The Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus joined allies from the state’s sportsmen’s community at the Willamette Heritage Center on Wednesday, February 26 for a celebration of bipartisan cooperation in support of the Beaver State’s hunters, anglers, recreational shooters and trappers.
Sportsmen’s groups were well represented at the event and included representatives from state chapters of Ducks Unlimited, the Coastal Conservation Association, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Trout Unlimited, Oregon Anglers Research Society and many more. The Oregon Hunters Association also played an integral role in organizing the event and the Oregon Outdoor Council presented a $2,000 check to the Sportsmen’s Caucus in support of future events and sportsman-related educational programs.
Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus House Co-Chairs, Representatives Sal Esquivel and Brad Witt addressed those in attendance, highlighting the Caucus’s ability to put partisanship aside for the benefit of the state’s sportsmen and women. Representative Witt also noted the Caucus’s many achievements over the last several years and made it clear that there is still much to be done for hunters, anglers, trappers and shooters in Oregon.
“The Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is the largest and most effective caucus in the Oregon Legislature. This allows us to put partisanship aside and work through some of the tough issues that matter to our hunting, fishing, trapping and shooting constituents,” noted Representative Esquivel, who also serves on the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council.
Also attending the banquet were several staff members from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife including Executive Director Roy Elicker. Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair, Senator Pam Roach, also drove down from the Capitol in Olympia to attend the event, highlighting the multi-state, collaborative spirit that is a fundamental component the NASC mission.
For more information about the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, please contact CSF Western States Manager, Andy Treharne, at andy@sportsmenslink.org.
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?
