News

CSF’s Taylor Schmitz to Represent Sporting Community Before Congress on EXPLORE Act

Why It Matters: The EXPLORE Act represents one of the most comprehensive outdoor recreation bills to become law and includes a number of longstanding priorities for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Taylor Schmitz, CSF’s Senior Vice President, will be the sole representative from the sporting-conservation community to talk about the importance of fully implementing this law to improve access for sportsmen and women and conservation of our natural …

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Legislation to Destroy Rodman Reservoir in Florida Re-Emerges

Why It Matters: Rodman Reservoir, constructed in 1968, is a 9,500-acre reservoir in Northeast Florida and is one of the premier largemouth bass fisheries in the world. For decades, there have been efforts led by environmental groups to destroy Rodman Reservoir in favor of “restoring” the Ocklawaha River with vague goals and objectives, jeopardizing a staple of the recreational fishing community. …

Legislation to Destroy Rodman Reservoir in Florida Re-Emerges Read More »

CSF Supports Continuation of Tax Credits for Meat Processors in Missouri

Why It Matters: Meat processors play a critical role in the field-to-table journey for many successful hunters across the nation. Further, they represent a critical link in the success of game meat donation programs. Missouri’s existing tax credit program serves as a great incentive designed to increase the availability and capacity of meat processors in the Show-Me State, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is proud …

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Hawaii’s Outdoor Heritage Caucus Brings Sportsmen to the Table

Why It Matters: The National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) unites state legislators from across the nation under the NASC umbrella. While many of the focal topics are similar, each state is unique in some ways, making the diverse tools provided by the NASC network an important bridge for policymakers. Hawaii has an exceptionally unique set of …

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Will Delaware Become the 25th State to Adopt the Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish?

Why It Matters: As continuous efforts are made across the nation to undermine conservation funding through the prohibition of sportsmen and women’s beloved outdoor pastimes, Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs seek to proactively protect hunters, anglers, and trappers by introducing legislation that would amend the First State’s Constitution. Constitutional amendments to protect the right to hunt and fish represent one of …

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CSF’s Chris Horton to Testify on Rigs-to-Reefs Bill in the House

Why It Matters: Offshore fishing in the Gulf of America (Gulf) is often around oil and gas platforms and associated infrastructure. These hard structures that dot the Gulf provide valuable habitat for fish, corals, and invertebrates, and important fishing destinations for anglers and commercial fishermen alike. Unfortunately, many have been removed through decommissioning. For years, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been working to improve the Rigs-To-Reefs program, and we …

CSF’s Chris Horton to Testify on Rigs-to-Reefs Bill in the House Read More »

Camo at the Capitol: Wisconsin Sportsmen and Women Gather to Advocate for Sporting-Conservation Policies

Why It Matters: Although sportsmen and women typically use camouflage to remain stealthy while afield, it has the opposite effect when worn in a state capitol building and quickly communicates an important message amongst the suits that typically occupy the halls of government. By coordinating an advocacy day like last week’s event in Wisconsin, hunters, anglers, and trappers …

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Idaho Fish and Game Commission Proposes Restrictions on Technology Allowed for Big Game Hunting

Why It Matters: As emergent technologies potentially allow hunters and anglers to be more efficient and successful in the field, questions of fair chase ethics, and population stability inevitably follow shortly behind. State fish and wildlife agencies across the country are tasked with finding a suitable middle ground, where hunters and anglers can still take advantage of new technologies, without giving them an unfair advantage over wildlife and harvesting too many game species off the …

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New Governor and Renewed Enthusiasm in New Jersey

Why It Matters: The 2024-2025 New Jersey legislature adjourns on January 12th, and the 2026-2027 session quickly starts the next day on the 13th. Due to the final push of the 2024-2025 session and to prepare for 2026-2027, just before Christmas the New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus held an event with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) in the New Jersey …

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CSF Leads Cross-Sector Coalition Push for Senate Action on the Fix Our Forests Act

Why It Matters: Longer wildfire seasons, more frequent and intense wildfires, and other forest health stressors increasingly threaten forests, fish and wildlife habitat, and communities. Between 1990 and 2020, the Wildland-Urban Interface increased by 31%. Accelerating the pace and scale of forest restoration through the policy reforms in the Fix Our Forests Act would be a significant step towards reducing wildfire risk for communities and improving forest health, wildlife habitat, and access for sportsmen and women on federal lands. Highlights: More than 117 million acres of …

