1	An Initiative to Ban Bear-Baiting Alaska’s Experience 2004
2	Anti-Hunter’s Strategy Define the least popular most vulnerable hunting techniques Attack them through the press and the courts Eliminate them through legislation, regulation or the ballot box Eliminate hunting “Method by method, species by species and State by State”
3	Alaska’s Political Landscape 648,818 Total State Population 472,160 Registered Voters Population Base Over 50% between Anchorage, Fairbanks & Juneau Anti-sportsmen measures consistently pass in Alaska Viewed as “holy grail” by anti-hunting movement
4	2002 Survey Alaskan’s Attitude toward bear-baiting 64% Opposed the practice 32% thought it was OK
5	June of 2003 A group of “Alaskans” financed by groups like HSUS, Fund for Animals and PETA began collecting signatures to put an initiative on the 2004 ballot to ban bear baiting. Paid signature gatherers worked malls, grocery stores,airports etc to get over 23,000 signatures
6	Ballot Measure 3 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Alaska: 16.05.781. Baiting or intentional feeding of bears prohibited. (a) A person may not bait or intentionally feed a bear for the purpose of hunting, photography, or viewing. (b) Under this section, to "bait" or "intentionally feed" means to intentionally give, deposit, distribute, discard, scatter or otherwise expose any attractant or edible material in order to attract or enticed bear to enter into, or to remain in , a location or area. (c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
7	July 2003 A group of 6-10 concerned Alaskan’s began meeting to try to stop the initiative. Included Representatives of Alaskan Bowhunters, Alaskan Trappers, Ak Ch SCI Initially some individuals tried a lawsuit to block the Initiative on grounds of unconstitutional allocation of resources.
8	August 2003 Formed a new group Alaskan’s for Professional Wildlife Management Hired a professional pollster consultant so we could conduct a scientific campaign Hired professional campaign management
9	Alaskans for Professional Wildlife Management Coalition Members Include Safari Club International National Rifle Association Alaskan Bowhunters Association Alaska Outdoor Council Scientific Management of Alaska’s Resource Treasurers Alaska Trappers Association Alaska State Muzzle Loading Association Ballot Issues Coalition Ted Nugent United Sportsmen of America National Wild Turkey Federation Ruffed Grouse Society Territorial Sportsmen And many more…
10	Steering Committee Kurt Norby – Chairman President, Alaska Chapter of SCI Phil Pringle Past President, Alaskan Bowhunters Assoc. Jennifer Yuhas Executive Director, Alaska Outdoor Council Eddie Grasser, Treasurer Field Representative NRA Jack Frost Alaskan Bowhunters, SCI Patrick Wright & Keith Bayha SMART
11	Fall 2003 Initiative certified - got enough signatures to be on the ballot in Nov 2004 APWM ordered a benchmark poll to determine not only current voter positions but what arguments were most likely to sway voters
12	October ’03 – September ‘04 Fundraising, fundraising and fundraising Coalition building Spokesperson training Message testing with focus groups Media development (earned / paid) Collateral material production / distribution Radio and newspaper ad placement Reach and frequency
13	Statewide Polling / Research Results from Benchmark in February ‘03 63% Voting “Yes” 32% Voting “No” We were LOSING! Messages Identified Don’t talk about baiting Focus on penalties that go too far Out-of-state extremists pushing agenda un-popular Decisions should be made by biologists at ADFG
14	Polling Continued Trusted Spokespersons Alaska Department of Fish and Game Congressman Don Young Alaskan Natives Professional Wildlife Managers Keys to Success Message Communication Who, what, when and where Campaign discipline Remain on message
15	January 2004 Began serious efforts at fundraising Requested money not only from Alaskans but also nationally from USSA, BIC, SCI, State Bowhunting Organizations etc
16	Spring 2004 Campaign designed based on results of benchmark survey Identification and training of official spokespersons Web site to facilitate donations,volunteer efforts and grassroots support Continued fundraising
17	Message Communication Not a cookie cutter approach
18	Summer 2004 Continued fundraising Letters to editor Radio talk shows Campaign plan developed and materials produced - 150,000 X 4 = 600,000 mailers Pollster/campaign consultant developed list of 150,000 super voters, new voters etc.
