On Thursday, January 28, the Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, a bipartisan group of sportsmen-legislators working to safeguard Idaho’s hunting, angling, trapping, and recreational shooting traditions, hosted its annual kick-off breakfast in Boise to celebrate the state’s outdoor pastimes and discuss sportsmen’s priorities for the 2016 session.
Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Donna Pence (D-Gooding), discussed the history and function of the Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus, which was formed in 2004 as an initial member of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) program. “The Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus was created as a venue for focused discussion on Idaho-centric sportsmen’s issues, and I am proud of all we have accomplished since that time. Our state’s sportsmen and women and the vast economic and conservation benefits they provide benefit all Idahoans, and it is critical that we work to ensure their interests are represented.” In addition to Representative Pence, the other Co-Chairs of the Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus in 2016 will be Senators Michelle Stennett (D-Ketchum) and Lee Heider (R-Twin Falls), and Representative Richard Wills (R-Glenns Ferry).
Caucus members were joined by representatives from a number of state and national sportsmen’s organizations, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Idaho Sportsmen’s Alliance (formerly the Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus Advisory Council), Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation, as well as staff members from the offices of Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), and CSC member Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID). Both the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and the Idaho Fish and Game Commission were in attendance as well, with Idaho Fish and Game Director Virigl Moore giving a brief address to the attendees.
For more information about the Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, please contact CSF’s Western States Coordinator, Zach Widner, at zach@sportsmenslink.org.tern States Coordinator Zach Widner at zach@sportsmenslink.org.
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?
