By Zach Widner, Northwest States Senior Manager
On June 23, the Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) and the Idaho Sportsmen’s Alliance (ISA) hosted a sporting clays shoot and lunch at Black Dog Sporting Clays in Boise, ID. The event brought legislators and the sportsmen’s community together to celebrate Idaho’s rich hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping traditions and the vast economic and conservation benefits provided by Idaho’s sportsmen and women.
The event was run by Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Northwest States Senior Manager Zach Widner. Representatives from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, ISA, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Trout Unlimited participated in the event, as did Caucus Co-Chair Senator Lee Heider.
ISA President Larry Fry, who won top shooter at the event, noted, “ISA is thrilled to again partner with CSF and the Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus to host the post-session sporting clays shoot. We greatly appreciate the support of all our sponsors and look forward to this becoming an annual event that celebrates Idaho’s sporting heritage.”
The Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of state legislators who work to protect and promote Idaho’s sportsmen’s traditions. ISA, which also serves as the advisory council to the Caucus, is comprised of a multitude of sportsmen’s organizations that work to educate legislators, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and other organizations on issues of concern to Idaho’s hunters and anglers.
Event Sponsors included the American Suppressor Association, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Pheasants Forever, and Yamaha.
Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair Sen. Lee Heider (right of frame) with representatives from Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game, Idaho Sportsmen’s Alliance, and Trout Unlimited.
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?
