Welcome to GAINES & ASSOCIATES Government Relations
About the Principal
"I only work in the areas of interest I care most deeply about, am personally active in, and extremely well educated about -- wildlife management, conservation, hunting, and fishing."
Bill Gaines, Principal
Gaines & Associates
A nature lover and an avid outdoorsman his entire life, Bill Gaines and Gaines & Associates is not your typical "h
"I only work in the areas of interest I care most deeply about, am personally active in, and extremely well educated about -- wildlife management, conservation, hunting, and fishing."
Bill Gaines, Principal
Gaines & Associates
A nature lover and an avid outdoorsman his entire life, Bill Gaines and Gaines & Associates is not your typical "hired gun" contract lobbying firm. Gaines & Associates focuses only on policy which impacts wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation. Why? Because we personally care deeply about those issues. Gaines & Associates' unmatched background and knowledge of wildlife, hunting, fishing, and the outdoors, combined with our personal passion to protect and promote them for future generations to enjoy.
Bill's Story
An active hunter and angler his entire life, Bill Gaines began his career in wildlife-related policy in 1992 when he joined the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) as their Director of Government Affairs.
In 2013, after serving in the wildlife management policy arena in a variety of capacities for 21 years, Bill's extensive experience
An active hunter and angler his entire life, Bill Gaines began his career in wildlife-related policy in 1992 when he joined the California Waterfowl Association (CWA) as their Director of Government Affairs.
In 2013, after serving in the wildlife management policy arena in a variety of capacities for 21 years, Bill's extensive experience, excellent track record, and well-known name in wildlife policy compelled him to establish his own Government Relations firm, Gaines & Associates.
Bill and Gaines & Associates have since firmly established themselves as the leader in wildlife-related policy in the California State Legislature, in front of the California Fish and Game Commission, with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and all other political arenas where wildlife-related policy decisions are made in California.
Today, Bill and Gaines & Associates represent clients in the wildlife and outdoor industry whose interests include elk, deer, wild sheep, bears, waterfowl, turkeys, wild pigs, falconry, and hunting opportunity and public access to our outdoors. Mr. Gaines is a registered lobbyist, and Gaines & Associates is a registered lobbying firm with the State of California.
Bill was also a co-founder and currently serves as chair of the California Hunting and Conservation Coalition (CHCC) – an alliance of active wildlife conservation, hunting, fishing and shooting sports related organizations in California who support the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The mission of the CHCC is to ensure a strong future for wildlife management, habitat conservation, and the expansion of hunting, fishing, and shooting opportunity in California and beyond.
Established in 2016, the CHCC meets quarterly to facilitate the coordination between these outdoor interests and Department of Fish and Wildlife and Fish and Game Commission leadership to discuss issues of concern and effective partnership strategies for addressing them. Because of the success of the CHCC in California, Bill was asked to assist in establishing a similar forum in Oregon, with Washington, Colorado, and other states now also using our CHCC as a model for establishing similar coalitions.
Bill also serves as Chairman of the California State Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus Advisory Council. The purpose of the Council is to serve as the link between the California State Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus and the hunting, angling, and recreational shooting community. The Council provides on-the-ground support for the Caucus by maintaining an active presence in California’s State Capitol to assist with the execution of Caucus events and to ensure Caucus members have the facts and information on issues of importance to California’s sportsmen and women.
Bill graduated from the University of California at Davis with a B.S. in Agricultural and Managerial Economics in 1980.
Bill earned an MBA from Golden Gate University in 1990, graduating second in his class.
Some Accolades
Some Accolades
Working in an industry where there are few awards to be had, Bill has received many. Below is a list of some of them:
2008 - Asked by the White House to join President George W. Bush in the signing of critical federal legislation and to discuss issues of concern to our nation’s outdoorsmen and women.
1997 - At White House request, spoke
Working in an industry where there are few awards to be had, Bill has received many. Below is a list of some of them:
2008 - Asked by the White House to join President George W. Bush in the signing of critical federal legislation and to discuss issues of concern to our nation’s outdoorsmen and women.
1997 - At White House request, spoke prior to President Clinton at the dedication of the
Yolo Wildlife Area in 1997.
- Given the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association in May 2023.
- Awarded a “Certificate of Recognition” for his “30 Years of Dedication to Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Recreation” by now Congressman Kevin Kiley in October 2022.
- Received the “Above and Beyond” Award from the California Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation in April 2019.
