On October 7, members of the North Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus gathered at Capital City Sporting Clays outside Bismarck, ND to enjoy an afternoon of shooting sporting clays with members of the North Dakota sportsmen’s community. The event provided a forum for sportsmen-legislators to share in an evening of camaraderie and recreational shooting with a wide range of sportsmen’s groups and Department of Game and Fish staff.
“It was heartening during the shoot to be together with legislators, citizens and sponsors who value conservation and the wildlife it engenders. As a lifelong hunter who had never shot sporting clays, I found it to be challenging and collegial,” said Caucus Co-Chair Senator Philip Murphy following the event. “Our hosts were outstanding to such a degree that even the weather came under their influence as the wind dropped and the temperature rose to make a beautiful fall afternoon in North Dakota.”
Attendees worked their way through 10 sporting clay stations and finished with a five-person flurry shoot. The evening concluded with a dinner and award ceremony for the event’s top shooters. Top male and female legislator honors went to Sen. Murphy and Representative Karen Karls.
Sponsors for the event included: Scheels, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Federal Premium Ammunition, and Delta Waterfowl.
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?
