Why It Matters: Facing a $500 million revenue shortfall and priorities set by Governor Tina Kotek, the 2025 legislative session in Oregon left little room for sportsmen’s issues. Still, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) fought vigorously to protect hunting, trapping, and firearms rights while advocating for conservation funding to protect Oregon’s outdoor heritage into the…
Why It Matters: The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is regarded as the most successful conservation framework in the world. However, the Model is only successful with the necessary funding behind it. For nearly 90 years, this funding has been largely (and in some states, exclusively) driven by sportsmen and women through the “user…
Why It Matters: There is no doubt that private lands often play an outsized role in providing habitat for our nation’s public trust wildlife resources. In many cases, state fish and wildlife agencies provide no-cost hunting tags as a reward for the habitat that qualifying landowners provide. However, recent efforts have sought to allow recipient…
Why It Matters: To properly conserve natural resources and provide quality hunting and fishing opportunities, state fish and wildlife agencies are charged with a long list of responsibilities. Growing operational costs necessitate adjustments to the revenue that is generated through the American System of Conservation Funding and its complements to ensure that our time-honored outdoor…
Why It Matters: There was no shortage of legislation impacting hunters and anglers in the Magnolia State during the 2025 legislative session. Everything from protecting conservation funding from free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses, creating a new wild turkey stamp, ensuring that poachers pay restitution back to the state for illegally taking wild game held…
Why It Matters: For many years, some states have maintained vague, outdated laws banning the sale, possession, use, and manufacture of certain types of knives. It is not uncommon for many dated, unnecessary statutes to remain on the books for years and become largely ignored. However, these state laws can still cause legal issues if…
Why It Matters: Given the composition of Missouri’s Constitution, opportunities for legislator involvement in hunting and fishing policy are few and far between. However, this has not prevented the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus from being an active member of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC), working closely with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and partners…
Why It Matters: The Hawai’i Wildlife Conservation and Game Bird Stamp Art Contest highlights the intersection between art, hunting, and conservation. Showcasing native and introduced species while supporting critical wildlife management programs, funds from stamp sales directly bolster Hawai’i’s Wildlife Revolving Fund, ensuring sustainable habitats and hunting opportunities for future generations. The initiative underscores the…
Why It Matters: The use of ballot initiatives in states that allow them is on the rise, and we are seeing more and more efforts to use the polls to undermine, and potentially ultimately ban, hunting, this time by targeting the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. The Commission process exists to provide the opportunity for…
Why It Matters: The 2025 West Virginia legislative session was a productive one with Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation engaging early and often on many issues of concern for West Virginia’s sporting community. During legislative sessions, policies that are formed in state’s capitols impact what we do on the water and afield and, fortunately for the sportsmen…
Why It Matters: The Iowa legislative session saw its fair share of sportsmen and women-related bills introduced this year. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was active in engaging on legislation that had negative impacts on conservation funding, enshrining the right to hunt, fish, and trap in the state constitution, and establishing a curriculum for firearms,…
Why It Matters: Montana’s 2025 legislative session delivered key victories for hunters, anglers, and trappers by enhancing the state’s Block Management Program, bolstering public access to private lands. Three bills, all sponsored by Montana Legislative Sportsmen Caucus Co-chairs, worked to address the critical issue of land access and sportsmen/landowner relations. Highlights: Caucus Co-Chair Representative Joshua…