Why It Matters: Given the composition of Missouri’s Constitution, opportunities for legislator involvement in hunting and fishing policy are few and far between. However, this has not prevented the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus from being an active member of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC), working closely with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and partners to host several important events designed to build the Caucus, promote our shared outdoor heritage, and support opportunities to recruit the next generation of sportsmen and women.
Highlights:
- While Missouri has concluded a relatively quiet legislative session as it relates to sportsmen and women, the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus accomplished many key goals that were set for 2025.
- From adopting official Caucus Bylaws, to electing new Co-Chairs, to hosting and participating in several important events to increase awareness of the Caucus, the Missouri Caucus has had a year worth celebrating.
- These accomplishments highlight the important role that NASC-affiliated Caucuses can play, even outside of the halls of their state capitals.
As many sportsmen and women from the Show-Me State are aware, most of the decisions regarding hunting, fishing, and trapping opportunities in Missouri are made by the Missouri Conservation Commission, thanks to both the authority vested in the Commission via Missouri’s Constitution and the provision of a wildly successful 1/8 of 1% conservation sales tax. While this unique structuring and funding stream precludes many of the sportsman policy conversations on which National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses affiliated engage, it does not mean that the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is unproductive. In fact, the recently concluded 2025 legislative session represents one of the Caucus’ most productive sessions in recent memory.
Early in the year, the Caucus hosted a meeting to finally and officially adopt a set of bylaws that will guide the operations of the Caucus in a manner that aligns well with the mission and objectives of the NASC. These bylaws included a leadership election structure which was used upon adoption to elect the Caucus’ bipartisan leaders, including Representatives Tim Taylor and Bridget Walsh Moore and Senators Jason Bean and Tracy McCreery. These leaders have a strong history of bipartisan camaraderie within the realm of sportsmen and women. The leaders are also joined by NASC Executive Council Member Representative Bruce Sassmann.
After adopting bylaws and electing leaders, the Caucus immediately shifted gears toward events designed to strengthen the Caucus and highlight the opportunities that Missouri has to offer its sportsmen and women. These events included a reception and trout fishing excursion during the opening day of Missouri’s Trout Season where Caucus members were joined by newly minted Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Mike Kehoe. From there, the Caucus hosted a bipartisan firearms training course for members, a fish fry alongside members of the sporting-conservation community, and sponsored and participated in the Governor’s Youth Turkey Hunt led by the Conservation Federation of Missouri.
While policy items could not be a primary focus of the 2025 legislative session for the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, these accomplishments represent an important Caucus function. While many states are dealing with efforts related to funding or attempts to undermine opportunities for sportsmen and women, the Missouri Caucus is educating its members, setting the stage for continued support for the sporting-conservation community and the work of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Conservation Commission.
