On September 28, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) traveled to Houston, Texas to host a reception, dinner, and auction, which gathered members of the sportsmen’s community, as well as first responders and victims of Hurricane Harvey from the Houston area.
President of Shell Oil Company and CSF Board of Director Member Bruce Culpepper welcomed attendees. “People who care 
about hunting and fishing started showing up [after the hurricane]; people who own boats, canoes, kayaks; as well as the Cajun Navy, and many others who all came together and volunteered their time and energy as first responders,” said Culpepper. “In my mind, this was the most impressive, not formally coordinated response effort that I’ve witnessed in my life.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott provided video remarks during the event. “I especially want to thank all of the sportsmen and women and businesses, who not only provided resources and assets for our first responders, but who also continued to provide financial support for our ongoing rebuilding efforts,” said Gov. Abbott. “Our outdoor community exemplified the very best of Texas when Texas needed it most.”
CSF President Jeff Crane said, “Texas ranks second in the nation in number of sportsmen and women, with 2.7 million hunters and anglers. They support the economy through excise taxes from their hunting and fishing licenses and purchasing sporting equipment; and they have also shown their dedication to helping fellow Texans in times of need,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “The country witnessed the utility of outdoorsmen and women to first responders during the recent hurricane here in Houston.”
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?
