Senator Dennis Hollingsworth
Senate Republican leader Dennis Hollingsworth and Assembly member Cathleen Galgiani the co-chairs of the California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus invited legislators and representatives from many of the hunting related organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, California Waterfowl Association, California Deer Association, Mule Deer Foundation, California Houndsmen for Conservation, California Hawking Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Wilderness Unlimited, Western Outdoor News, and the California Department of Fish & Game to the sixth annual California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus dinner.
The dinner was held at the Sutter Club in downtown Sacramento, was sponsored by the California Waterfowl Association and the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance. Hosted by the Cortopassi Family Foundation, the dinner was prefaced by cocktails with time for legislators and representativies to mingle to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
Senate Republican leader Senator Dennis Holligsworth made the introductions and was Master of Ceremonies.
Rick Copeland (WU) talking with Nancy Foley (DFG)
Representatives from the Department of Fish & Game were in force and included Chief Nancy Foley (Head of law enforcement which includes Hunter Education), Lt.s James Kasper (co-ordinator for Hunter Education North Coast District) and Sean Olagey (Co-ordinator for the Central District), Jerry Karnow (President of the Fish & Game Wardens Association), Jordan Traverso and Sonke Mastrup, (Deputy Directors) and included current DFG Director John McCamman and past director Ryan Broddrick.
Bill Gaines, President of COHA
One of the keynote speakers and representing the DFG Commission was the commission president, Jim Kellog. Other keynote speakers included John McCamman Director of DFG, Yancy Forest-Knowles Vice Chair & Director of CWA (approx 20,000 members), and Bill Gaines, President of COHA .
Key messages to the legislators from most of the speakers stressed the size of California both in total acreage and population size, compared to the relatively few DFG Wardens (less than 200)patrolling our large State. This is one of the lowest per capita ratios in the entire USA. Director John McCamman also mentioned the loss of 3 DFG personnel and a pilot in a recent helicopter crash and made a plea to all fishermen to step up to the plate as their fellow hunters have.
Reference was made to how well organized and financed the anti-hunting fraternity is, and how hunters and fisherman need to pay attention to this.
Many of the general public do not understand the diverse conditions and responsibilities of these few law enforcement officers (wardens), which cover everything from patrolling underwater fisheries to assisting in DEA and County Sherriffs in drug enforcement since Wardens are generally the first to be informed or locate illegal drug farms.
We the public, can make our voice heard by contacting COHA, lending our voice and or financial support to preserving hunting in California. Joining RMEF, CDA, CWA, CRPA, CBH/SAA, or any other hunting related organization that supports efforts continuace of hunting traditions in California will help preserve our sport.
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