By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager
On May 21, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Senator Bill Rabon was announced as the 2017 State Legislator of the Year by Safari Club International (SCI).
A longtime champion for sportsmen’s rights and an active member of the Caucus, Sen. Rabon was instrumental in the efforts to remove Sunday hunting restrictions in recent years. Building on the success of the Outdoor Heritage Act in 2015, he played a key role in the advancement of the “Outdoor Heritage Enhanced” legislation of 2017 (HB 559/SB 624) that further expanded opportunities for Sunday hunting in the Old North State.
In 2017, Sen. Rabon sponsored Senate Resolution 370, which opposed the implementation of catch shares for federal fisheries management in the South Atlantic and federal waters off the coast of North Carolina.
First elected in 2010, Sen. Rabon represents District 8 in the North Carolina Senate and is Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.
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?
