About Wildlife Action

M. Gault "Bunny Beeson Jr.

Bunny The founder of Wildlife Action, Inc., was born and raised in Mullins, SC, leaving the area for four years of military service in the U.S. Air Force. While stationed in Topeka, Kansas, he attended Washburn University.

Dedicated to community service since his youth, he became an Eagle Scout and received the God and Country Award, later serving as scoutmaster for 15 years. Recognizing the need for a sports facility in Mullins, he organized a group of concerned citizens, planned, founded and implemented construction of the Mullin's Recreational Complex.

He founded and operated a variety of business enterprises dealing in retail and real estate. In 1977, he and 6 other men believed they could make a difference in conserving wildlife and formed an organization called Wildlife Action. Chartered by the state that same year, these men put up duck boxes to increase duck population. In 1983, WLA membership was opened to the public as Beeson spent more time volunteering his efforts to this new conservation organization than working in his sporting goods store.

Finally, realizing that in order for WLA to accomplish the project he dreamed, he must give up his business and work full-time for WLA, in December 1986, Beeson sold his business and began fulfilling the responsibilities of Wildlife Action's President Chief Executive Officer. Membership in WLA today stands at over 14,000 nationwide.

He served for 8 years as chairman of the Marion County Fish and Game Commission, was a member of the S.C. Governor's Sub Committee for the Land Procurement and Utilization Committee and served on the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resource Department's panel for the Habitat Enhancement and Land Protection Act of 1986. He was also a member of the

the Advisory Board for the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resource Department's "Project Wild" program. He received the S.C. Governor's "Take Pride in America" Award in 1986 for his involvement in conservation programs in that state and was also honored with the coveted 1986, S.C. Wildlife Federation "Communication Conservation" Award for a project to conserve the first wildlife refuge in Marion County. In 1988, he received the local Woodmen of the World Conservation award.

In January 1990, he was honored by 6th Congressional Representative Robin Tallon with a plaque commemorating a speech Tallon made on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives commending Beeson "for his relentless efforts to conserve wildlife land natural habitat" and praising Wildlife Action for its many accomplishments. In May 1994, Beeson received from S.C. House of Representatives an award honoring him for his outstanding service to S.C. Also that same year he was honored by Southern Living Magazine as Southerner of the year.

In 1995 the Governor of South Carolina awarded him the South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award.

In October, 2000 the City of Mullins, by proclamation of Mayor Wayne George, honored Beeson for his outstanding contributions to Mullins Recreation by naming the football facility after President Beeson.

On May 15, 2002 President Beeson was honored by S.C. State House of Representatives member James Battle with a plaque commemorating a speech Battle made on the House floor commending Beeson "for his outstanding contributions to preserving wildlife habitat and natural resources throughout the nation as Wildlife Action, Inc. celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary".

In 2003 Beeson became a Master Wildlifer and he continues to serve on the S.C. Water Resources Commission's Little Pee Dee River Advisory Committee, and on the Board of Directors for the S.C. Nature-Based Tourism Association. He also serves as a member of the Palmetto Pride Council, appointed by the Governor.

In 2011, Bunny was awarded the distinguished Order of the Palmetto, given only by the governor. This is the state’s highest civilian honor and was given in recognition of his lifetime achievements and contributions to conservation.

Beeson enjoys hunting, fishing and photography, but he devotes all his energies and efforts to the development of one of the Southeast’s fastest growing volunteer conservation organizations: Wildlife Action. WLA's slogan "To Put Back More Than We Take" is also Beeson's personal creed as he attempts to promote the values of true sportsmanship and conservation of our natural resources.

How it all began...