Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director
On February 12, West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair Senator Bill Hamilton introduced legislation that would allow raffles to be conducted online.
With the limitations on in-person gatherings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, hunting and fishing conservation nonprofit organizations across the country have been unable to host their traditional in-person banquets and other similar fundraisers. Consequently, organizations are exploring new ways to raise money to support their conservation missions, including selling raffle tickets online.
In West Virginia, however, the sale of raffle tickets online is prohibited under current law. Senate Bill 263 would remedy the issue, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports the legislation to support our conservation partners that carry out critical conservation work in the Mountain State.
CSF appreciates Sen. Hamilton’s leadership on this issue and looks forward to working with the Caucus and partners to advance the bill during the 2021 legislative session.
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?
