enough help, so partnering with other clubs to fill the volunteer shortage makes sense.
Also, by working together in the field, members of different groups get to see what everyone is up to and learn about other forms of habitat improvement. The exposure to other projects may offer some new ideas that groups can incorporate into their own work.
Lastly, in many instances, a lot of these habitat projects benefit multiple species. Food plots planted by a deer organization, for example, will also benefit turkeys. Small-block timber cuts for grouse also improves available browse for deer and nesting cover for turkeys.
If multiple species benefit from the work, it makes sense for multiple organizations to be involved.
In some instances, conservation groups were already teaming up prior to the pandemic.
In 2017, members of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Whitetails Unlimited partnered with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to transform 5 miles of old logging roads on game lands into an expansive food plot in the northeast region. And it’s not uncommon for numerous organizations to help the NWTF educate kids during JAKES events.
Even though the pandemic has made it a priority, it’s long been clear that conservation organizations can cooperate instead of compete with each other for a similar goal.
Today, however, such cooperation won’t only sustain wildlife habitat and hunting traditions, but it may serve as a means of survivability for those conservation groups facing unprecedented challenges in the wake of COVID-19.
- This article originally appeared in PA Outdoor News.