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Legislation to Update the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund Up for Consideration

Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women continue to step up to the plate as the primary funders of conservation in North America. Through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), hunters and anglers generate revenue from sporting license sales and excise tax revenue from the Wildlife and Sport Fish …

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FWS Issues CSF Supported Review of National Wildlife Refuges and Fish Hatcheries

Why It Matters: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), through the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS), provides invaluable habitat for fish and wildlife, enhances recreational fisheries, and creates irreplaceable access for sportsmen and women across the nation. Unfortunately, over time, the Refuge and Hatchery Systems are becoming …

FWS Issues CSF Supported Review of National Wildlife Refuges and Fish Hatcheries Read More »

COMING SOON: The Sportsmen’s Voice – NASC 2025 Podcast Sessions

Why It Matters: Just before the holidays, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and over 325 legislators, partners, agency staff, and other policy professionals gathered together in Memphis, Tennessee for the 2025 National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Sportsman-Legislator Summit. For the third Summit in a row, The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast was in attendance to talk …

COMING SOON: The Sportsmen’s Voice – NASC 2025 Podcast Sessions Read More »

Oregon and Washington Natural Resources Committees Hold Interim Meetings

Why It Matters: Interim committee meetings provide valuable insight into the legislative priorities for the coming legislative session and offer sportsmen and women an opportunity to engage with legislators on policies impacting hunting, fishing, trapping, recreational shooting, and other conservation issues. Early stakeholder involvement can help shape outcomes that support science-based wildlife management and access …

Oregon and Washington Natural Resources Committees Hold Interim Meetings Read More »

North Carolina Mandatory Harvest Reporting Requirements Now Effective

Why It Matters: Marine fisheries management varies widely among Atlantic Coast states. Any opportunity to develop and implement harvest reporting requirements should be approached carefully with the goal of providing credible data that can, in turn, be used to manage a resource enjoyed by millions of anglers. Reliable catch information, if properly developed, could advance …

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U.S. Forest Service Proposes Forest Restoration Projects Throughout the Country

Why It Matters: In line with the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) National Active Forest Management Strategy that was released earlier this year, and trying to meet the goal of increasing the volume of timber sold annually by 25% over the next four to five years, the U.S. Forest Service recently announced several large forest restoration …

U.S. Forest Service Proposes Forest Restoration Projects Throughout the Country Read More »

CSF Priority Michigan Hunter Ed in Schools Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature

Why It Matters: Within striking distance of crossing the finish line on a multi-year effort, the Michigan Senate’s unanimous passage of a Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) priority bill to allow hunter education and firearm safety to be taught in schools for credit towards graduation aims to introduce young people to firearm safety, the great outdoors, …

CSF Priority Michigan Hunter Ed in Schools Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature Read More »

Important Habitat Connectivity and Human Safety Bill Introduced in Senate

Why It Matters: One of the most pressing challenges facing wildlife in the country is the issue of habitat connectivity – the ability of wildlife to move freely throughout their annual lifecycle to meet ecological and biological demands. Unfortunately for wildlife, human development in the form of roads, railways, highways, etc., which cause wildlife-vehicle collisions, …

Important Habitat Connectivity and Human Safety Bill Introduced in Senate Read More »

Missouri Department of Conservation Announces 2026-27 Seasons and Changes to CWD Management

Why It Matters: Last week, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced the Missouri Conservation Commission’s initial approval of proposed hunting season dates for the 2026-27 season. This announcement included several major changes to Missouri’s deer season framework compared to recent years. A few days later, MDC Director Jason Sumners issued an open letter announcing …

Missouri Department of Conservation Announces 2026-27 Seasons and Changes to CWD Management Read More »

New Mexico Senate Bill 5: Leveraging Past Success for Future Momentum

Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies are the fundamental entities that secure our sporting heritage. They are where state and federal tax dollars and regulations, biologists, outdoor recreationists, and conservation ideals come together to manage our wildlife and wild places for everyone to enjoy. Having a well-funded, and organized, fish and wildlife agency …

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