On August 18, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) member Governor Sam Brownback hosted a proclamation signing ceremony in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day. With leaders of Kansas’s hunting and angling community looking on, the Governor signed a proclamation recognizing the contributions of the state’s hunters and anglers to the Kansas economy and conservation funding.
“”The commitment and passion of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, working in partnership with our state’s sportsmen and women, is responsible for the abundant natural resources we enjoy today,”” said Gov. Brownback. “”I’m happy to work alongside the Kansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to commemorate this important occasion and advance sportsmen’s interests in the Sunflower State.””
National Hunting and Fishing Day is celebrated the fourth Saturday of every September, and will take place this year on September 23. The day was established in 1972 to recognize the important contributions the nation’s hunters and anglers make to conservation and our national economy. Through the American System of Conservation Funding, Kansans contribute $45 million annually to conservation funding in the state. Kansas hunters and anglers spend over $629 million a year while engaged in their pursuits, and help support close to 10,000 jobs in the state.
“Kansans know that our state presents many opportunities to participate in the activities that make up our rich Kansas sporting heritage,” said Kansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Representative Ken Corbet at the ceremony. “The Governor’s efforts on behalf of Kansas’s hunters and anglers is another reminder of how important these activities are to our state.”
Participants at the ceremony included: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Central Midwestern States Coordinator Joel Hodgdon and Secretary of State Kris Kobach; as well as representatives from Ducks Unlimited; Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; National Rifle Association; National Wild Turkey Federation; Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever; and other allied industry partners.
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?
