On January 15, Georgia’s pro-sportsmen elected officials and stakeholders from the Peach State gathered in the Georgia State Capitol for the 13th Annual Georgia Sportsmen’s and Coastal Day at the Capitol. The annual event provides an opportunity to celebrate Georgia’s rich sporting heritage and commend the conservation partners and politicians who work to protect and promote it. Over 20 conservation organizations and coastal advocates set up display booths and distributed pertinent information about their group and their contribution to the economy and quality of life in Georgia.
Many members of the Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus were in attendance, including Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Bill Heath and Representative David Knight. The Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators working to protect and promote hunting, angling, and recreational shooting and trapping was originally established in 2003 and has continued to be a strong a voice for sportsmen’s interests in the Capitol since that time.
Also in attendance were Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Nathan Deal, Speaker of the House David Ralston, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Williams, Chairman Jon Burns of and many other state legislators.
Senator Heath, who also serves on the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Executive Council, introduced a Senate Resolution recognizing January 15, 2015 as “Sportsmen’s and Coastal Day at the Capitol.”
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?
