On February 8, the Montana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held a lunch briefing for legislators and sportsmen’s representatives, announcing the new Co-Chairs of the Caucus, as well as Caucus priorities for the 2017 session.
Staff from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation presented on Caucus form and function, as well as provided a discussion on the numerous benefits that state caucuses receive by participating in the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) network.
The newly announced Co-Chairs for the Montana Sportsmen’s Caucus are Senator Jedediah Hinkle, Senator Jill Cohenour, Representative Matt Regier, and Representative Zach Brown. Senator Hinkle remarked on the occasion, “It is with great pride that we announce the reestablishment of the Montana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. Montana has a long and proud tradition of hunting, angling, trapping, and recreational shooting, and the Montana Sportsmen’s Caucus will help ensure that our sportsmen’s traditions continue to be represented in the state Capitol. I look forward to working with my fellow Co-Chairs to make the Caucus an active and effective venue for discussion on issues affecting our sportsmen and women.”
A wide array of sportsmen’s groups attended the lunch to help provide insights on sportsmen’s issues and priorities in the state. Attendees included representatives from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Montana Wildlife Federation, Wild Sheep Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and the Montana Trappers Association.
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?
