Caucus:

Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
The Sportsmen’s Friend in Annapolis

OVERVIEW
In 2001, Maryland became one of the first states in the country to model the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation after the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, respectively. In short, the shared goal is to preserve and promote the traditional rights of American citizens to hunt, fish, trap and promote wildlife conservation. Other states are currently in the process of emulating Maryland, making our State one of the premiere national leaders in formally adopting an organizational structure intended to help advance the policy-related interests and public-related image of the American sportsman.

MEMBERSHIP
Only elected members of the Maryland State Senate and the House of Delegates can become Members of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation is the affiliate organization of the Caucus whose Members are not duly elected individuals to the Maryland General Assembly, but support the mission of the Caucus. (see MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION below).

As a condition of Membership in the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, each Member is asked to demonstrate a commitment – through their signature -- to the following GUIDING PRINCIPLES that reflect the traditional values of the American sportsman:

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
* To conserve, promote and protect Maryland’s lands, wildlife and wildlife habitat for the future enjoyment of all citizens.

* To ensure sportsmen in Maryland have reasonable access to public lands to enjoy outdoor pursuits.

* To protect the sportsmen’s investment in wildlife and fisheries management by safeguarding the integrity of user-fee trust funds such as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson) and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson-Wallop-Breaux).

* To support efforts to enhance multiple use habitat management for wildlife and fisheries, and the sustainable use of renewable wildlife and marine resources under professional and scientific management.

* To recognize the importance of fishing, hunting, trapping and pursuing other outdoor activities to our State and the national economy.

* To support the maintenance and growth of outdoor-related industries and activities.

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STATEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP
An historic “first” occurred in September 2003. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation hosted the First Annual National Conference of State Sportsmen’s Caucuses at the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation in Dundee, Illinois from September 7-9, 2003. Representatives from 12 states were in attendance.

At the conclusion of this Conference, the following STATEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP between the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus was signed by Melinda Gable [Executive Director of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation] and Senator John Astle and Delegate Charles Boutin [incumbent Co-Chairs of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus]:

“This statement acknowledges the desire on the part of both the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to enter into a mutually beneficial association to ensure that current and future generations of Marylanders will have the right to hunt, trap and fish.

Whereas, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has expertise and resources that are valuable to legislators as they address sportsmen’s issues, and Whereas, the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus has the means to address sportsmen’s issues within Maryland government through legislative action; Then it is agreed that both parties enter into this partnership with the ultimate goal to create an effective and recognized legislative front to protect hunting, fishing and trapping and promote wildlife conservation in a coordinated fashion. Through improved information flow and our joint efforts, we can better accomplish this goal and proactively address the sportsmen’s agenda.

Both parties acknowledge that this is solely a statement of partnership, expressing a desire to work together for common purposes, and that it is non-binding in that it is not intended to create any legal or financial obligations or representations. Either the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation or the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus may terminate this association at any time with written notice to the other party.”