WMI was established in 1911 by sportsmen/businessmen gravely concerned about the dramatic declines of many wildlife populations. Its founders saw need for a small, independent and aggressive cadre of people dedicated to restoring and ensuring the well-being of wild populations and their habitats.

Although methods of operation have changed since the Institute's inception, the objectives remain essentially the same. Conservation and outdoor recreation-oriented businesses still represent the principal source of support for the Institute. WMI remains a "small" organization, with a usual complement of 16 full-time staff members. The headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and there are five regional field offices. The resource personnel are highly trained and experienced wildlife science and management professionals, typically working away from the public limelight to catalyze and facilitate strategies, actions, decisions and programs to benefit wildlife and wildlife values.

WMI works mostly on request with federal and provincial agencies, Congress, college and university researchers and educators, other private conservation organizations, and professional associations. It advises, testifies and, in a variety of other ways, provides educational services on timely wildlife-related issues.

In simplest terms, WMI is a professional conservation organization that works to improve the professional foundation of wildlife management. The Institute does not support a large membership or expend time and dollars on promotional efforts to attract and sustain membership. Instead, the staff concentrates fully on addressing resource issues and opportunities. The Institute's few hundred members know that their affiliation will not bring them glossy magazines or frequent fund-raising appeals. They are promised the best efforts of every WMI staff member to provide opportunities for more and better-managed wildlife.

WMI supports wise use of wildlife, including regulated recreational hunting of designated populations. WMI endorses the proposition of game management, the concept of biological diversity and principles of ecology. WMI recognizes that wildlife management must be a skillful blend of science and art in relation to dynamic human circumstances, values and expectations. And WMI believes that wildlife not only reflects the continent's wealth, but in many respects, wildlife is that wealth.

What we do . . .

Toward the goal of improved management of wildlife resources, WMI is involved in a wide range of issue, policy, research and educational efforts. For example, the Wildlife Management Institute:

• is the sole private cooperator in the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Program at more than 40 land-grant colleges and universities;
• testifies before House and Senate Committees and Subcommittees on virtually all major wildlife-related legislative matters;
• produces and publishes authoritative books, informational flyers, booklets and brochures on major wildlife species and related management topics;
• cooperates with other conservation interests on matters such as endangered species, conservation provisions of the Farm Bill, national wildlife refuge issues, water resources, public land grazing, forest management, appropriations, etc.;
• conducts in-depth reviews of state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies' organizations, authorities and programs;
• sponsors and administers the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference-the premiere annual gathering of natural resource scientists, managers, administrators and educators;
• chairs or coordinates the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Alliance, the Hunting Heritage Program, the National Cooperators’ Coalition of the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units, the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow (CLfT) Program, and the Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
• produces the monthly on-line Outdoor News Bulletin
• and much more.

Mission

Founded in 1911, WMI is a private, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization, dedicated to the conservation, enhancement and professional management of North America's wildlife and other natural resources.

WMI Board of Directors

Mark DeYoung, Chair
Senior Vice President, Alliant Techsystems (ATK)
President, ATK Ammunition Systems

Peter Duncan, Vice Chair
Retired, Deputy Commissioner NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation

Douglas Painter, Treasurer
President/CEO, National Shooting Sports Foundation

Steve Hornady
President, Hornady Manufacturing

Robert Model
Past President, Boone and Crockett Club

Howard Vincent
President/CEO, Pheasants Forever

Steve Williams
President, Wildlife Management Institute