News Category: Wildlife Management

Why It Matters: Once abundant throughout much of the Eastern United States, Eastern Elk were extirpated from North Carolina by 1800 due to unregulated hunting and loss of habitat. However, thanks to careful science-based wildlife management and sustained and significant investments by sportsmen and women, elk now roam the mountains of Western North Carolina. Through a highly regulated permit management system, North Carolina’s first elk season would […]

Why It Matters: The Arizona State Legislature concluded its 2026 legislative session on June 13, adjourning sine die after reaching a budget agreement with Governor Katie Hobbs. During the final weeks of session, Governor Hobbs signed 77 bills and vetoed 88. Several pieces of legislation impacting Arizona’s sportsmen and women advanced this year, while others failed to reach the finish line.  Highlights:  As […]

Why It Matters: Delaware was the first of the original thirteen colonies to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thus enshrining it as the “First State.” While it is the “First State,” it is also the second smallest state by total land area in the entire U.S. Regardless of its size, Delaware continues to punch above its weight class when […]

Why It Matters: The regulations set forth by state wildlife agencies on trapping methods are among the most complex and comprehensive of any laws concerning wildlife harvest today. In 1985, the Canadian government attempted to establish a world standard for humane mammal traps through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Among those responsible for setting […]

Why It Matters: Every year, many state fish and wildlife agencies consider updates to their hunting permit allocation and adjustments to their hunting seasons. Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners (NGPC) are currently discussing changes to the number of deer tags that limits the number of personal deer tags an induvial hunter can receive, and changes to the mountain lion hunting season. It is critical for hunters to stay up to […]

Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women are the original conservationists, and while much of our interest can be traced back to the critters that we pursue, the conservationist mentality that we share also provides an inherent appreciation for the species and processes that ultimately contribute to our opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Pollinators are unsung heroes […]

Why It Matters: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission is moving forward with rulemaking on a proposed ban on the commercial sale, barter, or trade of pelts, hides, and associated products from wild furbearers taken in Colorado. This follows the Commission’s March 2026 vote to advance the petition, proposed by anti-trapping organizations, despite CPW staff recommendations for denial and strong opposition from sportsmen. […]

Why It Matters: As is with much of the country, turkey hunting continues to be wildly popular among hunters across the Southeast. Turkey hunting traditions run deep throughout the region, and the pursuit generates millions of dollars through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). From recruiting the next generation of […]

Why It Matters: As signatures for Oregon’s Initiative Petition 28 (The PEACE ACT) surpass 126,000 and the measure inches closer to the November 2026 ballot, sportsmen and women must understand its real-world consequences. Proponents’ claims paint a simplistic picture of humane wildlife management, but the reality involves devastating impacts on native species, agricultural lands, and the funding that sustains Oregon’s conservation […]

Why It Matters: Last month New Hampshire Fish and Game (NHFG) conducted a series of listening and comment sessions concerning long overdue license fee increases. The “user pays – public benefits” structure known as the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) provides critical annual funding for the NHFG to manage fish, wildlife, and other public trust […]

Why It Matters: Oklahoma’s 2026 legislative session was not without its share of controversy . While it is important that sportsmen and women and our elected officials remain engaged and willing to have important conversations, controversy shouldn’t overshadow the victories accomplished in the Sooner State.  Highlights:  Unless you have been living under a rock, or lucky enough to spend the past five months in the field or […]

Why It Matters: License sales and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, and other sporting-related goods account for the largest source of conservation funding in the United States. This “user pays – public benefits” approach, known as the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), provides critical annual funding for the New Hampshire Fish and Game […]