On Tuesday, February 25, Evergreen State lawmakers broke away from the Capitol for an afternoon of recreational shooting and celebration of Washington’s sportsmen’s heritage at the Evergreen Sportsmen’s Club in Littlerock. Held on-and-off since the 1980s, the Shootout has grown to include more than a hundred participants who gather to learn about the sportsmen’s community’s impact on Washington and enjoy an afternoon at the range.
Organized by Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair Senator Pam Roach, the event was kicked off with a press conference which provided legislators and sportsmen’s organizations an opportunity to highlight the cultural and economic benefits associated with hunting, angling and recreational shooting in the state. After speaking with the media, legislators and other participants headed out to the range for a friendly competition that included trap, pistol and rifle shooting.
“Washington sportsmen and women deserve a voice at the Capitol. This event is intended to promote our state’s outdoor heritage and provide my legislative colleagues with an opportunity to see hunting, fishing and shooting as so many Washingtonians do – as safe, family-friendly activities that benefit not only our economy, but also our fish and wildlife resources,” explained Senator Roach.
Thanks to Senator Roach and the Sportsmen’s Caucus’s efforts, this message was conveyed to the public by local media outlets covering the event. To see coverage of the event, please visit the following links:
• NWCN.com
• KXRO Newsradio
• Tacoma News Tribune
• Portland Oregonian
• TVW
• TVW Capitol Record
For more information about the Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, please contact CSF Western States Manager, Andy Treharne, at andy@sportsmenslink.org.
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?
