On March 6, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Congressman Ron Kind (WI) and Senator Jon Tester (MT) introduced the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Act companion bills in the House (H.R. 1550) and Senate (S. 689). Currently, 26 states across the country have confirmed the presence of this fatal, degenerative neurological disease, which is fatal to …
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) staff joined conservation representatives from across the country in Denver, Colorado, at the 84th Annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. Hosted by the Wildlife Management Institute, this week-long event is dedicated to discussions related to wildlife conservation policies and programs. CSF staff participated in discussions on landscape connectivity and …
CSF Participates at 84th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference Read More »
By Brett Stayton, Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator On March 7, the Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its second strongly-attended policy meeting for the 2019 legislative session. All four Caucus Co-Chairs attended to discuss plans for guiding legislative priorities going forward. The meetings, which are open to the public, gathered partner organizations such as the National Wild …
Delaware: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts another Productive Policy Meeting Read More »
By Nick Buggia, Midwestern States Manager On March 5, the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Caucus’s Advisory Council hosted a welcome briefing and reception for new state legislators. The Michigan Advisory Council consists of 16 member organizations and two ex-officio members that assists the Caucus by providing advice on policy issues and helping host Caucus events …
Michigan: Advisory Council Welcomes New Legislators Read More »
By Zach Widner, Northwest States Senior Manager On March 5, the Oregon House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass a bill that would require cervid (deer, elk, moose) attractant products derived from cervid urine to come from a herd demonstrated to be free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). It now awaits committee assignment in the …
Oregon: Chronic Wasting Disease Bill Heads to Senate Read More »
By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Senior Director On February 26, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its first Caucus meeting of the year. In addition to electing new Caucus leadership, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) provided an update on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) to more than 20 legislators during the meeting. The 2019-2020 Co-Chairmen …
Tennessee: Sportsmen’s Caucus Holds First Meeting of 2019 Read More »
By Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States On February 27, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department presented a proposal to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board to significantly overhaul certain aspects of the way deer hunting is conducted in the Green Mountain State. The proposal stems from a multi-year comprehensive analysis of all Vermont deer …
Partnership will enhance shared legislative priorities The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support the organizations’ shared mission of advancing conservation to benefit sportsmen and women across the country. The memorandum strengthens a longtime partnership between the two organizations. The groups will increase collaboration and engagement …
On February 26, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined more than 200 organizations in submitting letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and related subcommittees in support of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services. These letters highlight the important programs and efforts that Wildlife Services (WS) provides to wildlife related damages to …
CSF Joins More Than 200 Organizations in Support of USDA Wildlife Services Read More »
By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director On February 19, the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted an educational and informational event at a local shooting range outside of Tallahassee for legislators and staff. The evening began with a presentation from longtime Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) friend Lane Stephens on the background and history of the Caucus, …
Florida: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Host Education Event for Legislators and Staff Read More »
By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director On February 19, the Georgia sportsmen’s community and numerous legislative and administrative officials gathered at the Georgia State Capitol for the 17th Annual “Keeping Georgia Wild” Day. This annual event, previously known as Sportsmen’s and Coastal Day at the Capitol, provides a venue for elected officials to hear from …
Georgia: Sportsmen’s Community Gathers for Keeping Georgia Wild Day Read More »
By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator Recently, HB 28, An Act to Allow the Use of Crossbows During the Archery Season on Deer, was reconsidered by Maine’s Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Although the bill had previously received an unfavorable report, upon receiving additional information, several Committee members altered their position and …
By Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On February 27, the Joint Committee of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife voted to postpone taking any legislative action regarding SB 208, An Act to Require Biodegradable Hooks and Lures for Freshwater Fishing. Any decision will be postponed until the 2020 legislative session. During the public hearing Fisheries Division …
By Zach Widner, Northwest States Senior Manager On February 28, the Oregon Senate Committee on Judiciary held a hearing on a bill that, as amended, would ban individuals from participating in, hosting, or sponsoring coyote hunting contests in the state. The bill, Senate Bill 723, if passed with the proposed amendments, would prohibit any person, …
Oregon: Bill to Ban Coyote Contests Receives Hearing Read More »
By Chris Horton, Midwestern States Senior Director and Fisheries Earlier this month, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) released a series of proposed regulatory changes for freshwater fisheries in the state. The proposed changes include modifications to the length limits and harvest regulations for largemouth bass, Alabama bass and alligator gar in certain areas. …
By Jeff Crane, President This week, the U.S. House of Representatives will take up both the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 8) and the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 1112). Both bills would have impacts on sportsmen and women and will likely result in firearms sales being curtailed among this responsible, …
A long awaited package of provisions for sportsmen’s access and habitat conservation, the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47) was advanced by the House of Representatives, and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. A number of the provisions within S. 47 are access-oriented priorities of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Introduced …
Congress Approves Public Lands Package, Sends to President’s Desk Read More »
On Tuesday, February 26 at 12:00 pm, it is anticipated the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47) to advance this important conservation legislation to the President’s desk. S. 47 was recently passed out of the U.S. Senate with a bipartisan vote of 92 – 8. This bill …
ACTION ALERT: Urge the House to Advance S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act Read More »
On Saturday, members of the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) recognized the GSC’s 10th Anniversary, and reflected on sportsmen’s conservation victories as a result of efforts by pro-sportsmen governors across the country. Hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), this reception gathered governors with representatives from the sportsmen’s community and allied industry partners. CSF President …
Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Celebrates 10 Years of Advancing Conservation Read More »
By Brett Stayton, Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator On February 19, the Maryland Senate Committee on Health, Education, and the Environment held a hearing on several bills, including SB 390, which would authorize the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to allow deer hunting on Sundays throughout the appropriate season. This would apply to private land and …
Maryland: Statewide Sunday Deer Hunting Bill Heard in Committee Read More »
