On January 24, members of the Indiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus gathered with the sportsmen’s community at the State Capitol to recognize the positive impacts hunting and angling provide for the Hoosier State.
The Indiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus leaders include Senator Jim Tomes, Representative Terry Goodin, and Representative Sean Eberhart.
“Bringing together the sportsmen’s community at this event helps legislators learn more about the issues that are vitally important to the many sportsmen and women who call Indiana home,” said Senator Tomes.
During the dinner, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Central Midwestern States Coordinator Joel Hodgdon addressed the gathering and spoke about the importance of Indiana to the American System of Conservation Funding. “The nearly one million sportsmen and women in Indiana contribute heavily to the state’s economy and to the conservation of Indiana’s wildlife,” said Hodgdon. He also discussed the introduction of federal legislation important to sportsmen, like the Hearing Protection Act, among other sportsmen’s issues.
“Indiana sportsmen and women spend almost $925 million annually and support about 15,000 jobs in the state, the economic impact of our hunters and anglers should not be taken for granted,” said Representative Eberhart. “This dinner provides an opportunity for legislators to appreciate the storied sporting traditions of our state.”
The Title Sponsor for the event was the Indiana State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Host Sponsors included Pheasants Forever and Reynolds American, 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?
