News Category: Public Lands

February 26, 2024

CSC Members Introduce Keep Public Lands in Public Hands Act

Why It Matters: Public access to public lands and waters is critical to maintaining opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting. GPS and other technologies have significantly changed how sportsmen and women navigate public lands as well as their ability to identity new lands for recreational access that may previously have been unknown or…

August 14, 2023

Sunday Hunting – Finally Open on Public Lands in South Carolina

Why It Matters: Sunday hunting restrictions are Blue Laws with no basis in wildlife management that restrict only one user-group, hunters, from accessing public lands on Sundays. Removing Sunday hunting restrictions in the Palmetto State is a priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), the Sunday Hunting Coalition, the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and…

May 15, 2023

South Carolina Lifts Public Lands Sunday Hunting Prohibition!

Why It Matters: Sunday hunting prohibitions are rooted in antiquated Blue Laws that are not based on scientific wildlife management principles. Sunday hunting restrictions hinder hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts (R3) and limit hunter access to public land while allowing access for other user groups on Sundays. By opening Sunday hunting on Wildlife Management…

February 27, 2023

Public Lands Sunday Hunting Resolution Introduced in South Carolina

Why It Matters: Removing barriers to hunting participation, like Blue Laws with no basis in wildlife management that prohibit hunting on Sunday, is critical to supporting hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts and putting hunters on an equal access playing field with other public land user-groups that are not prohibited from engaging in their recreational pursuits on…

April 4, 2022

South Carolina Public Lands Sunday Hunting Legislation Clears Major Hurdle

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Director Why It Matters: After the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Council doubled down on their opposition to retaining the prohibition against Sunday hunting on Wildlife Management Areas less than two years ago, the favorable votes are a significant step forward towards opening…

March 7, 2022

Virginia Public Lands Sunday Hunting Headed to the Governor’s Desk

 Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Why It Matters: Senate Bill 8 is the fourth public lands Sunday hunting bill introduced in three years. The legislation passed the Senate 29-11 on January 24, and the Committee and House of Delegates were the final hurdles before the bill could be sent to the Governor’s desk….

January 31, 2022

Virginia Public Lands Sunday Hunting Legislation on the Move

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…

January 18, 2022

Push to Open Sunday Hunting on Virginia’s Public Lands Picks up Steam

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….

January 10, 2022

Effort Seeking to Increase Access to Public Lands for Veterans and Servicemembers Signed into Law as Part of National Defense Authorization Act

Highlights Why it matters:  The Veterans in Parks Act recognizes the commitments and selfless contributions made by our nation’s Veterans and servicemembers by establishing free lifetime and annual America the Beautiful passes to access our National Parks and federally managed public lands. In many cases, outdoor recreation, particularly hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting, plays…

December 6, 2021

Public Lands Sunday Hunting Legislation Introduced in South Carolina

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…

November 1, 2021

Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources Adopts Resolution Supporting Sunday Hunting on Public Lands

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…

June 28, 2021

South Carolina Eyes Repeal of Antiquated Public Lands Sunday Hunting Prohibition

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…