On May 12, 35 Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) joined the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and representatives from the sportsmen’s community at Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet Center in Glenn Dale, Maryland, for a friendly competition of shooting rounds of trap, skeet and sporting clays.
“Members of the CSC are committed to protecting and advancing hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping in the halls of Congress. Today, as sportsmen and women, they put partisanship aside and enjoy the outdoor pursuits that they work to protect,” said CSF President Jeff Crane.
Team Republican, led by CSC Co-Chair Congressman Rob Wittman (VA), accepted this year’s winning trophy with a score of 235-227. The Democrat team was led by CSC Co-Chair Congressman Tim Walz (MN).
In addition to CSC Members, Dave Butz, former Washington Redskin, and Kim Rhode, Olympic Gold Medalist shooter and member of the U.S.A. Shooting Team were in attendance.
The day prior, on Monday, May 11, CSF hosted the annual Industry Challenge, a shooting competition at the same location for CSF partners and supporters to establish their bragging rights for the year.
“This event is a great opportunity for conservation-minded sportsmen and women to gather annually for a day of friendly competition and to discuss relevant issues to the sportsmen’s community,” said Paul Miller, CSF Board of Directors Vice-Chairman.
Below is a list of winners from both shooting competitions:
Congressional Shoot-Out Winners
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Individual Category
“Top Gun” Member of Congress: Congressman Mike Thompson (CA)
“Top Gun” Democrat: CSC Co-Chair Congressman Tim Walz (MN)
“Top Gun” Republican: CSC Vice-Chair Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC)
Top Skeet: Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA)
Top Trap: Congressman Ted Yoho (FL)
Top Sporting Clays: Congressman Richard Hudson (NC)
Elite Category
“Top Gun”: Shane Naylor, Remington
Top Skeet: Drew Goodlin, Vista Outdoor Inc.
Top Trap: Tyler Olay, Remington
Top Sporting Clays: Charlie Conger, Remington
Experienced Category
“Top Gun”: Forrest Wilson, Vista Outdoor Inc.
Top Skeet: John Frazier, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Top Trap: Steve Southerland, Capitol Hill Consulting Group
Top Sporting Clays: Dave Butz, National Rifle Association
Beginners Category
“Top Gun”: Angela Darraugh, Shimano American Corporation; and Jennifer Thompson, Shell Oil Company
Kim Rhode, U.S.A. Shooting Team member, won “Top Gun Female.”
Industry Challenge Winners
Team Category
First Place team: Remington
Second Place team: Vista Outdoor Inc.
Third Place team: Cabela’s
Elite Category
“Top Gun”: Charlie Conger, Remington
Top Skeet: Kim Rhode, U.S.A. Shooting Team member
Top Trap: Shane Naylor, Remington
Top Sporting Clays: Tyler Olay, Remington
Experienced Category
“Top Gun”: Robert Crow, White Flyer
Top Skeet: Ryan Bronson, Vista Outdoor Inc.
Top Trap: Bill Mackleit, Vista Outdoor, Inc.
Top Sporting Clays: Forrest Wilson, Vista Outdoor Inc.
Title Sponsors of the Congressional Shoot-Out and Industry Challenge were BP America, Inc., Hornady Manufacturing Co., National Rifle Association, SilencerCo, LLC, and Vista Outdoor Inc.
Host Sponsors were Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, ITC Holdings Corporation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Remington, and Winchester Ammunition.
Co-Host Sponsors included: Amgen, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Ash Grove Cement Company, Benelli USA, Beretta, Boone and Crockett Club, The Coca-Cola Company, Inc., Comcast Corporation, CropLife America, Dallas Safari Club, Diageo, ExxonMobil Corporation, FNH USA, GSM Outdoors, Hearing Industries Association, Honeywell International, Inc., National Pork Producers Council, Old Virginia Tobacco Company, Oracle, Richard Childress Racing, Safari Club International, Shimano American Corporation, White Flyer, and Yamaha Motor Corporation.
Photo: Members of Congress at the 2015 Congressional Shoot-Out
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?
