State Sportsmen-Legislators Celebrate Two Decades of the Nation’s Premier State Legislative Summit

Washington, D.C. – December 8, 2023 – Earlier this week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted the 20^th Annual National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Sportsman-Legislator Summit in the vibrant coastal town of Dewey Beach, Delaware. Fittingly hosted in the First State to ratify the constitution of the United States, CSF proudly celebrated two decades of the NASC Summit by continuing to make history in such a noteworthy and spirited state.

The conference, which is CSF’s premier state legislative event, provided an immersive 4-day experience featuring speakers from the NASC Executive Council, state fish and wildlife agencies, conservation policy organizations, outdoor industry partners, and more. Beyond the focused policy discussion, the Summit also provided an opportunity for attendees to participate in a variety of hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping field demonstrations and activities.  As the ONLY national conference for state legislators dedicated to advancing America’s hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping heritage, this year’s theme was: From Sea to Sea: A Nationwide Commitment to America’s Sporting-Conservation Future.

“This Summit is the most important time of the year for sportsman-legislators, providing an opportunity to not only share policy challenges and successes from their states, but also to learn new strategies to help ensure there is a future for our time-honored traditions across the country,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “This year, CSF celebrated two decades of the NASC Summit. Together we dove into some of the most important issues facing the sportsmen’s community and we plan to keep working to provide this opportunity for countless decades to come.”

Moving across the country from the Pacific Northwest to New England, the NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit is an unparalleled occasion to network and engage with like-minded conservationists from all around the United States.  First held in 2004 in Lake Whitney, Texas the Summit has grown substantially over the last twenty years and will continue to do so, as advocating for our ability to get outdoors becomes increasingly important every year. From past NASC Executive Council members to state fish and wildlife agency directors and staff, to first time attendee legislators, the room was filled with over 200 dedicated conservationists all committed to America's sporting-conservation future.

“When we set out to establish the NASC summit, we were focused on creating a unique opportunity for collaboration, synergy, and creativity,” said past Executive Council President Senator Robin Webb, founding member of NASC. “To see our vision come to fruition and to watch the significant growth of the NASC Summit is not only fulfilling, but also inspiring.”

Topics covered at this year’s event included, but were not limited to, developing future conservation leaders, trapping as an essential wildlife management tool, reimbursement for free licenses, right to hunt and fish constitutional amendments, and so much more. In addition to educational sessions, regional breakouts, and Executive Council meetings, the Summit also featured group demonstrations, an auction and raffle, outdoor sporting activities, and an awards ceremony. Keynote speakers for this year’s event included Tom Opre, Shepherds of Wildlife Society; Mark Duda, Responsive Management; and Ronnie "Cuz" Strickland, Haas Outdoors / Mossy Oak.

On the final night, attendees celebrated two decades of the NASC Summit, recognized achievements made for sportsmen and women and looked ahead at what the future will hold. NASC Executive Council President Jeff Goley took to the stage to set attendee’s sights on what the future looks like for sportsmen and women and the location of the 2024 NASC Summit was announced: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

“The future of the NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit is certainly a bright one, and events like these have never been more important,” said current Executive Council President Representative Goley. “As the world seems to grow further out of touch with our time-honored traditions, it’s important that we continue to work together and build connections across party lines. The NASC Summit is exactly the place to do that.”

During the Dinner & Awards Ceremony, the CSF States Program Team presented awards to individual legislators and groups who had contributed to the advancement of conservation policy and the furtherance of the goals of the NASC network.

Award Recipients included:

• NASC Regional Heritage Award

• Northeast – Sen. Jack Bailey (MD)
• Southeast – Rep. Bobby Cox (SC)
• Midwest – Rep. Jeff Wardlaw (AR)

• Caucus Inception Award
  • Hawaii Legislative Outdoor Heritage Caucus, as the 50^th state to join the NASC network in December 2022.
• Friends of NASC Awards
  • Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
  • Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• State Agency of the Year
  • Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
• State Caucus Partner of the Year
  • Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation
• Outgoing EC Member Awards:
  • Rep. Bob Freeman (TN)
  • Rep. Casey Snider (UT)
• Brad Rowse Award:
  • Mr. Ladd Johnson

CSF would like to thank all the sponsors who made the 20^th Annual NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit possible including Title Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops; Cabela’s; Ducks Unlimited; International Order of T. Roosevelt; National Shooting Sports Foundation; Outdoor Sportsman Group; Richard Childress Racing; Safari Club International; and Vista Outdoor, Inc.