Press Release

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Named Agency of Year at Sportsmen’s Caucus Summit

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) was honored to accept the State Agency of the Year Award from the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) on December 7 at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) 20th Annual NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit in Dewey Beach, Delaware.

“DWR has a strong partnership with the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, which is one of the 50 state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses that comprise the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, a program of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation,” said John Culclasure, Director of Southeastern States and Forest Policy for CSF. “DWR has a history of supporting the Caucus during the legislative session and working with members and others on issues of key concern to our hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooters in the Commonwealth in Virginia.”

The award recognizes DWR’s strong support of pro-sportsmen’s policies, which include the adoption of a resolution to support opening Sunday hunting on public lands and proactive management of Chronic Wasting Disease. DWR also reestablished a thriving herd of elk in Southwestern Virginia and in 2022 brought back the first modern elk hunting season in the Commonwealth.

The NASC award also acknowledges the transparency of DWR’s regulation review process, noting that the agency provides online and in-person opportunities for the public to provide input and facilitates stakeholder committees to work through tough issues. NASC appreciated that DWR’s website includes timely updates during the legislative session with information on the status of bills that impact hunting, fishing, trapping, and related conservation issues, along with other useful resources for sportsmen and women. In addition, DWR seeks to inform outdoor enthusiasts through its GoOutdoorsVirginia app and monthly newsletters.

“Working with legislators is vital to keeping DWR aligned with the sporting community’s priorities and needs,” said DWR Executive Director Ryan Brown. “Sharing information and being transparent with our processes with both legislators and the public is important to DWR, and it’s an honor to see CSF recognizing those efforts. I’m proud of the work that DWR does both in the management of wildlife and the support of the hunting, angling, and recreational shooting communities. I’m looking forward to what we can all accomplish together in the future.”

Topics covered at this year’s NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit, with the theme of From Sea to Sea: A Nationwide Commitment to America’s Sporting-Conservation Future, included 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 the awards ceremony. Keynote speakers for this year’s event included Richard Childress, CSF Board of Directors Chairman; Tom Opre, Shepherds of Wildlife Society; Mark Duda, Responsive Management; and Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, Haas Outdoors / Mossy Oak.

“This Summit is the most important time of the year for sportsmen-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.”
Founded in 2004, the NASC works to foster communication and interaction between and among state legislators, sportsmen’s groups, industry, and media. NASC and state sportsmen’s caucuses are the core of the legislative front protecting and advancing hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping and professional fish and wildlife management in state legislatures. 2,250 state legislators are members of individual state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses in all 50 states, all united under the NASC umbrella.

DWR is responsible for the management of inland fisheries, wildlife, and recreational boating for the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are leading wildlife conservation and inspiring people to value the outdoors and their role in nature. DWR’s mission is to: conserve and manage wildlife populations and habitat for the benefit of present and future generations; connect people to Virginia’s outdoors through boating, education, fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and other wildlife-related activities; and protect people and property by promoting safe outdoor experiences and managing human-wildlife conflicts.