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Why It Matters: Voluntary conservation easements represent an important opportunity to promote wildlife conservation practices on private land while protecting that land from future development. Recently, efforts designed to eliminate the availability of perpetual conservation easements have emerged, posing a significant threat to easement programs and the benefits they provide to participating landowners and our …

NASC Executive Council Members Issue Resolution Supporting Conservation Easements Read More »

Why It Matters: Migratory birds present unique challenges when it comes to management. Since migratory birds do not recognize state and international boundaries, they require a special, interwoven framework of both federal and state management. A one-of-a-kind federal funding mechanism exists to support waterfowl management across a continent: the Federal Duck Stamp. Highlights: The Migratory …

Your Duck Stamp Dollars at Work Read More »

Why it Matters: While many, including many of us at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, are spending their fall chasing pheasants, sitting in deer stands, or calling ducks in, there is still plenty of time to hit the open waters for fishing. With lakes in the upper part of the Great Plains region likely freezing soon, …

Before the Freeze: Fall Offers Exceptional Opportunities for Great Plains Anglers Read More »

Why It Matters: Creating pathways to significantly improve recreational catch information and establishing a Mississippi River Basin Commission, both priorities for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), were the subjects of two of the bills heard before the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee last week. Highlights: Three CSF-supported fishing and fisheries conservation bills, two of which …

Natural Resources Committee Holds Hearing on Important Fisheries Bills Read More »

Why It Matters: Black bears present hunters with the opportunity to get afield in pursuit of one of the most storied big game animals in the country, both past and present. Simultaneously, black bear hunters generate valuable conservation funding dollars through the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding …

From New Opportunities to Decades Old Traditions, Bear Hunting Remains a Staple Among Hunters in the Southeast Read More »

Why It Matters: Each year, legislatures and state fish and wildlife agencies make changes to states’ hunting rules and regulations. This is why it is vital that you check your state’s hunting regulations prior to going afield to ensure you are not violating the law and potentially finding yourself with a citation from a game …

Fall Hunting Seasons are in Full Swing in the Mid-Atlantic Region: Have You Checked Your State’s Regulations? Read More »

Why It Matters: The use of descending devices and venting tools has been  shown to significantly reduce post release mortality of deep caught fish. In early January of 2021, President Trump signed the DESCEND Act that directed NOAA to implement descending and venting tool requirements for reef fish fisheries in the Gulf of America (Gulf), …

Gulf Council Votes to Permanently Implement DESCEND Act Measures Read More »

Why it Matters: With the deer hunting season in full swing across the country, state fish and wildlife agencies recommend hunters get their deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease. Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD, is a fatal, degenerative disease occurring in both farmed and free-ranging deer, elk, caribou, and moose. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation encourages …

CWD Testing Encouraged as Deer Season Peaks Across the Great Plains Read More »

Why It Matters: For hunters, access alone does not lead to a satisfying experience. The quality of the habitat on the land being accessed, whether public or private, often determines whether a day afield ends with close encounters with the target species or, ideally, a punched tag. As the original conservationists and responsible stewards, it …

Quality Access Requires Quality Habitat Read More »