Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops, Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association in 1871. The primary goal of the association would be to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis," according to a magazine editorial written by Church.

After being granted a charter by the state of New York on November 17, 1871, the NRA was founded. Civil War Gen. Ambrose Burnside, who was also the former governor of Rhode Island and a U.S. senator, became the fledgling NRA's first president.

An important facet of the NRA's creation was the development of a practice ground. In 1872, with financial help from New York State, a site on Long Island, the Creed Farm, was purchased for the purpose of building a rifle range. Named Creedmoor, the range opened a year later, and it was there that the first annual matches were held.

Political opposition to the promotion of marksmanship in New York forced the NRA to find a new home for its range. In 1892, Creedmoor was deeded back to the state and NRA's matches moved to Sea Girt, New Jersey.

The NRA's interest in promoting the shooting sports among America's youth began in 1903 when NRA Secretary Albert S. Jones urged the establishment of rifle clubs at all major colleges, universities and military academies. By 1906, NRA's youth program was in full swing with more than 200 boys competing in matches at Sea Girt that summer. Today, youth programs are still a cornerstone of the NRA, with more than one million youth participating in NRA shooting sports events and affiliated programs with groups such as 4-H, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, Royal Rangers, National High School Rodeo Association and others.

Due to the overwhelming growth of NRA's shooting programs, a new range was needed. Gen. Ammon B. Crichfield, adjutant general of Ohio, had begun construction of a new shooting facility on the shores of Lake Erie, 45 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. Camp Perry became the home of the annual National Matches, which have been the benchmark for excellence in marksmanship ever since. With nearly 6,000 people competing annually in pistol, smallbore and high-power events, the National Matches are one of the biggest sporting events held in the country today.

Through the association's magazine, The American Rifleman, members were kept abreast of new firearms bills, although the lag time in publishing often prevented the necessary information from going out quickly. In response to repeated attacks on the Second Amendment rights, NRA formed the Legislative Affairs Division in 1934. While NRA did not lobby directly at this time, it did mail out legislative facts and analyses to members, whereby they could take action on their own. In 1975, recognizing the critical need for political defense of the Second Amendment, NRA formed the Institute for Legislative Action, or ILA.

Meanwhile, the NRA continued its commitment to training, education and marksmanship. During World War II, the association offered its ranges to the government, developed training materials, encouraged members to serve as plant and home guard members, and developed training materials for industrial security. NRA members even reloaded ammunition for those guarding war plants. Incidentally, the NRA's call to help arm Britain in 1940 resulted in the collection of more than 7,000 firearms for Britain's defense against potential invasion by Germany (Britain had virtually disarmed itself with a series of gun-control laws enacted between World War I and World War II).

After the war, the NRA concentrated its efforts on another much-needed arena for education and training: the hunting community. In 1949, the NRA, in conjunction with the state of New York, established the first hunter education program. Hunter Education courses are now taught by state fish and game departments across the country and Canada and have helped make hunting one of the safest sports in existence. Due to increasing interest in hunting, NRA launched a new magazine in 1973, The American Hunter, dedicated solely to hunting issues year-round. NRA continues its leadership role in hunting today with the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC), a program that allows youngsters to build on the skills they learned in basic hunter education courses. YHECs are now held in 43 states and three Canadian provinces, involving an estimated 40,000 young hunters.

The American Hunter and The American Rifleman were the mainstays of NRA publications until the debut of The American Guardian in 1997. The Guardian was created to cater to a more mainstream audience, with less emphasis on the technicalities of firearms and a more general focus on self-defense and recreational use of firearms. The Guardian was renamed America's 1st Freedom in June of 2000.

