Why It Matters: During the 2023 legislative session, the Washington Legislature commissioned a $300,000 study to review the governance, climate adaptability, and the mandate of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The results of that study have led some legislators to consider sweeping revisions to the WDFW governance structure. One of the seven…
Why It Matters: Every year bills are introduced that would allow individuals to purchase a free or heavily discounted hunting and/or fishing license. Legislators tend to target deserving groups. However, if passed, these bills could have a significant impact on conservation funding for their respective state’s fish and wildlife agency. That is where legislation that reimburses the…
Why It Matters: The 2025 legislative sessions are in full swing in the Great Plains as legislation pertaining to the sporting-conservation community continues to be introduced. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has already engaged on several of these bills as they’ve begun to make their way through the legislative process. Highlights: Iowa has introduced Houe…
Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies are staffed with wildlife biologists that are equipped with the experience and expertise needed to make sound, science-based decisions that benefit the state’s natural resources. Legislation that would impose unnecessary requirements on an agency, curtail its management authority, or add financial and staffing burdens threatens not only…
Why It Matters: Each year, legislators across the country introduce well-meaning legislation that provides free and discounted hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for certain qualified individuals/groups. However, these initiatives have the potential to have negative impacts on the state’s fish and wildlife agency’s budget. To prevent the loss of sportsmen-generated dollars for conservation funding, Virginia…
Why It Matters: Success of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is dependent on coordination amongst federal and state wildlife managers, landowners, and others that have a vested stake in the recovery of a listed species. One of the most pressing challenges with the ESA is failing to delist a species from federal management and return…
Why It Matters: North Dakota’s 2025 legislative session has begun and a bill was promptly introduced that would prohibit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department from adopting or implementing policies on baiting, or supplemental feeding, for hunting big game animals on private land. State fish and wildlife agencies have long been recognized as the…
Why It Matters: The well known “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) has allowed the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to be regarded as the most successful conservation framework in the world. The successful ASCF model can be attributed to a three-tiered funding system that include:…
Why It Matters: The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission was directed by a recent decision out of the ninth circuit court of appeals to adjust wolf trapping seasons within the court-established geographic area. These changes are a result of the court finding that wolf trapping and snaring could pose a “reasonable risk” to ESA listed…
Why it Matters: The use of ballot initiatives, like Proposition 127, to ban hunting circumvents the legislative and regulatory process that provides the opportunity for input by professionals, for revisions, and considerations of broader impacts within Colorado’s overall science-based management plan. These initiatives can allow wildlife management decisions to be made based on emotion rather…
Why It Matters: If they are left unmanaged, axis deer populations can grow to unsustainable rates on Maui Nui, harming the local watersheds and native wildlife and their habitat. Maui Nui, consisting of the Maui County islands of Maui, Lana’l, Moloka’I and Kaho’olawe, has experienced large populations of axis deer leading to several emergency proclamations…
Why It Matters: Rallies bring sportspeople together with legislators and other members of the public to celebrate our hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting traditions in a positive environment, while talking to people about important policies affecting us. This specific rally was also an effective way to educate, raise the energy level around Proposition 127, and…