In 1936, National Wildlife Federation founder J. N. “Ding” Darling worked with President Franklin Roosevelt to convene conservationists and state and local wildlife agencies from across the United States in Washington, D.C. The meeting, dubbed the North American Wildlife Conference, was called due to the urgency of habitat destruction and alarming declines of America’s game and fish resources. The National Wildlife Federation was born out of that historic conference with the purpose of uniting these wildlife groups into a powerful voice demanding that government invest in a new future for America’s wildlife.
Ding Darling, an avid hunter and angler, was a powerful leader who laid the foundation for many elements of modern sporting conservation. In 1934, prior to founding the National Wildlife Federation, he was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt to a blue ribbon committee on wildlife restoration to stem the tides of severe wildlife degradation. He went on to be an instrumental voice in creating the now-famous Federal Duck Stamp program and designed the first duck stamp. Darling was the first leader of the U.S. Biological Survey, which later became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and was an integral player in the creation of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
From those early days the National Wildlife Federation went on to build its affiliate ranks across the U.S. to include the 52 state and territorial affiliates that now comprise the Federation. While the National Wildlife Federation serves as an “umbrella” conservation organization that unites conservation interests from all stripes, more than half of the Federation’s affiliates are “hook and bullet” organizations that represent hunting and angling interests in their states. The National Wildlife Federation and our affiliates have been instrumental in championing and passing the laws that have defined our sporting history and assured hunting and angling opportunities will continue for future generations.
The National Wildlife Federation currently works on myriad sporting issues across the country, including:
- protecting migration corridors that safeguard movements of deer, elk, pronghorn, and other wildlife
- protecting public lands from harmful energy development
- protecting pristine public lands through special designations like wilderness and refuges
- protecting and restoring the Mississippi River Delta through our Vanishing Paradise program
- preventing the introduction of Asian carp into the Great Lakes
- empowering sportswomen to become leaders in the conservation world
- working to protect iconic wildlife such as mule deer and sage grouse across the West
- leading the charge on attacking Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) with our sporting partners across the country on state and federal policies
- promoting passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), which would provide funds to state wildlife agencies to prevent at-risk species from being federally listed as threatened or endangered
- working with dozens of sporting partners as members of American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) and the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council
Together with our affiliates, the National Wildlife Federation has shaped the conservation movement in indelible ways that have protected our sporting heritage at every historical turn and challenging twist. This enduring legacy is a testament to our deep commitment to the fish and wildlife that call America home, and to our sporting traditions. We remain steadfast in our dedication to hunting and angling as a keystone of America’s conservation movement.
