The Sixth Annual California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus Legislative Trap Shoot drew its largest crowd to date at the Rancho Cordova Shooting Facility.

The large crowd attracted many legislators and other officials, including Outdoor Caucus co-chair Dennis Hollingsworth, Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman, John Carlson Jr., Executive Director of the Fish and Game Commission, and representatives from the National Wild Turkey Federation, NRA, SCI, the Sportsmen's Channel and Winchester Ammunition.

The numerous staffers on hand and Assembly Sergeant at Arms, along with a vast array of DFG and NRA volunteers overseeing the shooting ranges and helping out with instruction, helped run things smoothly as dozens of shooters took advantage of the opportunity to fire their first gun, try out new guns, or simply sharpen their trap and skeet shooting skills. The shoot was organized by the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance.

Bill Prevents Checkerboard Regulations 

On Monday, August 15, the California State Senate voted 27-7 to approve AB 815, a California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus bill that seeks to clarify that the California Fish and Game Commission and the Department of Fish and Game are solely responsible for the regulation of hunting and fishing laws, not local governments.  The bill is on it's way to the Governor for his signature.

Introduced by Sportsmen's Caucus Member, Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, Assembly Bill 815 would block local governments from passing ordinances to stop or approve hunting and fishing. This bill would prevent potentially severe county/municipal restrictions, or outright bans, from being placed on hunters and anglers.

As reported by the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, the bill is derived from several State Attorney General's Opinions which have determined that local governments cannot regulate the taking of fish and game. However, because there is currently no clear statutory language in either the Government Code or the Fish and Game Code, California cities and counties have increasingly tried to restrict and even ban hunting and fishing activities. These efforts have particularly inhibited sportsmen's use of certain public lands and waters.In addition to further strengthening the state's authority over hunting, fishing and scientific wildlife management, the bill would prevent sportsmen from confusing checkerboard fish and game laws that could change from one county to the next.

AB 815 will help protect hunting and fishing opportunities from local government interference and ensure that California follows a statewide, science-based approach to its hunting and fishing regulations to best conserve our fish and game populations. 

Legislators from MD, IL, KS, MS, LA, and FL attended the shoot, including two NASC Executive Council members, Rep. Brandon Phelps of Illinois and Sen. John Astle from Maryland. NASC corporate partners from Comcast, Bass Pro Shops, Shell Oil, Bayer, Rubber Manufacturers Association and ExxonMobil also attended. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco.

The ‘5-Stand' and ‘Flurry' shooting events were followed by a luncheon and short reception where Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation CEO Charlie Potter spoke about the Foundation and its conservation efforts.

Policy-makers not only had a ‘blast' but discussed federal policy issues of Marine Protected Areas and the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax as well as pro- and anti-sportsmen legislation that has been introduced in state legislatures across the country.