The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to announce the addition of the bipartisan South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus – Chaired by Senators Scott Parsley and Gary Cammack, and Representatives Lee Schoenbeck and Spencer Hawley – to the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC). With the addition of South Dakota, the NASC network now includes legislative sportsmen’s caucuses in 47 states, with a combined membership of over 2,000 legislators.
Rep. Lee Schoenbeck stated, “The outdoors are an important part of our South Dakota heritage and future, and I look forward to being a part of a group focused on making outdoor issues a priority in Pierre.”
Sen. Scott Parsley echoed this enthusiasm for the new Caucus. “With over 250,000 people hunting every year in South Dakota, I am happy to be part of the South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus,” said Sen. Parsley.
NASC plays a critical role in enhancing the voice of sportsmen and women at the state level. This national network creates more opportunities for educating and receiving input from the sportsmen’s community and related stakeholders on policies affecting hunting, angling, recreational shooting, trapping, and other conservation issues.
“Wildlife and habitat should be important to everyone but it should be doubly important to South Dakotans because South Dakota is the pheasant hunting capital of the world,” said Sen. Cammack.
“Our quality of life, because of our hunting and fishing opportunities, is a major reason why many people live in South Dakota and why so many others return here to live. It is important that we as legislators recognize that and work towards preserving our heritage,” said Rep. Spencer Hawley.
Staffed through CSF and guided by an Executive Council, NASC provides a host of services and facilitates communication between sportsmen’s caucuses throughout the nation. Since its creation in 2004, NASC has more than doubled in size and has become the most effective and recognized group of bipartisan pro-sportsmen legislators in the nation.
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?
