This week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) welcomed the newest member to the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, Governor Bill Walker (I) of Alaska. Gov. Walker becomes the 26th member of the GSC, joining the group of U.S. governors who work to protect and advance the interests of America’s sportsmen and women.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus. So many Alaskans rely on healthy fish and game populations to feed their families and their communities, so the ability to hunt, fish, trap, and shoot in our state is absolutely critical. We must continue to support and advocate for sound fish and game management policies that will ensure the protection of hunting and fishing opportunities enjoyed by our citizens,” said Gov. Walker.
Each year, Alaska’s 563,000 hunters and anglers spend nearly $1.2 billion, supporting nearly 16,000 jobs and providing over $140 million in state and local tax revenues. This spending provides a boon for countless small businesses and rural economies in Alaska who rely on the economic impact provided by sportsmen and women.
The GSC, founded by CSF in 2009, includes Republican, Democrat, and Independent governors and lieutenant governors who work to protect and advance the interests of America’s sportsmen and women, and advance professional fish and wildlife management. The GSC facilitates communication and information exchange between participating offices in support of policies that promote and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping. Guided by a leadership team of governors and staffed through CSF, the 26-member GSC complements and enhances the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, representing sportsmen constituencies from across 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?
