On May 25, the New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted Sportsmen’s Day at the Capitol in the Legislative Office Building in Albany, New York. The event served as an opportunity to showcase the benefits that the time-honored traditions of hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping provide for the Empire State.
The event featured booths from a variety of in-state and national conservation organizations, a shooting simulator, and an ATV provided by the event sponsor; Yamaha Motor Corporation. Formal remarks were provided by both Senator Joseph Griffo (event host and Co-Chair of the New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus) and Kenneth Lynch, the Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Senator Griffo said, “Sportsmen offer so much to the tradition and character of our state, so I believe hosting the New York State Sportsmen’s Day event at the Capitol was a perfect opportunity to highlight the many issues and causes that are important to our hunters, fishermen, trappers and others. Through this event, we were able to give other members of the Legislature a better sense of these activities and the passion that drives those who participate. I look forward to building upon this event in the years to come so we can continue to educate my colleagues about the many interests of New York’s sportsmen [and women].”
CSF would like to thank Yamaha Motor Corporation for sponsoring the event, as well as the following participants, without whom the event would not have been a success: 4-H Shooting Sports, Ducks Unlimited, National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, New York Crossbow Coalition, New York Deer and Elk Farmers Association, New York Rifle and Pistol Association, New York Shooters Committee on Political Education, New York Sportsmen’s Advisory Council, New York State Conservation Council, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Trappers Association, and the Quality Deer Management Association.
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?
