CONSERVATION CORNER
March 6, 2006
Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Formed
by James L. Cummins

State legislators recently gathered at the State Capitol in Jackson to announce the formation of the Mississippi Sportsmen's Caucus, becoming the 28th in a national network of state legislative sportsmen's caucuses focused on promoting a pro sportsmen's agenda in the halls of state government. The Caucus serves as an identified group of allies willing to stand up for the rights of sportsmen when pertinent legislation is introduced. Members of this Caucus can not only be counted on to defend against attack from extremist groups, but to also be proactive in protecting the outdoor heritage important to so many Mississippians.

"The Sportsmen's Caucus is an important step in building coalitions, strengthening opportunities and enhancing our state's outdoor activities," said Senator Lynn Posey (D Union Church). "As a bi partisan legislative group, we will work to expand access to outdoor sports."

With the Magnolia State's diverse natural resources offering an abundance of recreational opportunity, the state has 943,000 hunters and anglers who spend more than $670 million annually pursuing a variety of outdoor activities. More decisions are made at the state level that impact fish and wildlife management and access to public lands and having a recognized group of legislators who are focused on these issues is cause for Mississippi's sportsmen and women to celebrate.

"Mississippi's sportsmen and women are the heart of fish and wildlife conservation and we are proud to stand up in order to promote and protect our state's rich hunting, fishing and trapping heritage," said Senator Stacy Pickering (R Laurel).

The Mississippi Sportsmen's Caucus is modeled after the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Congress in Washington, DC; Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, Representatives Chip Pickering, Gene Taylor, Bennie Thompson and Roger Wicker are all members.

Through the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses (NASC), state legislative caucuses are given information and tools to promote the sportsmen's agenda. Model legislation provided by NASC has helped ten states with sportsmen's caucuses pass bans on hunting via the internet and three caucuses introduce and enact "no net loss" of public hunting land legislation to preserve outdoor access. Many more state legislatures are currently acting on NASC model legislation on topics such as encouraging the expansion of options for voter registration of sportsmen and opening up more hunting availability to youth.

Aaron Hobbs, State Caucus Manager for the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses, noted, "When threats to sportsmen's rights arise, whether in Mississippi, Oregon or New York, the NASC is there to provide information and resources to the caucuses."

The Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus is already one of the largest caucuses in the Mississippi Legislature. I commend Sidney Allen, Jr., a native of Jackson and the Legislative Coordinator of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation in Washington, D.C. for his hard work, persistence and leadership in launching the Caucus. I also commend Senator Pickering and Representative Posey for their leadership in forming the Caucus.