Over the weekend, members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) joined representatives from the sportsmen’s community in Washington, DC during the annual National Governors Association Winter Meeting for a reception hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).
CSF President Jeff Crane welcomed seven governors and other attendees and presented the event’s theme, ‘The American System of Conservation Funding: 80 Years of Success.’ Crane noted, “Since this year is the 80th Anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, known as the American System of Conservation Funding, this is a great opportunity to recognize the crucial contributions that sportsmen and women have made across the country. We would like to thank governors who signed proclamations recognizing those contributions in the past and look forward to working with many governors again this year on promoting the sportsmen’s heritage and conservation.”
GSC Co-Chair Governor Phil Bryant (MS) was presented the GSC 2017 Heritage Award for his dedication to advancing fish and wildlife conservation and the sportsmen’s heritage. “Helping to protect and advance hunting and angling during my tenure as Governor has been highlighted by my four years in leadership of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus. I am proud of the work we are doing in Mississippi and the work you are doing across the country to ensure that America’s sporting traditions continue on for future generations,” said Gov. Bryant.
GSC Co-Chair Governor Steve Bullock (MT) said, “In Montana, access to our public lands contribute to our rich quality of life, they’re one of our great equalizers, and they define who we are as Montanans. As a hunter, angler and the Co-Chair of the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Caucus, it was an honor to share the Montana perspective of outdoor recreation with other outdoorsmen and women.”
Title Sponsors included: American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Bayer Corporation, CropLife America, National Rifle Association, Reynolds American, Inc., and Wine & Spirit Wholesalers of America, Inc. Host Sponsors included: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., JC Larkin Company, LLC, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Outdoor Sportsman Group, Plano Synergy, Richard Childress Racing, Safari Club International, Shimano American Corporation, Troutman Sanders LLP, Vista Outdoor Inc., and Winchester Ammunition.
About the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus
Formed in 2009, the GSC, a bipartisan caucus of governors, facilitates communication and information exchange between participating offices in support of policies and regulations that promote and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping. Guided by a bipartisan leadership team of governors and staffed through CSF, the GSC complements and enhances the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. Presently, the bipartisan GSC consists of 30 members, one being a lieutenant governor, representing diverse regions of the nation.
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?
