March 30, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Silencer Central.

What if a product designed to improve the hunting experience also could help fund millions in conservation efforts?

That’s the vision behind Silencer Central’s strategy around its giving – and its industry is welcoming the idea.

“Our CEO, Brandon Maddox, receives many requests for donations and wanted to think bigger about the most effective approach to our giving,” said Jessica Poncelet, senior marketing manager.

“While we’ve always supported local conservation events and continue to do so, the vision was to broaden the approach and connect with these organizations strategically at an even greater level.”

Now that the post-pandemic world is back to holding events, Silencer’s Karter Keefer has taken the idea and run with it.

“I grew up being involved with conservation efforts, so being able to help give back as part of my position has been awesome,” said Keefer, who joined as a key account specialist last May.

“Being able to help give back to conservation groups and see our impact in conversation projects is so rewarding.”

Silencer Central regularly donates a suppressor to help support conservation organizations’ fundraising efforts.

“They can sell it, auction it, raffle it, however they feel they can get a good value, and they can keep all the money raised,” Keefer said. “If the winner chooses, they also can upgrade the suppressor we give away with a more advanced version.”

In less than a year, the effort has helped conservation organizations raise more than $1 million.

“Silencer Central is still a relatively new company in the big picture, but they began this effort with a regional effort in South Dakota, and as word got out regionally, more and more chapters and regional directors across the nation got on board,” said Tom Glines, a regional director of development for the National Wild Turkey Federation, which nationally counts about 225,000 members. “It’s kind of snowballing.”

The philanthropy is a strong fit for the industry, he said.

“We rely on grassroots fundraising, and this partnership has been phenomenal,” Glines said. “In some states, they’re still finding out what suppressors are, but increasingly they’re learning about the benefits of suppressors. And one of the benefits of Silencer Central is they do all the paperwork. They assist the buyer so well and make the process so seamless that people have no reservation purchasing it. We see that through our banquets too.”

For Silencer, the nationwide reach has helped educate customers. Organizations supported with suppressor donations so far include:

• National Wild Turkey Federation
• Friends of NRA
• Ducks Unlimited
• Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever
• Delta Waterfowl
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Safari Club International

“This reaches our customer base and shows we value what they value,” Keefer said. “Conservation is important to the overall environment, but it also makes hunting more enjoyable – just as suppressors do. This helps hunters gain that understanding, and they’re passing that along to family and friends.”

Karter Keefer, Tom Glines and Brandon Maddox

For the Silencer team, “it’s definitely something we feel good about,” Poncelet said. “We’re supporting the industry in so many ways, from hunting to high school rodeo and shooting sports.”

The benefits extend even beyond that, Glines added.

“The conservation we do with the National Wild Turkey Federation benefits so many wildlife species. A lot of our habitat projects improve water quality. We’re working heavily with fire suppression in the West. So the benefits of their charity extend coast to coast. It’s benefiting everybody, whether you hunt or not.”