Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation 30th Anniversary

The hunting and fishing regulations in South Carolina are always evolving, with input currently being sought on the management of wild turkey and saltwater cobia. The common thread is that the South Carolina Legislature will be the government entity which approves or disapproves these future changes. Some members of the General Assembly are sportsmen who actively hunt and fish, and they joined together for a meeting on June 7 in Edgefield at the National Wild Turkey Federation headquarters for a sporting clays competition. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation out of Washington, D.C. sponsored this event as part of their 30th anniversary in 2019.

Mark Cherpes, Congressman Jeff Duncan,
CSF's Jeff Crane and Rob Keck with Bass Pro

The Palmetto Shooting Complex is a relatively new state of the art shooting sports facility, that is able to regularly host visiting groups of shooting sports enthusiasts, including lots of S.C. students. The National Wild Turkey Federation runs and maintains the complex that was built with funding from several organizations in a cooperative spirit to promote the shooting sports.  More than 150 participants including elected officials, conservation partners and members of the sporting community, enjoyed shooting sporting clays for the day.

S.C. Representative Brian White addresses the group

United States Congressman Jeff Duncan took home the Top Gun Legislator trophy from the event.  “It was great to gather in South Carolina today with sportsmen and women to discuss our common mission of conservation advocacy efforts both here, and across the country,” said Duncan. “This event brings together men, women and youth shooters working together to ensure that future generations can enjoy the same freedoms to hunt and fish.” Duncan is a member of the Congressional Sportsman’s caucus in Washington, hailing from the upstate of S.C.

Sporting youth at the 3rd Annual S.C. Clays Classic

One issue on the agenda in D.C. right now that may affect saltwater anglers is the amendment put forth by Congressman John Rutherford of Florida that would provide $3.5-million dollars of funding for reef fish data collection. Reef fish are managed on a federal level, and one species of reef fish is the red snapper. A lack of good data contributes to the reef fishery being closed at times, limiting access by recreational anglers who pay fishing license fees. Any voter interested in supporting this call for more federal funding should contact their Congressman today and voice support for the Rutherford Amendment.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation click on 20th Anniversary / Clinton, S.C. - 2009 Conservation Easement Incentive Act - 2010 Shimano - 2012 Ducks Unlimited 75th Anniversary - Congressman Jeff Duncan - 2012 CSF Banquet / D.C. - 2012 Wine, Wheels and Wildlife Benefit / N.C. - 2012 National Association of Sportsmen's Caucuses / Myrtle Beach, S.C. - 2014 Magnuson-Stevens Act