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These Waters Matter For Hunting & Fishing - Messages

It’s a new era. Many hunters and anglers who were not enthusiastic about EPA regulations will be willing to speak up for better state protections.
Our outdoor heritage is at stake. It’s a question of how we should protect streams and wetlands important for fish and wildlife, not if we should. No one wants to see important streams and wetlands damaged, destroyed or polluted.
Waterfowl need wetlands. The decision puts wetlands that ducks and geese at risk of being plowed under and paved over. There are states with weak protections in all four flyways, particularly in the Mississippi and Central flyways.
It’s not just the prairie potholes. The wetlands that have lost protections are essential for waterfowl everywhere. They provide essential places for waterfowl to rest, nest and forage. These wetlands also recharge groundwater and contribute base flow to rivers and streams.

No wetlands, no fish. Wetlands provide an essential link in the life cycle of up to 90 percent of the fish caught recreationally.
Floodplains are fish nurseries. Many fish utilize riverside floodplains as nurseries, because the slow-moving waters and high availability of food increase survival. However, many of floodplain wetlands are now unprotected.
Skinny waters grow big fish. The smaller streams that are about to lose protections are invaluable for many species, including trout, salmon and steelhead -- and they are the source of roughly of the half the water in our larger rivers, so they impact water quality important for many species.
Wildlife heritage at risk. From grizzly bears to moose, all game species - big and small - use the waters at risk at least some of the time. Leaving our streams and wetlands unprotected will ultimately harm our hunting and fishing heritage and our way of life.

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Reaching Out to Outdoor Media

Example stories from the outdoors perspective

Working with outdoor media requires a different approach from working with news media.
It is important to get familiar with the writer/outlet and tailor your pitch accordingly.
Many states have monthly or bimonthly magazines that often have a columnist who discusses conservation issues. You can reach out directly to these columnists directly and ask them to consider writing about the issue.
Similarly, you’ll want to reach out directly to radio and podcast hosts via email or on their social. They are often looking for guests and - importantly - can have someone on the show for discussion who may not fully represent their point of view.
Do you need to be a hunter or an angler? Many outdoor journalists will be open to talking to anyone who cares about habitat. (Others will not.) It is important that they don’t perceive your group as anti-hunting.

Resources