During the winter meeting of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, the Council discussed several issues of importance to sportsmen and women, including the sportsmen’s community involvement on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RACs). Intended to incorporate formalized citizen participation into the management of public lands, these RACs provide individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests with the opportunity to become active and engaged citizen-participants in the management of a federal resource that is of undeniable value to the American people. During the summer meeting on June 5 and 6, the Council approved sending a letter to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell requesting the Department of the Interior initiate a rule change process to include an appointment category for individuals representing sportsmen and women via their affiliation with nationally or regionally recognized hunting, recreational fishing or shooting organizations.
As it currently stands, this section directs the Secretary to appoint RAC members that fall into one of three categories:
• Commercial/commodity interests;
• Environmental/Historical groups;
• State and local government, Indian tribes, and the public at large.
Modifying this rule would create a fourth category specifically designated for sportsmen and women.
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?
