On February 6, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Central Midwestern States Coordinator Joel Hodgdon, spoke at a luncheon during the Conservation Federation of Missouri’s (CFM) annual Media Camp event.
CFM, an important partner of CSF, was established in 1935 and is the largest and most representative conservation group in Missouri. Made up of over 90 affiliate organizations and thousands of members, CFM’s mission is to “ensure conservation of Missouri’s wildlife and natural resources, and preservation of our state’s rich outdoor heritage through advocacy, education, and partnerships.” The organization is also the Missouri affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation.
“Informing the general public about how vital hunting and angling are to conservation is more important today than ever. Working with the media at this event and others is one important way to help educate folks about the immense contributions of sportsmen and women,” said CFM Executive Director Brandon Butler. “We are happy to work with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and all of our great partners at this event.”
Hodgdon spoke about CSF, the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) program, the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and the importance of hunting and angling to the Missouri economy.
“Sportsmen and women in this state spend roughly $2 billion dollars a year on their outdoor pursuits, supporting close to 30,000 jobs.” said Hodgdon. “The Show Me State’s hunters and anglers also contribute heavily to the conservation of the natural resources that all Missourian’s enjoy. In 2017 alone, the sale of hunting and fishing licenses raised about $35 million dollars for conservation.”
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?
