On February 23, the Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its semi-annual sportsmen’s advisory board meeting and shootout at Evergreen Sportsmen’s Club in Littlerock, Washington.
The event kicked off with a roundtable discussion and question/answer session between legislators and representatives from sportsmen’s organizations and industry. Caucus Co-Chair Senator Pam Roach and Senator Kirk Pearson, along with Representative Brian Blake, led the discussion and fielded questions on a wide range of issues related to hunting and angling in the Evergreen State. Attendees then moved outside for an educational day on the range, participating in rifle, pistol, and trap shooting.
“The very specific reason for the Shootout at Littlerock is to highlight the positive side of the shooting sports,” said Senator Roach. “For almost 30 years we have gathered at the gun club in Littlerock, WA to compete for awards in pistol, rifle, and trap. While some are old hand, we also love guiding legislators and staff in their first shooting experience.”
Event sponsors included the Building Industry Association of Washington, Bull’s Eye Indoor Shooting Range, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association-Washington, Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs, I-5 Guns, Kittitas County Field and Stream Sportsmen’s Club, National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, Pistol Annie’s Jewelry and Pawn, Washington Forest Protection Association, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and the
Over one million people hunt and fish in the state of Washington each year, spending $1.6 billion annually and supporting nearly 22,000 jobs.
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?
