Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women are the backbone of wildlife conservation in the United States, funding the majority of state fish and wildlife agency efforts through the American System of Conservation Funding. In Washington state, challenges like steep budget cuts, predator-prey imbalances, habitat loss, and disease are all negatively impacting fish and wildlife populations. However, active legislative engagement is key to ensuring science-based management. By advocating for the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and connecting policymakers with sportsmen’s perspectives, we can underscore the indispensable contributions of hunters, anglers, trappers, and shooting sports enthusiasts.
Highlights:
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) provided testimony on SB 5960 before the Senate Natural Resources Committee, supporting the bill’s efforts to restore healthy ungulate populations, while also requesting amendments to align the bill with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) science-based management plans and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
- The Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a luncheon bringing together legislators, sportsmen and women, and WDFW representatives to discuss key issues in wildlife management and outdoor access.
- CSF and coalition partners participated in the 2026 Parks and Great Outdoors Legislative Reception hosted by Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition (WWRC), highlighting sportsmen and women’s contributions to conservation funding, recreational access, and science-based wildlife management.
Last week, CSF demonstrated our commitment to advancing science-based wildlife management and spoke to the vital role that sportsmen and women play in conservation at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia by providing testimony before the Senate Natural Resources Committee in support of Senate Bill 5960. CSF supported this bill, aimed at sustaining healthy ungulate populations, while also offering amendments to better align it with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) current science-based wildlife management plans.
CSF’s testimony emphasized the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation – a proven framework built on seven core principles, including public trust resource management and reliance on the best available science. The testimony also highlighted limitations of passive “natural balance” approaches seen in recent Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission decisions and instead encouraged using the time-tested frameworks of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
Complementing this advocacy, CSF assisted Washington Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus members as they hosted a Caucus luncheon and recruiting event. A main goal of this event was fostering direct connections between state legislators, sportsmen and women, and WDFW representatives as legislators begin considering the 2026 WDFW budget and legislative policies that will impact the sportsmen’s community. This event provided a platform to discuss priorities in wildlife management, poaching enforcement, outdoor recreation, and conservation funding.
These productive conversations were carried into the 2026 Parks and Great Outdoors Legislative Reception hosted by the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition (WWRC) and provided another opportunity to further underscore the indispensable contributions of sportsmen and women.
CSF will continue to advocate for sportsmen and women by highlighting their contributions with our caucus members and state legislators throughout the 2026 session and beyond.