19	Direct Mail 580,000 pieces 145,000 Super Voting Households Republicans, Independents, Undeclared, Non-Partisan and Democrat Hunt, Fish & Trap households included Four Different Mail pieces One each week, 4 weeks prior election day Creation, printing and drop shipments all completed no later than mid-September
20	Newspaper Advertising Three different ads throughout campaign Full page, full color ads All five major Alaska newspapers Anchorage Daily News – 7 Ads Fairbanks Daily News Miner – 8 Ads Juneau Empire – 2 Ads Peninsula Clarion – 7 Ads Kodiak Mirror – 3 Ads
21	Radio Advertisements Five weeks of statewide advertising First 3 ½ weeks 432 ads statewide Last 1 ½ weeks Over 800 ads statewide Four different ads throughout campaign created with in-house creative radio talent Quick production turnaround, quick approval
22	October 2004 Mail outs one per week X four weeks to previously identified super voters, new voters and swing voters. No TV advertising (too expensive, no prime time available because of other election issues) Avoided debates Stick to our message Polls at 1 month, 2 weeks,one week, then daily
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27	Fundraising Total Raised 515,000 SCI and chapters of SCI 190,000 BIC (Ballot Initiatives Coallitiion)= 150,000 USSA 50,000 Individual bowhunters 29,000 Bowhunting Organizations (4) 28,000
28	Fundraising $515,000 Individuals - $45,424.99 Organizations - $469,245 SCI (AK/Nat.) $190,000 Ballot Issues Coalition $ 97,000 US Sportsmen’s $ 50,000 AK Bowhunters $ 23,100 AK Outdoor Council $ 20,000 AK Trappers Assoc. $ 12,500 NWTF (AK) $ 10,000 SMART $ 8,500
29	October Statewide Polling After 2 direct mail pieces and 1 ½ weeks of radio 50% “Yes” (13 point drop) 44% “No” (12 point increase) 6% “Unsure” Message Identification More/much more likely to vote against if: Being proposed by out-of-state extremists 57% ADFG prohibited from trapping problem bears 71% Included bird feeder/dog food dish/garbage 68% Jail for 1 year, $10,000 fine for taking picture 66% HSUS “use the ballot box to end all hunting” 72%
30	Campaign Adaptation Immediate Changes Based on Research Newspaper ads Radio ads Press releases/conferences Research, research, research You’re blind without it Do what your poll says, not your gut Stick to your messages! Messages were shifted in last two weeks of campaign to capitalize on effective “vote moving” messages
31	One Week Out Tracking October 27 – November 1 Wednesday 48% Yes 49% No Thursday 49% Yes 48% No Friday 48% Yes 47% No Saturday* 45% Yes 49% No Sunday* 45% Yes 52% No Monday* 44% Yes 52% No * Decline in support corresponds with changes made to paid media based on research
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33	Elections Final results 57% AGAINST 43% in favor of banning bear baiting We Whipped them !!!!!!!! It can be done
34	Election Results Final Vote 59% No 141,648 41% Yes 100,312 Shift in opinion From 63% Yes to 41% Yes 22 Point Drop From 32% No to 59% No 27 Point Gain Largest margin of victory of any Alaska statewide ballot measure this year
35	Lessons Small steering committee Professional polling and support Professional campaign management Adequate funds
36	Keys to Victory Professional campaign management Dedicated and hardworking coalition Campaign / fundraising plans followed Research and message discipline No campaign cowboys Clear lines of communication No reaction to oppositions messages Leadership and experience
37	Conclusions We can win these things Learn from each other Support each other Minimize fighting amongst ourselves “If we don’t hang together we will surely hang separately”
38	Thank You Jack Frost Legislative VP Alaskan Bowhunters