About

Mr. Bill Gaines’ extensive experience, excellent track record, and well-known name in public policy compelled him to establish his own private Government Relations firm, Gaines & Associates, in 2013.

Over the past eight years, Mr. Gaines and Gaines & Associates have established themselves as the leader in wildlife-related policy in the California State Legislature, in front of the California Fish and Game Commission, and all other political arenas where wildlife-related policy decisions are made in California.

Mr. Gaines and his firm currently represent clients in the wildlife and outdoor industry whose interests include elk, deer, wild sheep, bears, waterfowl, turkeys, falconry, hunting 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.  

Mr. Gaines continually monitors and assesses legislative, regulatory, and administrative policy developments on issues of interest to the wildlife conservation community and provides clients with timely written and oral reporting on emerging issues of interest – including full legislative, regulatory, and/or administrative backgrounds, summaries, and analysis, issue status, recommended positions and strategies for influencing desired outcomes.

Mr. Gaines also regularly develops communication outreach strategies, facilitates client meetings with policymakers and staff, state and local governments, resource agencies, industry, interest groups, and others to facilitate the positive information exchange necessary to establish relationships beneficial to effectively dealing with issues of interest.

Mr. Gaines regularly does radio, television, and newspaper interviews on the politics of current wildlife conservation issues of concern.  Mr. Gaines also writes articles for client newsletters and magazines, and other media.   

• Mr. Gaines received the “Above and Beyond” Award from the California Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation in April 2019.   
• Mr. Gaines received the “Conservationist of the Year” Award from Conservation Force in February 2019.  
• Mr. Gaines received the “Californian of the Year” Award from the Outdoor Writers Association of California in April 2014.   
• Mr. Gaines received the highly coveted “Communicator of the Year” Award from the California Forestry Association in January 2013.   

M.B.A. 1990: Golden Gate University (Management Business Administration)

B.S. 1980: University of California, Davis (Agricultural, Managerial Economics)

Mr. Gaines has been married to his wife Wanda since 1985 and they have two daughters – Brooke and Brittany.