On June 7, the bipartisan, bicameral Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its Annual Cigar Reception in Harrisburg. More than 100 guests, including more than 40 members of the Caucus; Executive Directors of both the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; and Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) Member Governor Tom Wolf’s Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation Advisor, gathered for an evening of camaraderie and to discuss the policy issues affecting the Pennsylvania’s sportsmen’s community.
Primary topics of discussion at the event were Senate Bills 1166 and 1168, legislation to grant authority to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to set license fees. Earlier that day, the bills were heard in the Senate on Second Consideration and on June 13 were re-reported as committed from the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The bills, authored by Senator Pat Stefano and Caucus Member Senator John Eichelberger, have gained bipartisan support in both chambers. Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a policy briefing for Caucus Members to learn more about the two bills that will secure conservation funding for the 1.4 million sportsmen and women in the Keystone State.
During the event, Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Frank Farina and Tommy Sankey presented John Plowman, Executive Director of Hunters Sharing the Harvest, with a $1,500 donation for his dedication to helping feed the hungry. Hunters Sharing the Harvest provides more than 100,000 pounds of donated venison to those in need each year.
Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Representative Frank Farina commented on the reception and the importance of the Caucus, “I was pleased to be a part of another successful legislative sportsmen’s event. Pennsylvania hosts one of the largest populations of sportsmen and women in the country. We are their voice in Pennsylvania and their issues are a top priority for our caucus. Hunting and fishing is responsible for just about everything I have in my life. I made it a top priority to give back to a sport that’s given so much to me.”
Sponsors for the event included: Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, Chief Oil & Gas LLC, Hunters Sharing the Harvest, Inflection Energy LLC, International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association, Keystone Elk Country Alliance, Marcellus Shale Coalition, National Rifle Association, Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union, Range Resources, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, Reynolds American, Inc., Seneca Resources, Southwestern Energy, UGI Energy Services, and Williams Partners L.P.
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?
