Last week, the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its 9th Annual Caucus Fish Fry in Jackson, Mississippi. The annual event brings together sportsmen-legislators, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) staff members, and numerous other stakeholders in the Mississippi conservation community for a night of camaraderie and policy discussion in the state’s capital.
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Southeastern States Manager Bee Frederick, was in attendance to promote the work of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC), and to celebrate the Caucus’ success in shepherding a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt and fish to the voters last November. With overwhelmingly positive approval by the voters, Mississippi became the 18th state in the nation to formally recognize the right to hunt and fish in their constitution.
Local outdoor legend Bobby Cleveland entertained the crowd of roughly 100 people with stories of his career in the outdoor media world. Also in attendance were: Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus House Co-Chair Representative Scott Bounds, Senate Co-Chairs Senators Angela Hill and Russell Jolly, NASC Executive Council Member Representative Herb Frierson, James Cummins of Wildlife Mississippi, Brad Young of Mississippi Wildlife Federation, Ashlee Ellis Smith of Ducks Unlimited, Wildlife Director Chad Dacus, Fisheries Director Larry Pugh, and Marine Resources Director Jamie Miller, among others.
With well over 100 members, the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is the largest legislative caucus in the Mississippi State House and is a strong voice for sportsmen and women. The Caucus continually works alongside the MDWFP to protect and advance hunting and angling. Currently, an appropriations bill to further support the Department, sponsored by Caucus Member and NASC Executive Council Member, Representative Herb Frierson is currently making its way through the legislative process.
A special thanks goes to MDWFP for preparing the food and the over 20 corporate and private sponsors who made the event possible.
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?
