Our History

In the year 1896, a group of foresighted men - many of whom were or were destined to be influential in Erie County , saw the need for an organized Conservation movement to help preserve and better the natural environment of Erie County . These men formed such an organization and 12 years later incorporated it under the name " Erie County Society for the Protection of Birds, Fish and Game ". About 20 years later it was renamed the " Erie County Conservation Society, Inc ." Since then our society has become one of the outstanding organizations of its kind in New York State.

In the early 1920's, through the leadership of such men as Hamilton Ward, Homer Savage, Jay Hoover and 'Doc' Fruden and in cooperation with the Audubon Society of Buffalo, the Conservation Society became the prime advocate of the law which created Allegheny State Park . Mr. Fruden, who was President of our Society from 1937 to 1940, was a Director and Commissioner of Allegheny State Park until his death.

The Society has ever been the watch dog of farmer (landowner) – sportsmen relations. In years past, hunters would be issued buttons along with their hunting license. These would have to be worn during hunting so that you could be identified. The Society was the sponsor of the legislation which brought about the use of these buttons. The hunters back tag has replaced the use of these buttons and is a direct outgrowth of the button system.

The Society, many years ago, was a pioneer in the anti-pollution fight. Just in the last few years has government recognized the state of our environment and taken action.

The Society supports many other Sportsmen's groups , such as the National Rifle Association, National Wildlife Federation, New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Western New York Field Archers Association, New York State Conservation Council, Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs Inc, and SCOPE Inc., through associate memberships.

The main purpose of the Society is conservation. Not only of trees, fish and game, but conservation of man's heritage to have open land on which to roam, fish, hunt, camp or just relax. In this respect the Society agrees with the law protecting the Adirondack Mountains from the wrath of the land developers, loggers and resort operators. The Society has been opposed to posting of private lands. In its place we have tried to promote better sportsmen – landowner understanding, which would make posting unnecessary. The Society opposes oppressive gun laws and registration. In its place we support strong laws which would punish, severely, the person who uses a gun in a commission of a crime.