Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women in Tennessee and around the country continue to step up to the plate to fund professional, science-based fish and wildlife management. Dubbed the original conservationists, hunters and anglers provide the vast majority of conservation funding in North America through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the…
Why It Matters: Trapping plays a pivotal role in conservation in the United States that cannot be replicated or replaced effectively. While it may feel like an uphill battle at times, there are numerous collaborative state, regional, and national efforts that are actively working at multiple levels to protect and advance trapping. Among such collaborative…
Why It Matters: For over 80 years, sportsmen and women have been the primary funders of conservation in North America. The “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) relies on those who consumptively use the resource to pay for the privilege to do so. Today, most state fish…
Why It Matters: Each year, state fish and wildlife agencies introduce regulations that impact hunting, fishing, trapping, and sometimes, recreational shooting. While the agency follows the required process for the potential adoption of these regulations, most sportsmen and women are unaware that they can potentially impact these regulations through the public comment period and staying…
Why It Matters: The “Sportsman’s Paradise” has seen several different pieces of legislation and regulations cross the finish line thus far in 2025. From committing funding to revitalize one of the most historic waterfowl hunting areas in the state, to incentivizing private landowners to enhance wildlife habitat, expanding black bear hunting opportunities, modernizing primitive firearms…
Why It Matters: Hunting is the preferred tool for wildlife management, as it is the most effective, cost-efficient, and socially acceptable method of maintaining healthy wildlife populations. It is imperative that policies are guided by science-based principles and that hunters are provided opportunities to be active participants in conservation. Highlights: In April, the Congressional Sportsmen’s…
Why It Matters: Washington’s wolf population is growing, creating complex management challenges that impact sportsmen, ranchers, and the public alike. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) holds a seat on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Wolf Advisory Group (WAG), ensuring that the sportsmen’s voice helps shape wolf management policies that balance predator recovery…
Why It Matters: The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) Commission’s August 21, 2025 meeting finalized regulations for the for the 2025-2026 hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons, along with considerations of several land and water projects shaping both management and public access plans for the coming year. Highlights: The Commission took the Future Fisheries Improvement…
Why It Matters: The American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), driven by sportsmen and women, funds the vast majority of the critical wildlife and habitat programs throughout the United States. However, many Western state fish and wildlife agencies rely not only on ASCF funding but also supplemental funding from their state’s general fund. In states…
Why It Matters: Private landowners manage approximately 43% of Wyoming’s land mass, serving as vital partners in wildlife conservation and public access to recreational opportunities. On July 15, 2025, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission heard testimony from hunters, landowners, and legislators on proposed changes to the landowner tag rules. The diverse testimony highlighted the…
Why It Matters: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” This quote is widely cited by both sides of the argument as it relates to hunting and angling, particularly in recent years. With efforts to drive wildlife management at the ballot box becoming more commonplace, members of the sporting-conservation community are finally…
Why It Matters: Turkeys are one of the most popular game birds that hunters pursue, with several states offering both a spring and fall hunting season. However, many states in the Great Plains are experiencing a decline in wild turkey populations. This decline in population has caused state fish and wildlife agencies to adjust the…