Why It Matters: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Budget and Policy Advisory Group (BPAG) plays a critical role in shaping sustainable wildlife management and funding strategies. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) continued representation through Assistant Manager, Northwestern States Marie Neumiller’s reappointment ensures that the sportsmen’s voice remains central to these discussions. This …
Why it Matters: Nearly two weeks ago, Congress passed and the President signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). Included in the legislation are a number of provisions that will have a direct impact on sportsmen and women, fish and wildlife, and our nation’s lands and waters. Notably absent from the OBBB was language …
Here’s What the One Big Beautiful Bill Means to Sportsmen and Women Read More »
Why It Matters: The Make America Beautiful Again represents a critical commitment to America’s sportsmen and women and our nation’s conservation efforts. Many of the objectives contained in President Trump’s Executive Order are aligned with the longstanding guiding principles for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), and this Executive Order will help serve as a springboard …
President Trump Signs Make America Beautiful Again Executive Order Read More »
Why It Matters: After a decade of public input and planning to revise the land management plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, as well as years of planning for these individual habitat improvement projects, CSF is encouraged to see the National Forests in North Carolina lean into agency-wide goals to significantly increase timber …
Two Wildlife Habitat Restoration Projects in North Carolina Move Towards Implementation Read More »
Why It Matters: Allowing hunters to use a crossbow during archery seasons ensures that sportsmen and women may continue to participate in the pursuit of their favorite species, even if they can no longer use traditional vertical bows due to age or injury. Crossbows are also an excellent introduction to prospective hunters, whether they are …
Crossbows Fully Included in Minnesota Archery Season Through 2026 Read More »
Why It Matters: On June 26, 2025, “The State Assault Weapons Ban Act” (S. 359), now Chapter 281, was signed into law by Governor Dan McKee. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) previously reported on an impending ban on modern sporting firearms, the impact it would have on Rhode Islander’s rights, and the negative implications for …
Update: Rhode Island State So-Called “Assault Weapon Ban” Signed by Governor Read More »
Why It Matters: Turkeys are one of the most popular game birds that hunters pursue, with several states offering both a spring and fall hunting season. However, many states in the Great Plains are experiencing a decline in wild turkey populations. This decline in population has caused state fish and wildlife agencies to adjust the …
Conserving the Gobble: How Great Plains States Are Responding to Falling Turkey Numbers Read More »
Why It Matters: Facing a $500 million revenue shortfall and priorities set by Governor Tina Kotek, the 2025 legislative session in Oregon left little room for sportsmen’s issues. Still, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) fought vigorously to protect hunting, trapping, and firearms rights while advocating for conservation funding to protect Oregon’s outdoor heritage into the …
Why It Matters: The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is regarded as the most successful conservation framework in the world. However, the Model is only successful with the necessary funding behind it. For nearly 90 years, this funding has been largely (and in some states, exclusively) driven by sportsmen and women through the “user …
All Call for Dedicated Conservation Funding in Tennessee Read More »
Why It Matters: Sunday hunting bans are one of the last remaining examples of the puritanical and antiquated laws that were initially designed to encourage church attendance. At the time when blue law restrictions were first put in place, other activities that were illegal on a Sunday included opening a store for business, drinking alcoholic …
Sunday Hunting in Pennsylvania is Headed to the Governor’s Desk Read More »
Why It Matters: There is no doubt that private lands often play an outsized role in providing habitat for our nation’s public trust wildlife resources. In many cases, state fish and wildlife agencies provide no-cost hunting tags as a reward for the habitat that qualifying landowners provide. However, recent efforts have sought to allow recipient …
Transferable Landowner Tags and the Issues With Profiting Off Public Trust Resources Read More »
Why It Matters: Rodman Reservoir, constructed in 1968, is a 9,500-acre reservoir in Northeast Florida and is one of the foremost premiere largemouth bass fisheries in the world. For decades, there have been unfounded efforts by environmentalists to destroy Rodman Reservoir in favor of “restoring” the Ocklawaha River with no clearly defined goals or objectives, …
Why It Matters: While decisions that impact sportsmen and women are typically forged in statehouses and commission meetings, Governors can have significant influence over a state’s legislative and regulatory initiatives and wield powerful veto authority. Joining the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) is not only a public commitment to hunters and anglers, but also provides a …
Indiana Governor Mike Braun Joins Bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
Why It Matters: The sounds and estuaries along the coast of North Carolina are among some of the most diverse and productive marine environments in North America. They provide valuable nursery habitat for many species commonly pursued by both recreational anglers and commercial fishermen. Aligning North Carolina with other Southeastern states in conserving these valuable …
Critical Fisheries Reform Legislation Advances in North Carolina Read More »
Why It Matters: The timber harvests, prescribed burns, and other vegetation treatments in the Archer Knob Project will help correct the age-class imbalance on the George Washington National Forest, supporting species important to Virginia’s hunters, including ruffed grouse, wild turkey, black bear, and white-tailed deer. The project is also a positive indicator that the U.S. …
CSF-Supported Habitat Project Moves Forward in Virginia Read More »
Why It Matters: The 2025 Ka’ohe Game Management Area (GMA) hunting season empowers sportsmen and women to manage invasive species, while protecting native ecosystems and providing sporting opportunity. By targeting feral species, hunters support the critically endangered palila, aligning with conservation goals. Highlights: The GMA hunting season runs July 3 – August 31, 2025, for …
Hawai’i’s Ka’ohe GMA Hunting Season: A Conservation Opportunity Read More »
Why It Matters: It is no secret that sportsmen and women of the Green Mountain State have often and increasingly faced a lack of support from the broader community on several aspects of Vermont’s sporting heritage. Vermont being the first state to guarantee the right to hunt, trap, and fish dating back to the late …
Some Good News in the Green Mountain State: A Look Back at Vermont’s 2025 Session Read More »
Why It Matters: On Tuesday, June 17, on the last day of their extended session, the New York Assembly passed New York Assembly Bill 8330 (AB 8330) and Senate Bill 6360 (SB 6360) which will normalize crossbows. Once the governor signs the legislation, crossbows will be permitted during the full archery season and onerous size …
Crossbows Normalized and Added to Full Archery Season in New York Read More »
Why it Matters: Many states across the country offer a free fishing day or a free fishing weekend in an effort to give new anglers the opportunity to go outdoors and participate in our time-honored traditions without having to pay the cost of the fishing license. The “try before you buy” approach to free fishing …
Free Fishing Weekends Provide a Great Opportunity to Get Outside Read More »
Why It Matters: Sunday hunting bans are one of the last remaining examples of the puritanical and antiquated laws that were initially designed to encourage church attendance. At the time when blue law restrictions were first put in place, other activities that were illegal on a Sunday included opening a store for business, drinking alcoholic …
Sunday Hunting Legislation Passes Pennsylvania House and is Headed to the Senate Read More »