On November 10, the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a breakfast briefing in Lansing, Michigan. Caucus members, legislative staffers, Department of Natural Resources staff and members of the local sportsmen’s community joined together for the event, which was sponsored by the Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association.
During the briefing, Caucus Co-Chair Senator Mike Green thanked retiring members for their hard work advancing conservation and later stated, “Michigan’s plentiful access to hunting and angling opportunities means that our sportsmen and women spend $4.8 billion annually and support over 72,000 jobs in the state. Our Caucus strives to protect and advance Michigan’s sporting traditions.”
The breakfast was followed by a meeting of the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Advisory Council (Council), an advisory body composed of several conservation groups, including Ducks Unlimited, Hal and Jean Glassen Memorial Foundation, Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, and Safari Club International. The Council’s mission is to “advance Michigan’s outdoor heritage through science-based wildlife and fisheries management and the wise use of our state’s natural resources, and to protect and advance the rights and traditions of Michigan citizens to hunt, fish, recreationally shoot and trap by engaging in an open dialogue with the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus.”
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?
