On June 25, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Western States Manager Andy Treharne attended the 2014 California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus Trap Shoot. This year’s Shoot, with one of the best historical turnouts from the target audience of state legislators and key Capitol staff, was held at the Cordova Shooting Center in Rancho Cordova, California, and boasted well over 100 attendees.
The California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus is an assemblage of state legislators who care about policy decisions which protect and advance the traditions of hunting, angling and other wildlife-dependent recreation in California. Formed with the help of the California Waterfowl Association and Gaines & Associates staff, the California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus joined the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses as a founding member in 2004 and currently consists of nearly 30 members of California’s State Legislature.
The Annual California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus Trap Shoot and other Caucus events are critical to the outdoor community’s ability to educate key policy makers of the time-honored traditions of hunting and shooting. In addition, these events help build awareness, support of, and membership in the Caucus at the State Capitol. The annual trap shoot and other California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus events play a pivotal role in protecting California’s hunting and shooting traditions for generations to come to enjoy.
This year’s California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus Trap Shoot was organized by Gaines & Associates and California Waterfowl, with the vital support of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Tulare Basin Wetlands Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association, California Houndsmen for Conservation, Ducks Unlimited, Monterey Fish and Game Commission and the Grasslands Water District.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?