Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Why it Matters: The Endangered Species Act was created to help species at risk of extinction and whose future is uncertain in the United States. Species on the list are provided with protections and funding for conservation efforts to ensure their recovery. Since its inception, 54 species have been…
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Why it Matters: The Endangered Species Act was created to help species who are both at risk of extinction and whose future is uncertain in the United States. Species on the list are provided with protections and funding for conservation efforts to ensure their recovery. Since its inception, 54…
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Pacific States Assistant Manager Why It Matters: Oregon’s hunters, anglers, and trappers have long played a vital role in funding conservation and wildlife management efforts throughout the state. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user pays-public benefits” structure, Oregon’s sportsmen and women generate tens of millions of dollars…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Why it Matters: After public lands Sunday hunting legislation died in committee the last two years, Senate passage of SB 8 signals the winds of change may be coming for sportsmen and women wishing to hunt public lands on Sundays. SB 8, patroned by Senator Chap Petersen, would…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Highlights Sunday hunting has been legal on private lands in the Commonwealth since 2014 while Sunday hunting on public lands, with minor exceptions, remains prohibited. Legislation to remove the prohibition against Sunday on public lands was introduced in the last two legislation sessions; both bills died in committee….
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Highlights Why It Matters: Repealing the ban against Sunday hunting on WMAs would ensure hunters have the same access to WMAs as other user groups, and increasing access and opportunity for hunters is critical to hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts. On November 17, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Highlights Why It Matters: The Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources’ adoption of the resolution expressing support for allowing Sunday hunting on public lands sends a strong message to the Virginia General Assembly as legislation to remove the prohibition on public lands Sunday hunting is considered. In the last two…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Highlights Why It Matters: Sunday hunting prohibitions are Blue Laws with no basis in wildlife management that impede hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts (R3). Other user groups are not prohibited from accessing WMAs on Sundays like hunters are, and South Carolina hunters want equal access to their…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Highlights Why It Matters: Opening Sunday hunting on public lands marks the culmination of a four-year effort to implement the Outdoor Heritage Enhanced Act. North Carolina hunters will now have access to Game Lands seven days a week like other user groups, and the expanded access to 1.6…
Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States and States Program Assistant Highlights Why it Matters: Firearm suppressors are often referred to as the hearing protection of the 21st Century – but don’t just take our word for it. According to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, suppressor ownership and use has…
Highlights Why it matters: Digital mapping and GPS technologies have fundamentally changed how sportsmen and women traverse federal lands, however, inconsistent, and outdated record keeping practices among federal land management agencies hinders the ability of sportsmen and women to fully take advantage of these technologies. The digitization of public easements, access points, rights-of-way, and other mapping…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On January 4, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Delegate James Edmunds introduced legislation that would permit Sunday hunting on public lands. The legislation is co-sponsored by Delegate Rodney Willett. Specifically, HB 1799 would expand the exception to the prohibition against hunting or killing any wild bird or wild animal,…