By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator
On March 27, newly elected Governor Janet Mills of Maine joined the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), a bipartisan group of governors from across the country dedicated to their sportsmen and women constituents.
“Hunters and anglers have enjoyed Maine’s stunning beauty and unrivaled natural resources for generations,” said Gov. Mills. “Outdoor recreation is a critical pillar of our economy and a central part of our state’s identity. I am proud to join the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus and I look forward to honoring Maine’s heritage, protecting our natural resources, and supporting outdoor recreational opportunities that are so important to our state.”
Maine is home to more than 400,000 hunters and anglers who contribute over $27 million to fish and wildlife conservation each year.
Gov. Mills is joined by other elected officials dedicated to providing a voice for Maine’s sportsmen and women, including Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Jr., along with Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Senators Troy Jackson and Matthew Pouliot, and members Representatives Catherine Nadeau and Trey Stewart.
Gov. Mills is the first female governor of Maine and has a career committed to public service. Prior to being elected as Governor, she held positions as Assistant Attorney General; District Attorney for Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties; Member of the Maine House of Representatives; and Attorney General of Maine.
As a sportswoman, Governor Mills’ favorite recreational hobbies include hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking throughout Maine.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation welcomes Gov. Mills to the GSC and looks forward to working alongside her in protecting and advancing Maine’s hunting, fishing, recreational shooting and trapping opportunities.
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?
