Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator
On August 20, the California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus hosted the 13th Annual End of Session Reception at Mayahuel, in downtown Sacramento.
The event brought together legislators, legislative staff, California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, NGOs and industry professionals to discuss sportsmen’s policy issues facing Californians before the sessions wraps up September 13.
Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Bill Dodd, Senator Brian Jones, Assemblymember Marie Waldron and more than 15 bi-partisan caucus members attended the event and acknowledged the importance of protecting and promoting California’s outdoor heritage. The states 1.82 million hunters and anglers spend $3.5 billion annually, support 56,388 jobs, and generate $488 million in state and local taxes. Through the American System of Conservation Funding, California’s sportsmen and women have enabled California to build and maintain 1,498 fishing and boating access sites, giving public access to 1,100 miles of coastline, 4,955 lakes and reservoirs, 103 major streams and 74 major rivers.
Event Sponsors included: California Bowmen Hunters/ State Archery Association, California Deer Association, California Houndsmen for Conservation, California Rifle and Pistol Association, California Waterfowl Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and the Grassland Fund.
Left to right: Assemblymember Devon Matthis and CSF’s Aoibheann Cline.
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?
