Contact: John Culclasure, Director, Southeastern States
Why It Matters: The South Carolina Southern Sporting Classic highlights the economic and conservation funding contributions of South Carolina’s sportsmen and women as well as the cultural importance of hunting and fishing to the Palmetto State. Additionally, the event facilitates interaction between Caucus members and conservation allies, underscoring the importance of elected officials supporting sporting traditions.
Chaired by Representative Bobby Cox, Representative Roger Kirby, Senator Stephen Goldfinch, and Senator Thomas McElveen, the bicameral and bipartisan Caucus is instrumental to protecting and advancing the interests of South Carolina’s hunters and anglers. Formed in 2006, the Caucus has played a key role in numerous policy accomplishments, including expanding apprentice hunting license program, updating turkey hunting regulations, and reauthorizing the Conservation Bank, among others. Most recently, the Caucus led the effort to repeal the regulation prohibiting Sunday hunting on Wildlife Management Areas which passed the House of Representatives but stalled in the Senate.
The Caucus is also represented on the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucus (NASC) Executive Council with Representative Brian White serving as the Executive Council President.
“This year’s Southern Sporting Classic was a tremendous opportunity for our state’s sporting conservation community to spend time together celebrating our love for the great outdoors. Many thanks to NWTF, CSF, and my colleagues in the Caucus for hosting another successful event that will support the Caucus’s work protecting hunting and fishing traditions for future generations,” said Representative Brian White.
CSF would like to thank the sponsors and partners that supported the event. Title sponsors included Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Ducks Unlimited, NWTF, and the Southern Group. Host Sponsors included Blue Cross Blue Shield, FN America, Hornady, HUK, International Order of T. Roosevelt, Nucor, Pure Fishing, Rather Outdoors, Richard Childress Racing, Safari Club International, Shimano, Vista Outdoor, and Wine & Spirit Wholesalers Association of South Carolina.
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?
