On October 11, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) member Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia hosted a ceremony to recognize National Hunting and Fishing Day by signing a proclamation. Held at the Governor’s office in the state capitol, the proclamation and ceremony celebrated the important economic, social, and cultural role hunting and angling play in the Peach State.
Ceremony attendees included: National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses President Senator Bill Heath (GA), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 
Commissioner Mark Williams, as well as staff from the DNR, Ducks Unlimited, Georgia Wildlife Federation, and the Governor’s office.
Sen. Heath noted, “The NASC and GSC network provide an unprecedented network of pro-sportsmen elected officials around the country that are working to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping. I’m proud to stand here in support of National Hunting and Fishing Day to support these time-honored traditions and ensure they are passed on to future generations.”
Celebrated on the 4th Saturday in September every year, National Hunting and Fishing Day was established by Congress in 1972 to recognize the important contributions the nation’s hunters and anglers make to conservation and to the national economy. Georgia’s 1 million hunters and anglers spend over $2.3 billion a year in their outdoor pursuits and support more than 40,000 jobs within the state. The event was rescheduled from an earlier September date due to Hurricane Irma.
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?