Law enforcement training was next on the priority list for program development. Although a special police school had been reinstated at Camp Perry in 1956, NRA became the only national trainer of law enforcement officers with the introduction of its NRA Police Firearms Instructor certification program in 1960. Today, there are more than 13,000 NRA-certified police and security firearms instructors. Additionally, top law enforcement shooters compete each year in eight different pistol and shotgun matches at the National Police Shooting Championships held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In civilian training, the NRA continues to be the leader in firearms education. Over 125,000 certified instructors now train about 1,000,000 gun owners a year. Courses are available in basic rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading firearms, personal protection, even ammunition reloading. Additionally, nearly 7,000 certified coaches are specially trained to work with young competitive shooters. Since the establishment of the lifesaving Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program in 1988, more than 28 million pre-kindergarten to fourth grade children have learned that if they see a firearm in an unsupervised situation, they should "STOP. DON'T TOUCH. RUN AWAY. TELL A GROWNUP." Over the past seven years, Refuse To Be A Victim® seminars have helped more than 100,000 men and women develop their own personal safety plan using common sense strategies.

In 1990, NRA made a dramatic move to ensure that the financial support for firearms-related activities would be available now and for future generations. Establishing the NRA Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, provided a means to raise millions of dollars to fund gun safety and educational projects of benefit to the general public. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible and benefit a variety of American constituencies including youth, women, hunters, competitive shooters, gun collectors, law enforcement agents and persons with physical disabilities.

While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the NRA has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly five million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs. As former Clinton spokesman George Stephanopoulos said, "Let me make one small vote for the NRA. They're good citizens. They call their congressmen. They write. They vote. They contribute. And they get what they want over time."

Welcome to Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), the leader in youth development shooting sports programs. Using a combination of education and athletics, we work to enhance the growth and personal development of student athletes throughout the nation.

Through a variety of fun, team-based shooting tournaments in both our Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), we provide student athletes aged elementary through college with a supportive environment where shooting sports serve as catalysts for teaching life lessons and skills that emphasize positive character traits and citizenship values. Throughout all training, practice and competitions, we continue to instill in our participants a commitment to safe firearm handling, teamwork and leadership. 

Rio Grande County is your vacation hub for...

the towns of Monte Vista, Del Norte, and South Fork, in Rio Grande County Colorado. It is also your Denver Mesa Verde / Durango connection.

Colorado's San Luis Valley-- filled with cool sunshine, photography,wildlife refuges, Colorado Gators, bison ranchs, hiking and 4 wheel drive trails on 2200 miles of back country roads, river rafting, live theatre, fishing in rivers lakes and streams, camping, horse back riding, bicycling, rock and ice climbing, hunting, skiing, and snowmobiling. National Parks, National Monuments, scenic railroads, restaurants, shopping, museums, Scenic Byways, hot springs, mining tours, and desert and/or mountain scenery in every direction.

From big annual events to weekly concerts, Rio Grande County has many choices for your musical enjoyment !

All sorts of lodging accomodations: hotels, motels, cabins, bed & breakfasts, condos, vacation rentals, RV Parks, and camp sites.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the fastest growing conservation organization on the continent. We were founded around a campfire in Oregon, we’re headquartered in Missoula, Montana, and we have chapters all over North America. Our members love the peace, challenge, solitude, tradition and freedom that only backcountry lands and waters can provide.

THE ORIGINAL WILDERNESS SEMESTER

CONFIDENCE AND DIRECTION FOR YOUR FUTURE

Take time to sharpen your sense of self and your sense of direction. Navigate ocean channels and group dynamics. Build your outdoor skills and your leadership skills. Learn deeply about the world’s cultures and yourself. Grow with and from the best. Take time for your future on a NOLS wilderness semester.

The California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA), founded in 1875, is a nonprofit membership and donor supported organization with tens of thousands of members throughout California. We need you!


CRPA’s membership is comprised of a diverse cross-section of the general public including believers in the right to choose to own a gun to defend yourself and your family, competitive and recreational shooters, hunters, conservationists, gun safety experts, youth, women, police, prosecutors and defense attorneys, judges, firearm history and technology experts, coaches and trainers, families, and loving parents.


CRPA works tirelessly and relentlessly to defend the civil and constitutional rights of individuals to choose to responsibly own and use firearms. Every dollar that CRPA receives from its members and donors stays and works in California to support your hunting and Second Amendment rights and the fight back against politicians, elitists, and bureaucrats who would deprive individuals of those rights.


