The following is an excerpt of a story written just before the turn of the 19th century.  It was a newspaper editor drawing attention to a series of articles written by George Grinnell urging Congress to help stop the rampant market hunting and exploitation of wildlife, timber, geysers and other natural resources of Yellowstone National Park.  The plight of Yellowstone and the public outcry that followed Grinnell's articles on what he called "the park grab," proved to be a tipping point that rallied the 1887 formation of the Boone and Crockett Club. Founder Theodore Roosevelt was resolute in establishing the fledgling outfit's first order of business: Protect the park.

As we celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day for the 42nd year with events all across the 50 states, it is possible in large part to conservation communicators who like Grinnell, continue to inform the public of the important leadership role of hunters and fishermen in preserving and protecting the country's natural resources.

DATELINE:   YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (Sept. 19, 1876) - Soon on newsstands in all 38 states, an upcoming edition of "Forest and Stream" will feature a report by editor George Bird Grinnell on a poaching crisis still plaguing Yellowstone even in its fourth year as a U.S. national park.

Grinnell, back from an expedition in the area, witnessed the sad carnage and writes, "It is estimated that during the winter of 1874-1875, not less than 3,000 buffalo and mule deer suffer even more severely than the elk, and the antelope nearly as much."

You can read the entire story here Boone & Crocket Club