On September 5, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation welcomed North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper as the newest member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC). Governor Cooper joins a group of bipartisan governors from across the country who are dedicated to protecting and advancing hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping.
Governor Cooper is the 35th member of the GSC which marks an important milestone – a record number of GSC members at one time.
“I am proud to join the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus to celebrate and work to preserve our state’s rich outdoor tradition. From the mountains to the coast, North Carolina’s sportsmen and women support thousands of jobs and generate millions for conservation funding. I look forward to working with other governors to protect wildlife and our natural resources so that future generations can continue to enjoy all North Carolina has to offer,” said Gov. Cooper.
Founded in 2009 by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the GSC facilitates communication and information exchange among the 35 participating offices in support of policies that promote professional fish and wildlife management. Co-Chairs Governor Phil Bryant (MS) and Governor Steve Bullock (MT) and Vice-Chairs Governor Matt Mead (WY) and Governor Tom Wolf (PA) lead the GSC.
Over 1.63 million sportsmen and women in North Carolina support more than 35,000 jobs across the state and contribute $3.7 billion to the state’s economy. In 2016, sportsmen and women in the Old North State generated over $56 million for conservation programs through the “user-pays, public-benefits” structure known as the American System of Conservation Funding.
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?