Through its Sacramento and local legal and political advocates, CRPA works in the state capital, in regulatory agencies, and in city halls throughout California to promote laws that protect these rights, and to oppose laws that infringe on these rights.


Through its legal team, CRPA fights in the courts to challenge unconstitutional and illegal gun bans and ill-conceived gun control laws, and provides guidance to California gun owners regarding their legal rights and responsibilities.


CRPA works to preserve the traditional and historic role of the individual citizen to hunt and to conserve and preserve California’s natural resources.

CRPA promotes the recreational shooting sports, and hosts hundreds of “fun shoots” annually.

CRPA provides safety, education, and skills training, and makes gun safety information available.

CRPA organizes and sanctions competitive shooting matches for both adult and junior shooters, including Olympic training programs and state championships. CRPA sanctions state championship matches in many shooting disciplines. CRPA is proud to say that many CRPA competitors are among the best in the world.

CRPA is the official state association of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and works together with the NRA in California. But CRPA is controlled by its own independent Board of Directors.

Many of CRPA’s efforts are funded through CRPA’s sister organization, The CRPA Foundation (CRPAF). CRPAF is a 501(c)(3) organization, so contributions to the CRPAF are tax deductible.

CRPA’s political efforts are often coordinated through the CRPA’s political action committee, the CRPA-PAC.

The Sonoran Desert Institute mission is to provide students with current, firearms industry-driven, higher education programs delivered through distance education technology and practical application. SDI is committed to an ongoing investment in our instructional processes and continuous improvement objectives. Our success is measured by the overall satisfaction of our students and alumni, as well as our relationships with industry partners.

Wide-open spaces. Gracious people. Where a rugged past meets a vibrant present. Central Montana remains an authentic experience unlike any other. Between Glacier National Park to the north and Yellowstone National Park to the south, you'll find the genuine Montana you've been waiting for. You're invited. Make us a part of your journey.

Trout Unlimited is a non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. That mission is accomplished on the local, state and national levels through an extensive and dedicated volunteer network.

The CBA was originally formed in 1969 by a small but highly passionate and dedicated group of bow hunters. Their goal was simple; try to establish equitable big game seasons just for bow hunters. Through their individual effort, modest but improved opportunities were established with the cooperation of the Division of Wildlife (DOW), the Colorado Wildlife Commission (CWC), and the state legislature. From those humble beginnings, the CBA grew to eventually become the recognized voice for bow hunting in Colorado.

The Raptor Education Foundation (REF) has been promoting environmental literacy since 1980 by providing schools, corporations, conventions, and gatherings of all sizes unique innovative programs and seminars that connect people with the natural world. REF utilizes an extensive cast of live, non-releasable raptors to focus attention on environmental concepts and issues. Other environmental Consulting Services are also available.  These consulting services benefit from REF’s extensive natural history experience and network of associations at an international level.  REF has field experience in Africa, the Caribbean, Micronesia, Fiji, Mexico, Central and South America, Australia, Indonesia, and Russia.

What is a Raptor?

Eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, kites, osprey and harriers are all raptors! Their beaks are hooked, rather than straight, and they seize and kill their quarry using powerful feet and sharp talons. In the annals of human history, raptors have always been an integral part of mankind’s material and spiritual world. Over 4,000 years ago raptors began to be used in some cultures to help put food on the table via the art and science of falconry. Spiritually, they symbolize the highest aspirations of purpose, power, clarity, and focus. Eagles, for instance, are mentioned in virtually all of  the great religious texts, and they are central to the spiritual beliefs of many of  America’s  native peoples. Today, scientists use the world’s 557 raptor species as barometers of environmental health. Drastic declines in the populations of Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, for example, pointed to the larger problems posed by habitat  disturbance and destruction, environmental toxins, and shootings to name a few. The Raptor Education Foundation (REF) uses these magnificent birds as ambassadors for the vast “silent majority” of living creatures: the diversity of plants, animals, and organisms that grow and support human life. The raptors in the Foundation’s care are permanently impaired, unable to survive any longer in the wild. Instead, they have found a new home and a new role as educators, and nature’s ambassadors. In a hyper technological age they connect us back to the elemental forces of nature.  In a digitally scattered and confused culture, they focus our vision. In a world trapped in a myriad of abstractions, raptors help connect us back to the primary organic realm.  REF is not a rehabilitation facility. REF takes over when rehab fails and provides these magnificent birds a meaningful sanctuary to live out the rest of their lives. For instance, eagles in captivity can live past 50 years of age.