- Presented the national “Conservationist of the Year” Award by the Conservation Force in February 2019.
- Given the “Californian of the Year” Award by the Outdoor Writers Association of California in April 2014.
- Presented the “Communicator of the Year” Award by the California Forestry Association in January 2013.
- Presented the “J. Martin Winton Award” from the Grasslands Resources Conservation District in 2000.
GAINES & ASSOCIATES BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
AB 1912 REMOVES OUTDATED RESTRICTION ON ARCHERY DEER HUNTERS
On August 27, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1912 into law -
eliminating a decades-old statutory restriction that prevented California archery deer hunters from carrying a firearm for personal protection while hunting during archer
GAINES & ASSOCIATES BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
AB 1912 REMOVES OUTDATED RESTRICTION ON ARCHERY DEER HUNTERS
On August 27, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1912 into law -
eliminating a decades-old statutory restriction that prevented California archery deer hunters from carrying a firearm for personal protection while hunting during archery season.
Authored by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick, Assembly Bill 1912 was developed and advanced by Gaines & Associates on behalf of the California Deer Association (CDA) and California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association (CBH/SAA), which jointly sponsored the legislation.
The new law addresses an inconsistency in California law dating back to 1947. For nearly 80 years, state law prohibited individuals hunting deer during the archery-only season from carrying a firearm, even for personal protection. Meanwhile, hunters pursuing other big game species during archery seasons were permitted to carry a concealable firearm for personal protection.
In 2016, the California Fish and Game Commission, without objection from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, amended its regulations to allow hunters to carry a concealable firearm for personal protection while archery hunting other big game species. Because the restriction applicable to archery deer hunters was contained in statute rather than regulation, however, the Commission did not have the authority to make the same change for deer hunters. Legislation was necessary.
AB 1912 provided that legislative solution.
The issue was an important matter of hunter safety. Archery deer hunters often travel alone into remote backcountry areas, far from roads, cell service or immediate assistance. They frequently enter and leave hunting areas before daylight or after sunset and travel considerable distances through rugged terrain. Encounters with large predators and illegal marijuana cultivation sites can present legitimate safety concerns in many hunting areas.
Importantly, AB 1912 does not change the lawful method of take for deer during archery season or diminish the integrity of California's archery-only deer hunting opportunity. The legislation removes the statutory prohibition on carrying a firearm for lawful personal protection while archery deer hunting.
AB 1912 received support from a broad coalition of California hunting, conservation and wildlife organizations, which joined CDA and CBH/SAA in urging Governor Newsom to sign the measure.
Gaines & Associates is grateful to Assembly Member Hadwick for authoring this legislation and proud to have partnered with the California Deer Association and California Bowmen Hunters/State Archery Association to successfully move AB 1912 through the California Legislature and into law.
AB 1912 will take effect on
January 1, 2027
GAINES & ASSOCIATES HELPS ADVANCE LEGISLATION CREATING NEW BIG GAME HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CALIFORNIA YOUTH
On September 27, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2207 into law, creating a new program that will allow certain big game hunting tags to be voluntarily transferred from a parent, legal guardian, or grandparent to
GAINES & ASSOCIATES HELPS ADVANCE LEGISLATION CREATING NEW BIG GAME HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CALIFORNIA YOUTH
On September 27, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2207 into law, creating a new program that will allow certain big game hunting tags to be voluntarily transferred from a parent, legal guardian, or grandparent to a young hunter within their family.
Authored by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick, Gaines & Associates worked closely with Assembly Member Hadwick and her staff to help navigate AB 2207 through the California Legislature and ultimately to the Governor's desk.
AB 2207 addresses a significant challenge facing young hunters in California. The state's big game drawing system can require hunters to accumulate preference points over many years to successfully draw some of California's most difficult-to-obtain deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep tags. Young hunters entering the sport simply have not had the opportunity to accumulate the preference points necessary to compete for many of these highly sought-after hunting opportunities.
AB 2207 provides a new pathway.
Under the new law, the California Fish and Game Commission must establish a program allowing a parent, legal guardian, or grandparent who receives an eligible big game tag to voluntarily transfer that tag to their child or grandchild who is 17 years of age or younger, possesses a valid hunting license, and is otherwise eligible to receive the tag.
The young hunter must be accompanied on the hunt by a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or combination of those family members. The program therefore provides more than an opportunity to transfer a tag – it creates an opportunity for an experienced family member to accompany and mentor a young hunter during what could be a once-in-a-lifetime hunting experience.
