On February 15, the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their 9th Annual Sportsmen’s Caucus Fish Fry in Jackson, MS. The annual event brings together sportsman-legislators, state agency staff, and outdoor industry leaders to celebrate Mississippi’s sportsmen’s heritage and discuss current policies impacting hunting and angling in the Magnolia State. Attendees enjoyed an evening of comradery …
On February 9, as Winter Storm Niko battered New England, the bipartisan and bicameral New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its first event of the year, a Caucus Luncheon in Concord, New Hampshire to discuss critical sportsmen’s policy issues at the Upham Walker House. The event was opened by Caucus Co-Chair and National Assembly of …
New Hampshire: Caucus Luncheon a Success, Despite Winter Storm Niko Read More »
On February 16, the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held its first meeting of the year, discussing upcoming Caucus priorities with representatives from a wide range of sportsmen’s groups. The Caucus also welcomed new Senate Co-Chairs, and thanked the outgoing Senate Co-Chairs for their leadership during the previous two legislative sessions. The newly announced Senate Co-Chairs …
Oregon: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Annual Breakfast Read More »
On February 16, the U.S. House of Representatives approved House Joint (H.J.) Resolution 69 with a bipartisan vote (225-193), which would nullify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule, “Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.” This final FWS rule contradicts the Alaska Department of Fish …
U.S. House Votes to Restore Alaska’s State Wildlife Management Authority Read More »
On February 9, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation welcomed Governor Jim Justice as the 28th member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC). Governor Justice joins a group of bipartisan governors from across the country who are dedicated to protecting and advancing hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping. “I am committed to protecting our state’s strong outdoor …
West Virginia: Governor Justice Joins Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
On February 7, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted a reception on Capitol Hill to welcome new and returning Members of Congress who discussed priorities for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) during the 115th Congress. Nearly 40 Members of Congress from both the House and Senate joined CSF partners and supporters, and focused on discussing …
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Leaders Welcome 115th Congress Read More »
On February 6, twenty-seven sportsmen’s conservation groups sent a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in support of House Joint Resolution 69, which would nullify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule, “Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in …
Introduced on February 1, Illinois House Bill 1771 (IL H 1771) would allow hunters to use a crossbow to harvest any game animal during the appropriate archery season. Currently, only hunters with a disability, and those ages 62 and older or 18 years and younger may use crossbows during archery season. Crossbows are currently allowed …
Illinois: Bill to Expand Crossbow Hunting Opportunities Introduced Read More »
The enrollment period for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) Cooperative Dove Field Program is open, and applications will be accepted through March 1. With approximately 95 percent of the land in Kentucky under private ownership, the Cooperative Dove Field Program provides opportunities for hunters that may not otherwise have access to …
Kentucky: Enrollment Open for Cooperative Dove Field Program Read More »
Recently at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Gulf Angler Focus Group (GAFG) presented a summary of its newly released report, which explores alternative management options for the recreational red snapper fishery. With only an 11-day federal season in 2016, management of this important recreational fishery has …
Management Options for Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper – A New Report Read More »
On February 8, the Montana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held a lunch briefing for legislators and sportsmen’s representatives, announcing the new Co-Chairs of the Caucus, as well as Caucus priorities for the 2017 session. Staff from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation presented on Caucus form and function, as well as provided a …
Montana: Sportsmen’s Caucus Holds Lunch to Discuss Sportsmen’s Priorities Read More »
By Andy Treharne, Western States Director, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Last summer, I had the good fortune of taking a wrong turn while driving from a conference in Jackson, Wyoming to my home on Colorado’s Front Range. I had stopped at a fly shop on Route 191 to ask for some advice about where I might …
Bad Directions, Wrong Turns and Wild Horses in Wyoming’s Red Desert Read More »
On January 30, Senator Tom Whatley, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Committee, pre-filed Senate Bill 29, which would authorize nonresident college students in Alabama to purchase a hunting or fishing license at the same cost as a resident, under certain conditions. Previously, Representative Tommy Hanes also pre-filed the same measure in the House …
Alabama: College Student Hunting and Angling Licenses Legislation Pre-Filed Read More »
In response to high public interest, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Phoenix District Office has announced that it will host two additional public information meetings, at which the BLM will accept comments on the proposed management alternatives for recreational shooting on the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM). The BLM released the Draft Target Shooting Plan …
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Honorary Board of Directors member Richard Childress was recently appointed as Honorary Chair of 2017 National Hunting and Fishing Day, which will take place on September 23. An avid sportsman who understands the contributions of hunters and anglers, Childress has been a dedicated supporter of CSF for over 10 years. National …
Multiple states in the Midwestern United States have recently been responding to new cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), while other states are working to prevent the reappearance of the disease in their deer herds. CWD is believed to spread by abnormal cellular proteins called prions, which can be transmitted directly from one animal to …
Midwest: New Cases of Chronic Wasting Disease Across the Region Read More »
On February 1, the Oregon State Legislature convened for the state’s 79th Annual Legislative Assembly. Among the bills introduced leading up to the start of the 2017 legislative session were a number of proposals meant to improve opportunities for Oregon’s hunters and anglers, including measures to expand hound hunting opportunities, create an adult mentored hunting …
Oregon: Sportsmen’s Bills Come Front and Center as Oregon Legislature Convenes Read More »
On January 31, the Pennsylvania Game Commission voted unanimously to approve the use of modern sporting rifles for hunting. The authorizing legislation (HB 263) was sponsored by Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Representative Matt Gabler, and was signed into law by Vice-Chair of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, Governor Tom Wolf. HB 263 authorizes the use …
Pennsylvania: Modern Sporting Rifles for Hunting Clears Second Hurdle Read More »
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) announced and welcomed Governor Steve Bullock of Montana and Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania as the new Democratic Co-Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC). Governors Bullock and Wolf join Governor Phil Bryant (MS) and Governor Matt Mead (WY), the respective Republican Co-Chair and Vice Chair of …
Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Welcomes Bipartisan Leadership Read More »
By Soren Nelson, Pacific Southwest States Coordinator, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation As the son of two conservation professionals, I grew up with a unique appreciation for what it takes to maintain the land and resources that so many sportsmen and women hold dear. It is easy to take for granted the pristine tracts of land that …
Supporting Your State Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