Our purpose at Kiowa Creek is to provide a place where you are always welcome. Whether you’re brushing up your shooting skills on our professionally designed sporting clays course or hunting our game birds, you are assured of having challenging shoots and unparalleled hunting opportunities.

CHC was established in 1972 by Professor Sam Baker of Fresno, California. As founding President, Mr Baker passed over the recommended name of California Bear Hunters for the broader name of California Houndsmen for Conservation. This not only established a comprehensive community of interests, but set forth a worthy focus that CHC has steadfastly adhered to since its inception many years ago.

CHC is a statewide organization representing thousands of hound hunters across California. Individuals, families and regional hound hunting clubs are all an integral part of CHC’s composition, but in the spirit of solidarity, its members work tirelessly to inspire unity among all sporting pursuits across California and the United States.

CHC believes that the management of wildlife is best entrusted to the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The authority to establish regulations necessary to conserve our state’s wildlife should remain with those schooled and trained to use sound logic, scientific reasoning and proven wildlife management principles; not emotion, ignorance or personal agendas.

CHC members remain vigilant in the political arena by attending California Department of Fish and Game Commission, and California State Senate and Assembly hearings and seeks to expand its influence by engaging in productive dialogue with our elected and appointed representatives.

CHC strives to minimize operational expenditures in order to dedicate as much of the funds generated by donations, fundraising efforts and membership dues as possible to the defense and promotion of hound hunting and other recreational uses of wildlife.

The only compensation the Officers and Trustees of CHC ever receive is the personal satisfaction in knowing they have made significant strides in ensuring the survival and prosperity of a timeless piece of American heritage.

Filling the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation.

DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America's drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent's waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation

Where Wilderness Meets Happiness in Idaho.

The Yellowstone Teton Territory is abundant with adventure, nature, and history. Sitting in one of Idaho’s most stunning regions, there is plenty to discover and explore. The towns that lie within this territory are rich with their own unique charms. Choose one or visit them all in one epic, unforgettable expedition

WELCOME TO JACKSON HOLE

With Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park right in our backyard, Jackson Hole is the place outdoor enthusiasts dream of. Breathtaking scenic tours in search of wildlife, exquisite cuisine, world-class skiing and snowboarding, unparalleled art, and shopping for anything your heart desires - we have it all. Let us help make your dream vacation out West a reality.

We encourage visitors to treat our community with respect so that together we can protect our priceless resources and “Keep Jackson Hole Wild” for future generations. Learn more about what you can do to be a responsible visitor.

Welcome to Great Basin Wildlife Rescue, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center located in beautiful central Utah. Various wildlife species are injured or orphaned every day particularly because of our impact within their environment. Great Basin Wildlife Rescue offers safe rehabilitation and release of wildlife back to their natural habitat. To further the understanding of Utah's wildlife species the organization also provides educational outreach activities.

Every boy has questions on their journey to manhood. Men provide the compass for that journey.

What does it mean to be a man? How do I become one? What are the right things that a woman needs from a godly man? How do I become truly alive? Our mission is to implement Christian-based wilderness programs through which teenaged boys advance on their journey in becoming capable, Christ-centered men.

Christ-Centered. Boy-Focused.

Trail Life USA is a Church-Based, Christ-Centered, Boy-Focused mentoring and discipleship journey that speaks to the heart of a boy. Established on timeless values derived from the Bible and set in the context of outdoor adventure, boys from Kindergarten through 12th grade are engaged in a Troop setting by male mentors where they are challenged to grow in character, understand their purpose, serve their community, and develop practical leadership skills to carry out the mission for which they were created.