This week, legislators from 23 state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses around the country gathered in Sunriver, Oregon to reflect on this year’s successes and discuss upcoming sportsmen-related issues.
The 11th Annual National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Sportsman-Legislator Summit was themed, “Yesterday’s Achievements, Tomorrow’s Aspirations.” The four day Summit included a variety of sessions on issues including: the recreational angling benefits to the National Fish Hatchery System, trapping policy challenges and successes, pros and cons to crossbow usage, national hunter recruitment and retention strategies, impacts of lead ammunition bans, technology and the fair chase ethic, marine fisheries issues including the Magnuson-Stevens Act and red snapper management, animal rights groups and their threats to state wildlife management, and the ‘right to hunt and fish’ constitutional amendments.
“The agenda covers some of the most important issues facing the sportsmen’s community today. This Summit, as the largest gathering of sportsman-legislators annually, provides a forum for legislators and other members of the sportsmen’s community from all over the United States. They have the opportunity to share policy challenges and successes from their home states and work together on strategies to ensure the voice of the sportsman is represented in each state,” said CSF President Jeff Crane.
Senator Robin Webb (KY) was re-elected as NASC Executive President for 2015. “Now with sportsmen’s caucuses in 44 states, hunters, anglers, recreational shooters and trappers are represented throughout the country, making the future bright for sportsmen’s policy interests,” said Sen. Webb.
The 2015 NASC Executive Council was also announced during the Summit: President Sen. Robin Webb (KY), Delegate Wendell Beitzel (MD), Rep. Sal Esquivel (OR), Rep. Herb Frierson (MS), Rep. Jeff Goley (NH), Sen. Mike Green (MI), Sen. Bill Heath (GA), Rep. Craig Miner (CT), Rep. Mark Neuman (AK), and Rep. Brandon Phelps (IL). Alternate members include: Rep. Linda Black (MO) and Rep. Bill Rehm (NM).
The 11th Annual NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit was made possible by the generous support of CSF’s partners and the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. Title Sponsors included: ATK, Daimler, Inc., National Rifle Association, and Safari Club International. Host Sponsors included: Bass Pro Shops, Bayer Corporation, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Dallas Safari Club, Remington, Richard Childress Racing, and Time Warner Cable. Co-Host Sponsors included: American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, American Knife & Tool Institute, American Suppressor Association, Ducks Unlimited, ExxonMobil Corporation, Knife Rights, Inc., National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Trappers Association, Inc., North American Crossbow Federation, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Pac/West Communications, Shimano American Corporation, and Yamaha Motor Corporation.
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?
