On April 26, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted the 2nd Annual “Georgia Low Country Boil & Shoot-Out” – a southeastern regional event held at the Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club in Douglasville, Georgia. The event featured a sporting clays competition, followed by a low country boil and auction.
Members from the Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus joined sportsmen and women from across the state to recognize its robust hunting and angling opportunities, and to discuss these traditions for the future generations of America’s sportsmen and women. Among the over 100 other attendees was Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council member, Senator Bill Heath, and former Major League Baseball player and avid hunter, Ryan Klesko.
CSF President Jeff Crane welcomed guests and addressed the audience: “I would like to thank the Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, joined by 45 other states in NASC, for their commitment to America’s sportsmen and women. Whether at the federal or state level, we are united in the mission to protect and advance hunting and angling in our states across the country.”
Sen. Heath also spoke about the Georgia Sportsmen’s Caucus and NASC. “We don’t face a lot of the issues in Georgia that we do around the country, when it comes to defending out rights to hunt, fish, and trap. We take a lot for granted here,” said Sen. Heath. “NASC is a collection of legislative sportsmen’s caucuses around the country, and [the NASC Executive Council] appreciates the help of all the legislators involved.”
Prior to dinner, event attendees participated in a sporting clays shooting competition. Awarded the top shooters were: Ryan Klesko (Third Place), Mike Worley (Second Place), Bert Collins (Top Gun), and Nancy Thomas (Top Lady).
CSF Honorary Board of Directors member and Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Alumni Association, the Honorable Lindsay Thomas introduced the CSC Alumni Association. “[Alumni Association Co-Chair, the Honorable Dick Schulze] and I formed this Alumni Association because we feel that it is very important that the members who have been a part of the CSC in the past, who have served in the House and Senate, stay involved with this. This is a joint effort to see the very things they care about, our traditions of hunting and fishing and conservation of our wildlife, have a future in the years to come. And their knowledge and experience that they can bring back to the Alumni Association could just be priceless.”
Today, there are currently over one million hunters and anglers enjoying the great outdoors of Georgia, spending upwards of $2.3 billion dollars annually, and supporting almost 40,000 jobs in the state.
The event’s Title Sponsors were Bell Plantation and Cox Enterprises, Inc. Host Sponsors included: American Suppressor Association, Stoddard’s Range & Guns and Yamaha Motor Corporation. Co-Host Sponsors included: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Remington, Richard Childress Racing, Safari Club International, Shimano American Corporation, and Vista Outdoor Inc.
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?
