Why It Matters: The use of ballot initiatives to ban hunting circumvents the legislative and regulatory process that provides the opportunity for input by professionals, for revisions, and considerations of broader impacts within the Colorado’s overall science-based management plan. These initiatives can allow wildlife management decisions to be made based on emotion rather than scientific …
Why It Matters: Last Friday, July 12, 2024, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair, Governor Chris Sununu signed New Hampshire House Bill 1186 (HB 1186) – An Act Relative to Firearm Purchaser’s Privacy into law, protecting the privacy of Granite Staters and individuals shopping in New Hampshire. Highlights On July 13, 2024, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair Governor …
Granite Stater’s Privacy Protected with Governor’s Signature Read More »
Why It Matters: July 12th marked the beginning, and the end, of the 2024 South Atlantic red snapper season. Unfortunately, we are stuck under a federal management paradigm in the South Atlantic that rewards a rapidly rebuilding red snapper population with fewer red snapper fishing opportunities, with the season totaling one day this year. Sound …
Temps Rise on Atlantic Red Snapper Season, While Florida Experiments with a Better Way Read More »
Why It Matters: Earlier this year, Rhode Island Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Gordon Rogers introduced Senate Bill 2154 (SB 2154)– An Act Relating to Fish and Wildlife – Birds, which allows the taking of wild turkeys by using a crossbow in compliance with rules and regulations promulgated by DEM.) SB 2154 increases opportunities for …
New Opportunities for Ocean State Turkey Hunters Read More »
Why It Matters: In states like North Carolina where land is primarily privately owned and the population is increasing rapidly, proactive efforts such as offering financial incentives to private landowners to conserve property are essential to ensuring the future success of wildlife management efforts. These incentives, such as offering state income tax credits to landowners …
CSF-Supported Land Conservation Legislation Signed into Law Read More »
Why It Matters: Often the last line of defense against attempts to undermine our time-honored outdoor traditions, the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) is a critical component of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) three-pronged approach to our mission. By joining the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders once again demonstrates both her personal passion for …
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Joins Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
Why It Matters: As the 118th Congress enters the fourth quarter, much of which will be occupied by campaigns and the election, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pushing hard for our remaining priorities to be in a position for passage before everything wraps up. Four such bills were heard in a House Natural Resources …
House Natural Resources Holds Lively Hearing on Four CSF Priority Bills Read More »
Why It Matters: New Jersey Assembly Bill 2920 (AB 2920) would increase the minimum age for the issuance of a trapping license from 12 years of age to 18. Increasing the minimum age for someone to be eligible to participate in trapping would be extremely detrimental to the recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of trappers, …
Legislation Seeks to Increase the Minimum Age for Trapping in the Garden State Read More »
Why It Matters: Despite the need for additional conversations surrounding recent management decisions made by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Arkansas General Assembly returned for a brief special session which saw them approve the Commission’s budget without much debate. This move ensures that the Commission can carry out their mission as they transition …
Arkansas General Assembly Approves Budget for Game and Fish Commission Read More »
Why It Matters: This past week, the fish and game Commissions for both Montana and Washington State reviewed their mountain lion quotas and hunting seasons. Montana took an ecosystem approach and aimed for harvests that were sustainable for both mountain lions and ungulates while maintaining hunting opportunities. Washington focused solely on mountain lion populations with …
Why It Matters: Wild pig populations are continuing to explode across the country. With an estimated 6 million individuals nationwide, they’re having a profound impact on crops and privately owned property, causing an estimated $2.5 billion worth of damage annually while also negatively impacting native wildlife and their habitats. Subsequently, this is a big problem for …
Why It Matters: The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act is a comprehensive conservation package that will bolster fish and wildlife conservation across North America. Some of the nation’s most important and impactful conservation programs are contained in this legislation. The introduction of the House bill is similar to the recent Senate passed ACE Reauthorization …
House CSC Members Introduce ACE Reauthorization Act, a Significant CSF Priority Read More »
Why It Matters: Kentucky’s sportsmen and women were faced with several bills during the 2024 legislative session, both positive and negative, that would impact their ability to enjoy our time-honored traditions. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) had a seat at the table in Frankfort working on these bills to protect and promote Kentucky’s rich sporting …
Busy in the Bluegrass State – Recapping a Successful Legislative Session in Kentucky Read More »
Why it Matters: In August of 2023, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) expanded hunting opportunities for mountain lions by establishing the new Niobrara Unit. Commissioners are again looking to create more opportunities for hunters to hit the fields and attempt to harvest a mountain lion by potentially expanding into the Wildcat Hills Unit. …
Nebraska Commissioners Consider Expanding Mountain Lion Hunting Opportunities Read More »
Why It Matters: Legislators, particularly those with a passion for our shared outdoor pursuits, are typically flooded each day with opposition to and attacks against the things they do. Events that bring sportsmen and women together with legislators to celebrate our hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting traditions in a positive environment are an effective way …
Nevada Sportsmen’s Caucus Gathers for Inaugural Fly Fishing Retreat & Educational Event Read More »
Why It Matters: Earlier this year, New Hampshire House Bill 1042 (HB 1042) – An Act Relative to the use of Air Rifles for Hunting Game, was introduced and supported with recommended amendments by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) in written and oral testimony. Ultimately, the House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources …
Why It Matters: On June 6, 2024, Governor’s Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) Member, Governor Phil Scott, signed Vermont House Bill 878 (HB 878) into law, removing the two-year sunset provision previously put in place by Vermont Senate Bill 281 (SB 281) – which temporarily legalized the use of suppressors while hunting in Vermont two years ago. …
Hunting with Suppressors Permanently Authorized in the Green Mountain State Read More »
Why It Matters: Like in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), red snapper are an extremely popular reef fish in the South Atlantic. Unfortunately, we’re stuck under a federal management paradigm that rewards a rapidly rebuilding red snapper population with fewer red snapper fishing opportunities. Last week, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced a 1-day …
Why It Matters: After passing out of the House Agriculture Committee last month, movement around the next iteration of the Farm Bill continues in Washington. While debate around the final, bipartisan version of the bill remains, Ranking Member Boozman’s release of his Farm Bill priorities highlights the ongoing support for key conservation programs within the …
CSC Co-Chair Senator Boozman Releases Pro-Sportsmen Farm Bill Platform Read More »
Why It Matters: With no shortage of bills this year having the potential to either positively or negatively impact Tennessee’s hunters and anglers, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to report a successful legislative session in the Volunteer State. CSF worked closely with the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) and in-state and national partners …
Recapping a Busy, but Successful Legislative Session in the Volunteer State Read More »