Governors from across the country, including Governors Sportsmen's Caucus (GSC) members, and President Donald Trump have signed proclamations recognizing Saturday, September 22 as National Hunting and Fishing Day. Among these 43 proclamations is: * Governors Sportsmen's Caucus member
On August 8, former Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Congressman Rob Wittman introduced the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act (H.R. 6660), a bill that authorizes an important fisheries conservation effort to restore and enhance fish habitat and fish populations across the country and improve angling opportunities. The National Fish Habitat Partnership currently consists …
Bill Prioritizing Fish Conservation Introduced in House Read More »
On August 1, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted to pass S. 3119, the Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act. Sponsored by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jim Risch (ID) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA), this bill would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to issue permits to state fish and …
Bills to Protect Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Advance Read More »
By Soren Nelson, Pacific Southwest States Coordinator On August 2, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined a broad coalition of sportsmen’s conservation organizations in opposing California Senate Bill 1487, which would ban the importation of certain legally harvested African species. Introduced earlier this year by Senator Henry Stern, S. 1487 (also known as the Iconic …
On August 7, nearly 200 attendees, including Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) staff and representatives from the sportsmen’s conservation community gathered at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) annual August Recess Clays Competition outside Washington, DC. The event included an individual competition in trap, skeet, and sporting clays, as well as an opportunity for beginner shooters to …
Congressional Staff and Conservation Partners Gather for Clays Competition Read More »
By Joel Hodgdon, Central Midwestern States Coordinator On August 2, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and several other partners in the recreational boating and angling community signed on to a letter urging the US Corps of Engineer’s (USACE) expedited consideration of the Tentatively Selected Plan at Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois. The …
Great Lakes: CSF and Partners Support the Fight against Asian Carp Read More »
By Zach Widner, Northwest States Senior Manager On July 26, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission voted to ban the importation of elk, deer, and moose from chronic wasting disease (CWD) endemic states. The rule, which is takes effect immediately, also applies to the importation of such animals from other countries and Canadian provinces in …
Idaho Furthers Protections Against Chronic Wasting Disease Read More »
By Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States On August 5, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted a Northeast regional policy forum concurrent with the Council of State Governments Eastern Regional Conference in Rye Brook, New York. The discussion centered on policies that may help recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) hunters and recreational shooters in the …
Northeast: CSF Hosts Policy Forum on Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation Read More »
On August 2, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the withdrawal of the regulation prohibiting the use of genetically modified (GMO) seeds on National Wildlife Refuges. The National Wildlife Refuge System often enters into cooperative agriculture agreements with farmers and rangers in order to help achieve wildlife management objectives on National Wildlife …
USFWS Withdrawals Rule Banning Use of GMOs in National Wildlife Refuge System Read More »
On July 30 through August 1, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) staff hosted a booth at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Annual Summit in Los Angeles, CA. Every year state legislators, legislative staff, policy professionals, and government officials from across the country attend NCSL to participate in educational workshops and policy discussions. CSF staff …
CSF Staff Attends National Conference of State Legislatures Summit Read More »
From July 29 through August 1, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) staff Bee Frederick (Southeastern States Director) and Sara Leonard (Policy and Communications Manager) met with state fish and wildlife, and state natural resources department communications professionals in Springfield, Missouri to discuss successes and challenges from the past year. This year’s Association for Conservation Information (ACI) …
CSF Staff Joins Conservation Communication Professionals for Annual Conference Read More »
On July 31, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) Co-Chair Governor Matt Mead (WY) announced the Department of the Interior will prioritize the conservation of a mule deer migration corridor in southwest Wyoming through deferred lease sales and lease stipulations. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will defer almost …
DOI and State of Wyoming Work Collaboratively to Advance Secretarial Order 3362 Read More »
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On July 30, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted comments on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) “Proposed Replacement of the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of Red Wolves in Northeastern North Carolina.” Current regulations have not effectively managed red wolves on the Albemarle Peninsula in …
North Carolina: CSF Supports Revised Rules for Red Wolf Management Read More »
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to announce the hiring of Joe Mullin to serve as the New England States Coordinator. In this role, Joe will be working alongside state legislative sportsmen caucuses in the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses and members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus in the New England states. His hiring …
Northeast: Joe Mullin Hired as New England States Coordinator Read More »
On August 1, the U.S. Senate named the conference committee conferees for the 2018 Farm Bill Reauthorization. The Senate Farm Bill Republican conferees include Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry members Sen. Pat Roberts (KS), Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), Sen. John Boozman (AR), Sen. Joe Hoeven (ND), and Sen. Joni Ernst (IA), who …
By Zach Widner, Northwest States Senior Manager On July 13, Alaska House Bill 260, legislation that would allow sportsmen and women to carry electronic conservation licenses into the field, was officially signed into law by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Bill Walker. The bill had previously passed unanimously in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Sponsored …
Alaska: Electronic Licenses Bill Signed by Governor Read More »
By Joel Hodgdon, Central Midwestern States Coordinator On July 23, over 30 legislative sportsmen’s caucus members from seven states across the Midwest and Southeast regions came together for a policy forum and reception in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) staff John Culclasure, Bee Frederick, and Joel Hodgdon were also in attendance. The …
On July 23, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) staff attended the inaugural meeting of the Boating and Fishing Aquatic Invasive Species Coalition. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are non-native exotic invasive species that harm native ecosystems, natural resources, and our economy. At the meeting, the Coalition agreed to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Brandon Road …
CSF and Partners Participate in Aquatic Invasive Species Coalition Inaugural Meeting Read More »
On July 23, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries announced a final rule for Amendment 43 that would allow for a limited 2018 red snapper season in the South Atlantic. For the first time since 2014, anglers in the South Atlantic will enjoy two 3-day weekends fishing for red snapper. The season will be …
A panel of fisheries experts recently selected winners of the Shimano Varsity scholarship program, including current college students and graduating high school seniors who are avid anglers and interested in pursuing careers in conservation and natural resources management. Selection panelists included Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Senior Fisheries Program Director Chris Horton and CSF Board of …
Shimano and B.A.S.S. Award Scholarships to Student Anglers, Young Conservationists Read More »