On March 14, the Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its semi-annual sportsmen’s Q&A and shootout at Evergreen Sportsmen’s Club in Littlerock, Washington.
The event kicked off with a policy update from Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Phil Fortunato and Representative Brian Blake. During Lunch, former Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council Member Senator Pam Roach (WA) was honored by the Caucus with a commemorative plaque, presented by Senator Shelly Short. Attendees then moved outside for an educational day on the range, participating in rifle, pistol, and trap shooting.
Senator Fortunato noted, “I am proud to continue the precedent that Senator Pam Roach set with the Annual Shootout at Littlerock. This is a great event that brings together hunters, anglers, legislators, and sportsmen’s industry partners to discuss issues of importance to sportsmen and women, and to highlight the vast conservation and economic benefits that hunting, angling, and recreational shooting provide in our state.”
The shoot was followed with an awards lunch at the Washington State Capitol, where top shooters were recognized in front of their fellow participants.
Event sponsors included Cabela’s; Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; Ducks Unlimited; Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities; Hunting Works for Washington; I-5 Guns; Mark Gjurasic; Melanie Stewart and Associates, LLC; National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses; National Rifle Association; and Washington Friends of the NRA.
Over one million people hunt and fish in the state of Washington each year, spending $1.6 billion annually and supporting nearly 22,000 jobs.
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?
