Contact Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States
On May 16, the bipartisan and bicameral Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a policy luncheon which centered on several bills before the legislature as well as a forthcoming regulatory package from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).
Sportsmen’s Caucus members were joined by Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Senior Director of Northeastern States Brent Miller, staff from DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, in-state and national conservation partners, and a number of sportsmen and women from throughout the state.
Topics covered at the event included recently introduced legislation by Caucus Members to: revise the shot and pellet size permitted for BB and air guns by increasing and defining the limit by an actual size (SB 100, sponsored by Caucus Member Senator David Lawson); and offer complimentary licenses to honorably discharged disabled veterans (HB 156, sponsored by Caucus Member Representative Timothy Dukes). An update was given on HB 97, which would offer discounted hunting and fishing licenses to out-of-state full-time college students to encourage their continued participation while attending school. HB 97 was sponsored by Caucus Member Representative Ruth Briggs-King.
Following the legislative discussion David Saveikis, Director of DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, presented information on an upcoming regulatory package the Division is proposing, which would increase access and opportunity for Delaware’s sportsmen and women. The proposed package of regulations is anticipated to be approved by the fish and wildlife Council at the end of the month, after which there will be a public comment period.
This event was sponsored by Ducks Unlimited.
Left to right: Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Leaders Rep. Jeff Spiegelman and Sen. Brian Pettyjohn
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?
