Below is a news release from Will Primos, renowned conservationist and outdoorsman who joined RMEF in 1989 and recently partnered with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, to bring awareness to what conservation is and the role sportsmen and women play through the ‘Truth About Conservation.’
A coalition of five of the nation’s greatest conservation organizations, in partnership with renowned conservationist and outdoorsman Will Primos, launched the ‘Truth About Conservation’, a public awareness campaign and firearm auction that will pull back the curtain on the critical need for wildlife habitat management and raise necessary funding for conservation.
The campaign will offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give back to conservation through a historic firearm auction that will feature Primos’ iconic collection of Purdey hammer shotguns, a compilation of rare and one-of-a-kind guns, including .410, 28, 20, 16, and 12 gauges. This collection, unlike any other, will be auctioned online in December 2025, with proceeds benefiting Primos’ beloved organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
Reflecting on the roots of his inspiration for the auction, Primos shared, “It dawned on me one day how important the habitat is to everything we value in the outdoors. I wanted to give back in a way that was special, something that would make a lasting impact. That’s when I realized the true purpose of this collection – it’s about doing great work for conservation.”
“This is a unique collaboration born from like-minded hunters and anglers who are passionate about conservation,” said Jeff Crane, President & CEO of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “We are appreciative of Will’s personal dedication to spreading awareness about our nation’s natural resources through the donation of his exclusive firearm collection and we look forward to carrying his conservation legacy forward.”
“Ducks Unlimited has always been about bringing together passionate conservationists, and our relationship with Will Primos is a perfect example of that. Will’s lifelong dedication to the outdoors, ethical hunting, and habitat conservation aligns perfectly with our mission. His influence has helped inspire generations of sportsmen and women to not only enjoy the great outdoors but also to take an active role in protecting it. It is an honor to be included in this unique project. Together, we’re ensuring that wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife have a future for generations to come,” said Adam Putnam, CEO of Ducks Unlimited
“It is no secret that Will is a dedicated turkey hunter and a staunch supporter of wildlife conservation,” said Jason Burckhalter, Co-CEO (Marketing & Fundraising) for National Wild Turkey Federation. “We are honored to be included in the groups that he has chosen as beneficiaries from the auction of these special and extremely rare firearms that are from his personal collection. We have no doubt that through our work with numerous state and federal partners, we will maximize the impact of this donation for the betterment of wild turkey and our cherished hunting traditions.”
“Will’s dedication to hunting and conservation is evident. He is an example of it day in and day out and not just by his support of RMEF that spans more than three and a half decades. He does so with his actions. We’re grateful for this concerted effort to benefit like-minded conservation groups that care and do so much for elk and many other wildlife species,” said Kyle Weaver, President and CEO of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
“It’s an honor for Will Primos to include Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in this incredibly generous gift. Likewise, we’re thrilled to be teaming up with our partners in conservation at CSF, DU, NWTF, and RMEF to stretch Will’s contribution as far as possible for our shared habitat missions. From bobwhites to bluebills and bugling elk to gobbling turkeys, the funds generated by these Purdey shotguns are going to leave a lasting impact on the landscape for the wildlife we all cherish,” reported Bob St. Pierre, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever.
The campaign unites these influential conservation groups who will work together to create a conservation conversation and evolve the education so that the sportsmen’s community is better equipped to ‘Speak the Language’ by:
- Fostering a deeper understanding of the relationship between policy, science-based habitat, and wildlife management;
- Spreading awareness about the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, a system unrivaled globally;
- Underscoring the need for people to recognize that the public at large, regardless of whether or not they hunt or fish, benefit immensely from the contributions of hunters and anglers through abundant wildlife, healthy landscapes, and access to all of these resources;
“This is the truth,” Primos concluded. “This is the truth about conservation.”
The guns will travel the country and officially be auctioned off December 5 – 7, 2025, by Rock Island Auction. For more information about the campaign and the auction, visit www.thetruthaboutconservation.com.
About the Truth About Conservation
The Truth About Conservation was launched by Will Primos in 2024, in partnership with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever as a way to bring awareness to conservation and help support the conservation efforts of these groups through a firearm auction. Please visit www.thetruthaboutconservation.com for more information.