The law also carefully addresses California's preference-point system. If the transferred tag was obtained through a modified-preference point drawing, the young hunter does not lose their own preference points as a result of receiving the transferred tag.
The person who originally drew and transferred the tag, however, does not have their expended preference points reinstated. For a species for which a tag may only be drawn once, the resulting ineligibility to draw another tag remains with the person who originally drew the tag – not the young hunter receiving it.
Importantly, AB 2207 does not increase existing big game tag quotas or authorize any additional take of wildlife. The program applies only to tags that have already been issued and are voluntarily transferred by the original recipient.
DFW will collect a fee from the person transferring the tag to cover the reasonable cost of processing the transfer, with those revenues deposited into the Big Game Management Account.
The Fish and Game Commission is required to adopt regulations to implement the program, which is scheduled to remain in effect until January 1, 2033.
AB 2207 received broad support from California's hunting and wildlife conservation community as it moved through the State Legislature.
Gaines & Associates is grateful to Assembly Member Hadwick for authoring AB 2207 and for the opportunity to work closely with her and her staff throughout the legislative process. We are proud to have helped navigate this important measure through the California Legislature and to the Governor's desk – creating a new opportunity for parents and grandparents to pass along not just a big game tag, but California's hunting tradition to the next generation.
GAINES & ASSOCIATES LEADS OPPOSITION TO HELP DEFEAT LEGISLATION PAVING THE WAY FOR GRIZZLY BEAR REINTRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA
During the 2025–2026 Legislative Session, Gaines & Associates helped lead a broad coalition of California hunting and wildlife conservation organizations in successfully opposing SB 1305 - legislation that would hav
GAINES & ASSOCIATES LEADS OPPOSITION TO HELP DEFEAT LEGISLATION PAVING THE WAY FOR GRIZZLY BEAR REINTRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA
During the 2025–2026 Legislative Session, Gaines & Associates helped lead a broad coalition of California hunting and wildlife conservation organizations in successfully opposing SB 1305 - legislation that would have established a state framework for potentially reintroducing grizzly bears into California.
Authored by Senator Laura Richardson, SB 1305 – the "California Grizzly Recovery Assessment Act" – would have required the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), contingent upon legislative funding, to develop a comprehensive roadmap evaluating whether, where, and under what conditions grizzly bears could be reintroduced into California.
Although SB 1305 would not have immediately authorized the release of grizzly bears into the wild, the legislation went well beyond simply studying the species. It would have established a state policy and planning framework to evaluate and potentially facilitate their future return, including identifying potential reintroduction areas, evaluating possible source populations, developing procedures for translocation and post-release monitoring, and establishing protocols for human-grizzly coexistence and conflict response.
Gaines & Associates and its wildlife conservation partners strongly opposed the legislation.
California is already facing significant challenges associated with the management of large predators, including black bears, mountain lions, gray wolves, and coyotes. At the same time, many of California's deer herds are struggling under a combination of predation, habitat loss and fragmentation, wildfire impacts, and prolonged drought.
Our wildlife conservation coalition maintained that adding the grizzly bear – North America's largest terrestrial predator – to an already complex wildlife management landscape could further increase human-wildlife conflicts, place additional pressure on declining deer populations, create new challenges for ranchers and rural communities, and require significant new state resources for monitoring, conflict response, livestock protection, public safety, and long-term management.
The coalition also raised concerns about the potentially significant and long-lasting financial and regulatory consequences associated with grizzly bear reintroduction, including increased management costs, potential land-use restrictions, expanded litigation, livestock-loss compensation programs, and additional obligations for state and local agencies.
Our position was straightforward: before California embarks on a controversial and resource-intensive effort that could ultimately lead to the reintroduction of grizzly bears, the state should prioritize effectively managing the wildlife populations, habitats, and predator conflicts it is already responsible for.
Despite advancing through the State Senate and the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, SB 1305 ultimately stalled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where it was held on the suspense file and failed to advance before the legislative deadline. As a result, SB 1305 was defeated and did not become law.
Gaines & Associates is proud to have helped lead the successful opposition to SB 1305 and to have worked alongside a broad and diverse coalition of California hunting and wildlife conservation organizations to stop the legislation. This successful effort demonstrates what can be accomplished when California's conservation community speaks with a strong, coordinated voice in support of responsible, science-based wildlife management.
Our Partners in Conservation Include
