On April 16, the Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held an organizational meeting to plan a course of action for the 2015-2016 legislative session. Approximately 20 members were represented, either in-person or by staff, and were joined by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, the Acting Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Northeastern States Director Brent Miller.
“I want to thank the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses [NASC] for all the assistance they have provided our caucus thus far. Their leadership has been incomparable,” said Senator Anne Gobi, Caucus Co-Chair. “I would also like to thank Brent Miller for speaking to the caucus and sharing national issues and best practices with everyone. We hope to grow the caucus and continue to advocate for sportsmen issues.”
Massachusetts joined NASC in 2014 as the bipartisan Massachusetts House Sportsmen’s Caucus. Over the last year, the Caucus has grown considerably and now includes bipartisan leaders and members from both chambers.
“The Massachusetts House Sportsmen’s Caucus is expanding this session to include members of the Senate. The new Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is looking forward to a productive year with various briefings, field trips, and activities on the calendar,” said Caucus Co-Chair, Representative David Vieira. “Many thanks to Brent Miller and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation for their continued support.”
At the event, Miller presented on CSF and the formation and development of NASC. Caucus members were also educated on the economic importance of hunting and angling in Massachusetts, as well as the contributions Massachusetts sportsmen and women make to conservation through the American System of Conservation Funding.
At the close of the meeting, Representative Vieira presented Miller with a Legislative Citation, thanking him for his commitment to local and national sportsmen’s issues, his role in the formation of the Massachusetts Caucus, and his ongoing support of the Caucus and its members.
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?
