The South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual spring legislative reception on May 25 in Columbia, South Carolina. The day began with striped-bass fishing on Lake Murray and concluded with a legislative reception and fish fry that evening.
Attended by over 60 legislators, the event provided a time to enjoy fishing and comradery during the waning session days and budget deliberations as well as discuss important sportsmen’s issues. Representatives from Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the South Carolina Farm Bureau were in attendance, among others.
Caucus Co-Chair Representative Lowe noted: “We want to continue to work through the Sportsmen’s Caucus and partner organizations to educate and inform legislators from both parties and both chambers on issues important to sportsmen and women in the Palmetto State. Our goal has been to promote our issues to new folks through fishing while continuing to advocate for all pro-sportsmen’s legislation and our sporting heritage through the strength of our Sportsmen’s Caucus.”
Formed in 2006, the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is continually one of the largest and effective bipartisan state sportsmen’s caucuses in the country. Former National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Executive Council President Representative Mike Pitts and current Executive Council Representative Brian White are a strong part of the continued success. The Caucus is currently co-chaired by Representative Phillip Lowe, Representative Russell Ott, Senator Chip Campsen, and Senator Thomas McElveen.
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?
