On February 15, the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, with assistance from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), hosted a legislative reception in Salem, bringing together sportsmen’s groups and outdoor industry partners to celebrate Oregon’s time-honored traditions of hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping.
Caucus Co-Chair Representative Brad Witt (OR) welcomed attendees and thanked supporters for their support of the Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus, while CSF Northwest States Manager Zach Widner provided a brief historical perspective on the Caucus and introduced two sponsor speakers: Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association Executive Director Liz Hamilton and Pac/West Communications President and owner Paul Phillips.
“The success of the bipartisan, bicameral Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is a testament to what a state sportsmen’s caucus can become when they make a concerted effort to become a force for their state’s hunters and anglers,” said Representative Witt, who also serves as an alternate member on the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council.
Fellow Caucus Co-Chair Representative Sherrie Sprenger further noted, “This event is an opportunity for legislators in the Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus to give our sincere thanks to all of our sportsmen’s partners who have helped turn the Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus into such an effective body for advancing issues of interest for our state’s sportsmen and women.”
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?