Bill Gaines

A native of California and a life-long sportsman, Bill’s love of the outdoors and his desire to ensure a strong future for our wildlife resources and outdoor heritage led him into a career in wildlife management and wildlife-associated recreation policy in 1992. Today, Bill’s Government Relations firm of Gaines & Associates represents the interests of a sweeping list of wildlife conservation organizations in the halls of California’s State Capitol, in front of the State Fish and Game Commission, and beyond where decisions are made which impact our wildlife and associated outdoor recreational opportunity. In addition to effectively fighting non-stop challenges to these ideals in California, Bill and his firm have helped sponsor, draft and pass several positive bills and regulations in California which promote our wildlife and our traditions.

Over the years, Bills has served on several state and federal resource agency boards and committees responsible for collaborating with state agencies and other interests and on reaching policy decisions on difficult wildlife and fishery management issues. Bill is also a co-founder and currently serves as chair of the California Hunting and Conservation Coalition (CHCC) – a alliance of all active wildlife conservation and shooting sports interests in California that meets regularly with public resource agencies to facilitate communication and coordination on policy and program issues of concern and to collaborate on effective strategies for addressing them.

Bill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics from the University of California at Davis and a Master of Business Administration from Golden Gate University.