LANSING — State Rep. Leslie Love (D-Detroit) was appointed last week as the Co-chair of the bipartisan and bicameral Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus by the former chair of the caucus, state Rep. Triston Cole (R-Mancelona).
The caucus seeks to showcase Michigan’s great outdoors and to support sportsmen and women through bipartisan legislation, educational programs, conservation initiatives and donations to charity. The caucus holds various sportsmen activities throughout the state during the legislative session.
“Since being elected to the Legislature, I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience the many rewarding outdoor activities Michigan has to offer,” Love said. “If we are going to keep this rich heritage alive, we need to ensure not only that we’re promoting these activities but that we’re protecting and preserving the natural resources that help make them possible. The biggest walleye migration in the world takes place in Detroit, for example, yet few are aware of this or the protocols around the spawning that happens every year. Not only is this annual event an important component of Michigan’s natural beauty — it’s a necessary function of a thriving ecosystem. Sportsmen and women understand this, and so we’re working to spread that kind of knowledge and interest throughout the state.”
The Sportsmen’s caucus is not only dedicated to providing support for recreational and personal endeavors; they are also committed to protecting the many jobs and economic benefits in a state known for its lakes and natural resources. In a recent study by Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), Michigan ranks first among the Great Lakes states for job creation in the hunting and fishing industry, generating roughly $11.2 billion annually. 171,000 jobs are supported annually by Michigan’s hunting and fishing industry, which makes the industry one of the state’s top ten employers. These industries have a profoundly positive impact in southeast Michigan.