Hunter Nation

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Hunter Nation Inc is an 501(c)(4) nonprofit co-founded by former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Keith Mark.

Wisconsin's 2021 Wolf Hunt

In late 2020, the Trump administration announced that gray wolves would be removed from the Endangered Species List on January 4, 2021. Wisconsin state law requires the state to hold a wolf hunt between October 15 and the last day of February in any year in which wolves are not listed as endangered.[1] The state planned to hold its 2021 hunt in the fall. Wisconsin Republican lawmakers asked the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board to hold a hunt immediately following delisting, but the Natural Resources Board declined. Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a successful lawsuit on behalf of Hunter Nation, forcing the state to hold a hunt in late February 2021.[2]

The hunt was controversial because it was held without much time for planning, during wolves' breeding season, and without the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources meeting its obligation to consult with Native American tribes in Wisconsin, as required by a 1983 court ruling known as the Voigt Decision.[3] The wolf is sacred to Ojibwe people, who oppose hunting them.[4] The hunting season was ended early, after fewer than 72 hours, after 216 wolves were killed (compared to a quota of 119 wolves for non-Native hunters).[5]

Incorporation

Hunter Nation Inc was incorporated on March 2, 2018 in Kansas as a Not For Profit. Its Business Entity Number is 8952046. According to its articles of incorporation:

"The purpose of this business entity is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which the entity may be organized under the laws of Kansas.
"To protect the right to hunt, to promote the hunting way of life, to promote the protection and expansion of habitat for wild game, to encourage future generations to carry on the American hunting tradition, to educate the public regarding hunting, to ensure access to hunting land, to respond to threats to hunting, and to educate the public regarding legislation/leaders that promote or impede these objectives."[6]

The Articles of Incorporation list the following as incorporators and directors:

Membership

Hunter Nation Inc's 2019 Annual Report lists no members, but its 2020 report lists 25,000 members.[7][8]

Personnel

Governing Body (2020):[10]

Past Personnel

Legal Status

On its website's donation page, Hunter Nation refers to itself as a 501c4, but adds that it has an affiliated 501c3 called Hunter Nation Foundation.[12] The site's link to the 501c3 goes to the website HuntTheVote.org. However, there is no 501c3 registered by the name Hunter Nation Foundation according to the IRS.[13] The website Huntthevote.org/ solicits donations with the statement:[14]

"Hunt the Vote is sponsored by Hunter Nation Foundation. Hunter Nation Foundation is organized as a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Hunter Nation Foundation are tax deductible to the extent provided by law."

The FEC lists Hunter Nation Action Inc as a Super PAC registered November 12, 2020 in Alexandria, VA by Timothy A. Koch of Koch & Hoos LLC.[15]

Contact Information

Hunter Nation's office is in an adjacent suite to the law office of one of its founders, Keith Mark.[16]

Resources and articles

Related SourceWatch Articles

References

  1. ↑ Associated Press, "Wisconsin judge orders start to wolf hunt this month," MPR News, February 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ Kaeding, Danielle. 2021. "Conservative Advocacy Group Files Lawsuit Against Wisconsin DNR, Advisory Board Over Wolf Hunt." Wisconsin Public Radio, Accessed March 8, 2021.
  3. ↑ Kaeding, Danielle. 2021. "Conservative Advocacy Group Files Lawsuit Against Wisconsin DNR, Advisory Board Over Wolf Hunt." Wisconsin Public Radio, Accessed March 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ Ma'iingan: Brother Wolf, PBS Wisconsin, 2019.
  5. ↑ Timber Wolf Alliance, "TWA Responds to 2021 Wolf Harvest", organizational website, March 3, 2021, accessed May 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ Hunter Nation Inc Articles of Incorporation March 2, 2018
  7. ↑ Hunter Nation Inc 2020 Annual Report, filed October 15, 2020
  8. ↑ Hunter Nation Inc 2019 Annual Report, filed October 28, 2019
  9. ↑ Hunter Nation Inc 2020 Annual Report, filed October 15, 2020
  10. ↑ Hunter Nation Inc 2020 Annual Report, filed October 15, 2020
  11. ↑ Hunter Nation Inc 2019 Annual Report, filed October 28, 2019
  12. ↑ Hunter Nation Donate, Accessed March 7, 2021.
  13. ↑ Search for Tax Exempt Organizations, Internal Revenue Service, Accessed March 7, 2021.
  14. ↑ Donate, Hunt the Vote, Accessed March 8, 2021.
  15. ↑ Hunter Nation Action Inc, Federal Election Commission, Accessed March 7, 2021.
  16. ↑ Location, Mark and Burkhead, Accessed March 8, 2021.

Legal Filings

External Articles

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