Contact: Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator
On April 30, the Kansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a Sporting Clays Challenge outside of Topeka.
The event brought together members of the Kansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus; representatives from the state’s conservation community; staff from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism; and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Midwestern States Director Chris Horton and Lower Midwestern States Coordinator Kent Keene; as well as allied industry partners.
This annual legislative tradition celebrates Kansas’s strong outdoor heritage. Participants came together for a round of sporting clays followed by lunch at Ravenwood Lodge outside of Topeka. This event provided a forum for Caucus members and attendees to learn more about hunting, fishing, and other conservation issues within in the Sunflower State. Additionally, the Sporting Clays Challenge provided an opportunity for beginner sportsmen and women to learn about sporting clays, its relationship to hunting, and general gun safety.
The Kansas Sportsmen’s Caucus is led by Co-Chairs Representatives Ken Corbet and Kyle Hoffman, and Senators Rick Billinger and Mike Petersen.
“We had a great turnout for our annual Kansas Sportsmen’s Caucus Sporting Clays Challenge, despite the looming threat of rain. This event combines the spirit of camaraderie, teamwork, and a little competition,” said Rep. Corbet. “We are proud to represent the sportsmen and women of Kansas and their economic contributions to the state.”
“I had a great time,” said Ruth Bradley, Manager of State and Local Government Relations at Tyson Foods, Inc. “It was my first-time shooting, but I had great instructors and there was great comradery. Overall, I highly recommend trying [sporting clays].”
Sporting Clays Challenge sponsors included: Bottenberg & Associates; Capitol Strategies LLC; Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Devine, Donley & Murray; Ducks Unlimited; ITC Great Plains; Kansas Association for Responsible Liquor Laws; Kansas Association of Insurance Agents; Kansas Automobile Dealers Association; Kansas Contractors Association; Kansas Livestock Association; KCP&L | Westar Energy; National Rifle Association; National Wild Turkey Federation; Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association; Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever; Ravenwood Lodge; Standard Beverage Corporation; Sunflower Health Plan; The Carter Group; Tyson Foods; and Whitney B. Damron, P.A.
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?
