ATA, Agencies and Lawmakers Tackle Industry Challenges

When Forster addressed the ATA Board of Directors on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky, where they were gathered for the annual ATA Trade Show, he discussed other priorities for the year ahead.

1. Action Alert System: The ATA now has an “action alert system” to alert its members of legislative actions that could affect their business. “By alerting our members and explaining the situation quickly, they can let their legislators know if they support or oppose specific policies they’re considering,” Forster said. “This is a powerful tool for our members, and gives them an informed, timely voice for working with lawmakers.”

2. High-Level Meeting: Forster and other members of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable met Jan. 8 in Washington, D.C. with George Ervin Sonny Perdue, secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Roundtable – which represents the nation’s many outdoor-recreation industries ranging from hunting and fishing to camping, boating and snowmobiling – talked with Perdue about access to National Forest lands and the U.S. Forest Service’s management priorities.

3. Bowhunting Equipment Rules: The ATA continues to work with state wildlife agencies to craft minimum equipment standards for bowhunting gear. States have always created their own rules on bowhunting equipment, and those rules grew increasingly varied as technologies changed in recent decades. The ATA does not want to tell states which standards should apply, and how to apply them. Rather, it formed a working group to compile the equipment regulations from all states, and then study them so it can find a starting point and consensus for minimum standards.

Those details could include discussions on minimum draw weights, lighted nocks, arrow lengths, broadhead diameters, compound-bow let-offs and other variables. “The whole idea is to simplify regulations wherever possible,” Forster said. “We don’t want to impose our will on any state. That won’t work anyway. We hope to show each state how their regulations compare to other states, and where they might want to adapt their rules to better accommodate their bowhunting customers.”

4. Forster is disappointed to see Ryan Zinke depart as secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. “We had an excellent relationship with Sec. Zinke, but change is inevitable in Washington, D.C., so we’ll adapt,” Forster said. “We also have a fantastic relationship with the Fish and Wildlife Service. We’re looking forward to working with the incoming secretary, Aurelia Skipwith. We’re confident we can make progress on issues concerning our members.”