News Category: Wildlife Management

Why It Matters: A longstanding legislative priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) moved forward on July 15 as the House Natural Resources Committee advanced H.R. 6251. The legislation would resolve a nearly two-decade-old issue affecting a limited number of hunters who are unable to import polar bears that were lawfully harvested before federal protections changed.  Highlights:  The House Natural Resources […]

Why It Matters: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission voted 6-5 on July 17, 2026, to terminate rulemaking on a citizen petition that sought to ban the retail sale of furs from wild furbearers harvested in Colorado. This decision upholds lawful trapping as a science-based wildlife management tool and protects sportsmen’s heritage against efforts that conflict with state statute and the North […]

Why It Matters: Hunters and anglers shoulder the costs of fish and wildlife conservation, but when their license dollars no longer adequately cover the costs of conservation, state agencies cannot deliver the quality hunting and fishing opportunities that keeps sportsmen and women afield. A modest license fee adjustment can address these funding shortfalls and better secure the longevity of […]

Why It Matters: Wild pigs continue to wreak havoc on wildlife habitat, agricultural lands, and native ecosystems across the country, causing billions of dollars in damage each year. While they present recreational hunting opportunities in some areas, unmanaged populations threaten the very landscapes that support America’s hunting heritage. Addressing this complex issue requires collaboration among state […]

(July 24, 2026) – Salem, OR – The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) today celebrated the failure of Oregon’s Initiative Petition 28 (IP 28), the so-called “People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act,” after the Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division announced the measure failed to gather enough valid signatures to qualify for the November 3, […]

Why It Matters: In response to an estimated budget shortfall between $2-$12 billion, every agency in Washington state has been instructed to begin a budget reduction exercise. Natural resource agencies, while only representing 1.4% of the state’s budget, are not exempt. With a portion of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) budget supplemented by the state’s general fund, we could see cuts to […]

Why It Matters: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was designed to recover species and create a pathway toward long-term conservation. As grizzly bear populations continue to recover across parts of the West, proposals providing states and Tribes with greater management authority represent an important next step. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports science-based wildlife management and believes successful recovery should be accompanied by management flexibility […]

Why It Matters: Learn-to-trap programs offer great opportunities for individuals who have little to no experience with trapping to learn new skills. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have mentors to introduce them to our time-honored outdoor traditions, and not having the proper knowledge can be a barrier for youth or first-time trappers. Recognizing this, […]

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 […]