Posted: November 30th 2011
Senator John Thune
Conservationist
A longtime pheasant hunter, South Dakota Senator John Thune brings an outdoorsman's appreciation of nature to the senate floor. He co-chairs the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus--Congress's biggest and longest-standing group dedicated to interests of hunters and fishermen such as upholding second amendment rights, securing public hunting grounds, protecting fragile waters, and preserving wildlife habitats.
Additionally, he has fought for the Wetlands Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and Conservation Reserve Program, all of which contribute to healthier ecosystems throughout the nation. And as part of his efforts on the 2008 Farm Bill team, he ensured better public access to hunting and fishing areas.
Even with his busy schedule on Capitol Hill, Thune finds time to stay in touch with his family traditions and enjoy the wild. "Getting out in the fall and hunting pheasant is probably the best part of the year for me," he says. "On the prairies of South Dakota, the color is rich and spectacular and beautiful."
