Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator
On October 22, nearly 90 people, including more than 75 caucus members, representatives from numerous sportsmen’s conservation groups and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, gathered to celebrate Louisiana’s outdoor sporting traditions and discuss issues impacting hunters and anglers in the Pelican State. The bipartisan and bicameral Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) is chaired by Senator Gary Smith, Senator Rick Ward, Representative Vincent Pierre, and Speaker Clay Schexnayder.
“The luncheon provided a great opportunity for members of the Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to celebrate the importance of hunting and fishing to Louisiana’s economy and culture, and I’d like to thank my colleagues in the caucus, as well as the event sponsors for supporting the event,” said Senator Gary Smith.
Caucus leadership welcomed new members and talked about the critical role of the caucus protecting and advancing Louisiana’s outdoor heritage. This year the caucus was instrumental in passing a number of pro-sportsmen’s bills and defeating a proposed lead ammunition ban for shotguns on Wildlife Management Area shooting ranges.
“The tremendous turnout at the Caucus Luncheon is a testament to the significance that Louisianans place on hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting. As the voice for sportsmen and women in the legislature, the Caucus works to ensure that Sportsmen’s Paradise lives up to its name,” said National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Executive Council Member Representative Jerome Zeringue.
Sportsmen and women spend over $1.67 billion per year on their outdoor pursuits in Louisiana, supporting 23,345 jobs in the state and contributing $165 million in state and local taxes. Last year alone, sportsmen and women in Louisiana generated $20.68 million through the American System of Conservation Funding.
CSF would like to thank Reynolds American and Ducks Unlimited for sponsoring the event.
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?
