On January 10, the South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a reception to kick off the start of the 2018 legislative session with members of the South Dakota legislature, representatives from sportsmen’s groups, and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks.
The reception provided an opportunity for South Dakota legislators to exchange ideas with members from the state’s sportsmen’s community and allied industries on how to best protect and advance the time-honored traditions of hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping in the state.
Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Spencer Hawley, Representative Herman Otten, Senator Gary Cammack, and Senator Jason Frerichs welcomed attendees. Rep. Otten remarked, “I’ve been a sportsman all my life. It’s important that legislators who are invested in sportsmen’s issues, enjoy hunting and fishing, and value our natural resources are able to come together to work to ensure that future generations can enjoy everything that past generations have been able to.”
Rep. Hawley added, “Hunting and fishing are an essential part of South Dakota’s outdoor heritage. They aren’t partisan issues. The caucus helps bring people together to protect and enhance this shared heritage.”
With more than 450,000 hunters and anglers in South Dakota spending over $1.04 billion a year on their outdoor pursuits, it is vitally important, both culturally and economically, to protect and advance the Mount Rushmore State’s outdoor heritage.
Title Sponsors were Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever; and the Host Sponsor was Delta Waterfowl Foundation.
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?
