A call for papers has been issued by organizers of the workshop "The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation: Affirming the Role, Strength and Relevance of Hunting in the 21st Century," which will be held on Tuesday, March 25, in conjunction with the 73rd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. The Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, in Phoenix, Arizona, from March 25 to 28, 2008.

The workshop's goal is to inspire thoughts and action among wildlife and other natural resource management professionals on how the North American model of wildlife conservation may be used to ensure the relevance of hunting during the next 100 years.

Topics are to include but are not limited to:

• relevance of hunting in wildlife management
• threats to the future of hunting
• successes: of hunter retention and recruitment programs
• successes: of minority outreach
• economic value of hunting
• demographics of hunters
• privatization of wildlife
• international acceptance and support of hunting
• how to communicate the lore, tradition and reality of hunting to the public
• ethical practices in hunting
• innovations and development of university curricula addressing hunting
• innovative educational opportunities
• hunters' roles (positive and negative) in influencing hunting's relevance in the 21st Century
• the future of the Public Trust Doctrine and how it affects the future of hunting
• ensuring the continued support for hunting by those that neither hunt nor oppose hunting
• the role that state fish and wildlife agencies can or should play
• historical lessons provided by the founders and practitioners of the North American model that resonate still today.

Abstracts (required) for presentations must be submitted to the Workshop Chair by November 1, 2007. Abstracts must include a concise (one-page) statement of topic, extent of coverage, and principal messages. Presenter must be identified as well as other authors (not to exceed four), their full names, affiliations, e-mail and regular mailing addresses, and phone numbers.

Presentation length should not exceed 30 minutes.

Papers are required. All presenters must submit a paper that complies with the Conference Transactions manuscript guidelines, which will be provided for those whose topics and abstracts are accepted. Papers should address not only the topic question or problem but also solutions or recommendations to contribute to the goal of the workshop.

Those presenters (and papers) selected for the workshop will be notified by Friday, November 16, 2007.

Manuscripts of presentations will be due no later than March 1, 2008.

Workshop Chair

Steve K. Ferrell, Deputy DirectorArizona Game and Fish Department
2221 W. Greenway Road
Phoenix, AZ 85023
(602) 789-3276
sferrell@azgfd.gov

Workshop Vice-chair

James Earl Kennamer, Senior Vice President
National Wild Turkey Federation
770 Augusta Road, P.O. Box 530
Edgefield, SC 29824-0530
(803) 637-3106
jkennamer@nwtf.net