This week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) welcomed Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval as the newest member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC). Sandoval becomes the 32nd member of the GSC, joining a group of bipartisan governors from across the country who work to protect and advance the interests of America’s sportsmen and women.
Each year, Nevada’s nearly 163,000 hunters and anglers spend approximately $409 million, supporting over 5,300 jobs and providing over $38 million in state and local tax revenues. In 2014 alone, excise taxes paid by Nevada’s sportsmen and women on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing tackle, motorboat fuel, and other sportsmen’s related items generated over $19 million to support conservation efforts in the state.
The GSC, founded by CSF in 2009, includes Republican, Democratic, and Independent governors and one lieutenant governor who work to protect and advance the interests of America’s sportsmen and women and promote professional fish and wildlife management. The GSC facilitates the 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 32-member GSC complements and enhances the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, representing sportsmen constituencies in the halls of government 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?
