Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager
On September 3, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual dove hunt at the High Camp Farm in Erin.
The event, hosted in conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, brought the Tennessee sportsmen’s community together for a day of comradery afield. Roughly 50 people, including a dozen legislators, attended the dove hunt which included a barbecue lunch and retriever demo. The event provided the opportunity for sportsmen-legislators, sportsmen’s groups, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency leadership and Commissioners to celebrate Tennessee’s sporting heritage and discuss current issues impacting hunting and angling in the Volunteer State.
National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council Member Senator Mike Bell said, “The Caucus Dove Hunt was a great way to kick off the fall hunting season. We had a strong showing from sportsmen-legislators and the Tennessee sportsmen’s community. Many thanks to everyone that supported the event.”
Caucus Co-Chairs Sen. Bell and Representative Jeremy Faison addressed the group and spoke about the importance of the bipartisan and bicameral Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus protecting and advancing Tennessee’s sporting traditions. Two of the biggest issues currently facing Tennessee sportsmen and women are Chronic Wasting Disease, which was detected in the state in December 2018, and exotic invasive Asian carp, which negatively impacting fishery resources and recreational fishing experiences in the Mississippi and Tennessee River Valleys.
At the event, the Caucus donated $5,000 to Hunters for the Hungry, a game meat donation program that provides venison to needy families across the state. The program is administered by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Central Appalachian States Manager John Culclasure attended the dove hunt.
Many thanks to Al Buckley for hosting the event at his farm and to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation for their work organizing the day.
Pictured above are Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus members and Tennessee Wildlife Federation CEO Mike Butler.
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?
