On May 23, NC Sound Economy hosted a legislative day at the North Carolina General Assembly to increase awareness of the importance of the state’s fishing economy and build support for House Bill 867, the Coastal Fisheries and Economic Development Act of 2017. NC Sound Economy is a coalition of businesses, anglers and sportsmen’s organizations …
North Carolina: NC Sound Economy Hosts Legislative Day Read More »
On May 17, the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a meeting with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to discuss the status of ODFW’s facilities and budget, particularly hatchery programs and associated budgetary needs. The meeting, organized by Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Brad Witt and Sal Esquivel and Senators Dennis Linthicum and …
Oregon: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Facilities Meeting with Department of Fish and Wildlife Read More »
On June 2, an interim legislative study committee will meet in Pierre to discuss proposed legislation on the regulation of access and use of non-meandered waters. In South Dakota, bodies of waters are classified as either “meandered” or “non-meandered”. Meandered waters are bodies of water that U.S. surveyors, during the original survey of the state, …
South Dakota: Committee to Discuss Legislation on Non-Meandered Waters Access Read More »
Chris Horton, Fisheries Program Director, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation It was Albert Einstein who said that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. The continued trend of shorter and shorter recreational red snapper seasons under federal management, despite an abundant, healthy red snapper population, certainly seems …
Louisiana Proposal for Red Snapper Anglers Smells Fishy Read More »
On May 22, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Vice-Chair Congressman Austin Scott (GA) introduced a bipartisan bill to modernize the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, the program that allocates funds to states across the country for wildlife conservation funding projects. Original cosponsors included fellow CSC leaders Congressmen Jeff Duncan (SC), Gene Green (TX), and Marc Veasey (TX). …
On May 22, more than 30 of the nation’s leading hunting, fishing, and other conservation groups sent a letter to U.S. Secretaries of Defense and Commerce urging expedited federal review of a critical infrastructure project in coastal Louisiana. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project, located in southern Louisiana, was initially approved by the Louisiana state legislature …
Conservation Groups Urge Advancing of Project to Benefit Coastal Louisiana Wetlands Read More »
On May 16, the bipartisan Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its annual Sportsmen’s Caucus Reception in Augusta. More than two dozen Maine legislators attended the event and were joined by partners from the sportsmen’s community and members of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Advisory Council to discuss the importance of hunting and angling to Maine’s …
Maine: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Annual Reception Read More »
On May 23, the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their third annual Field Day and Wild Game Dinner at the Capitol Area Sportsmen’s League in Lansing. The event brought together representatives from over a dozen hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping organizations with Caucus members and staff from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Attendees …
Michigan: Caucus Hosts 3rd Annual Field Day and Wild Game Dinner Read More »
On May 17, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed into law House Bill 2566, which expands the ability of first-time hunters to participate in the state’s mentored hunting program. The bill received unanimous passage in both the House and Senate, and addresses the need for creative approaches to reverse the decline in hunting participation. HB 2566 …
Oregon: Bill to Expand Mentored Hunting Signed into Law Read More »
President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal calls for the removal of appropriations language that restricts the BLM from using all management options authorized under the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971, as amended. The President’s request implements a September 2016 recommendation of the National Wild Horse & Burro Advisory Board, an …
Statement on BLM’s Wild Horse & Burro Management Program FY2018 Budget Request Read More »
On May 16, twenty-six bipartisan Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) joined members of the sportsmen’s community and representatives from allied industries for a trap, skeet, and sporting clays competition outside Washington, DC. The Republicans, led by CSC Co-Chair Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC), finished with an overall score of 246, and the Democrats, led …
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Joins Sportsmen’s Community for Annual Competition Read More »
On May 18, The Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee held a confirmation hearing for Deputy Secretary of the Interior Nominee David Bernhardt. Prior the hearing, 29 wildlife conservation organizations sent a letter to the Committee expressing support for his confirmation. Bernhardt is an avid sportsman and has demonstrated a commitment to fish and …
Conservation Community Supports Confirmation of Deputy Interior Secretary Nominee Read More »
As the 2017 legislative session winds down in Lincoln, Nebraska, two important pieces of pro-sportsmen legislation were signed into law. Both bills were championed by the Nebraska Legislative Sportsmen’s Forum and the Nebraska Sportsmen’s Foundation. Nebraska L 566, signed by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Pete Ricketts on April 27, joined Nebraska with the 44 …
On May 9, the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a policy briefing on Senate Bills 30 and 192, legislation that would provide the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) the authority to establish license and permit fees. Members of the Caucus were joined by representatives from Hunters Sharing the Harvest; Pennsylvania …
Pennsylvania: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Policy Briefing on Conservation Funding Bills Read More »
On May 8, Washington House Bill 1464, a bill that would encourage private landowners to allow increased access to their lands for hunting and angling, was signed into law by Washington Governor Jay Inslee. The bill was initially passed in the House by a vote of 89-7 on February 27, before a slightly amended version passed …
Washington: Bill to Increase Access to Private Lands Signed Into Law Read More »
The following state legislatures passed resolutions in honor of the 80th Anniversary of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF):
By Zach Widner, Northwest States Manager, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation In October of 2016, I experienced an unforgettable “first” as a hunter. No, it wasn’t the first time I’d taken one of Idaho’s lottery-only species like moose, mountain goat, or bighorn sheep. Nor was it the first time I’d helped someone drag a public land mule …
The American System of Conservation Funding – Sustaining Fish and Wildlife Management Read More »
On May 8, the Kansas House and Senate each passed a resolution in honor of the 80th anniversary of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). The ASCF directly funds conservation efforts across Kansas through the sales of hunting and fishing licenses and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment, marine electronics, and …
Kansas: House & Senate Passes Resolutions Commemorating 80th Anniversary of ASCF Read More »
On May 9, members and guests of the Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus gathered for a lunch at the historic Pentagon Barracks in Baton Rouge. The event provided an opportunity to introduce new legislators to the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, as well as discuss various topics that impact the Sportsman’s Paradise at both the state …
On May 4, Governor Larry Hogan, a member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, signed House Bill 1427 into law. This legislation establishes an apprentice hunting license, which will allow new hunters to hunt under supervision of a licensed hunter. HB 1427 was sponsored by Delegate Herb McMillan, a member of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. …
Maryland: Governor Hogan Signs Apprentice Hunting Bill Read More »
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