Why It Matters: As states look to appeal to new hunters, offering methods of take that are beginner-friendly can positively impact hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts. With the growing popularity of crossbows, hunters have the opportunity to pursue our time-honored traditions in an exciting manner while expanding access to novice and seasoned hunters alike …
Crossbows – Extending Opportunities and Providing Access Read More »
Why It Matters – As the 118th Congress enters the final sprint to the finish line, opportunities to pass legislation become increasingly challenging with each passing day. However, last week the House passed two important bills for sportsmen and women, natural resource conservation, and coastal fishing communities. The America Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act (S. 3791) …
ACE Reauthorization and FISHES Act Clear the House Read More »
Why It Matters: The well known “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) has allowed the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to be regarded as the most successful conservation framework in the world. The successful ASCF model can be attributed to a three-tiered funding system that include: …
Conservation Funding Receives Much Needed Boost in Tennessee Read More »
Why It Matters: State firearm preemption legislation ensures continuity in gun laws across a state and protect law-abiding gun owners from unreasonable restrictions adopted by local governments. These protections played an oversized role in keeping many firearm retailers open during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and, once again, are being cited in an …
Missouri County Passes Gun Ordinance, Creating a Challenge for Existing Preemption Laws Read More »
Why It Matters: Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and over 300 legislators, NGO partners, agency staff, allied industry representatives and other conservation professionals gathered together in Baton Rouge, LA for the 2024 NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit. The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast was on hand to talk with legislators, national and in-state partners, …
The Sportsmen’s Voice, NASC 2024 Podcast Sessions Read More »
Why It Matters: As Wyoming State Legislative Committees begin their transition from interim meetings to the 2025 session, new bills are being filed. These early bills can provide insight into the legislative focus for the coming session. Several of the bills filed recently by the joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee included recommended …
Prefiled Bills Give Glimpse into Wyoming’s 2025 Legislative Session Read More »
Why It Matters: The use of dogs is a deep-seated component of our hunting heritage. Naturally, this includes hunting for a variety of upland species and even larger game such as mountain lions and bears and, without dogs, sportsmen’s success afield would be severely limited for many types of hunting. Additionally, the use of tracking …
Petition Seeking to Ban Hunting with Hounds Filed in Arizona Read More »
Why It Matters: Encompassing roughly 179,000 acres, the Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) is a critical piece of public land that provides access for many sportsmen and women in south Florida. Establishing Wilderness designations within the BCNP would have negatively impacted science-based management practices to improve wildlife habitat as well as access to quality hunting …
Win for FL Sportsmen Included in Final Backcountry Access Plan for Big Cypress Read More »
Why It Matters: A new technology known as “the Firestick” has created a safer, more user-friendly and consistent platform for muzzleloader hunters. As muzzleloading seasons open in the Northeast in the coming weeks, hunters have more options on how to ethically and safely harvest from afield as technology advances, but in states like Massachusetts, Rhode …
New Technologies Require Modified Regulations: The Firestick in the Northeast Read More »
Why It Matters: Although victories may be secured during regular sessions, Governors in some states may call veto sessions, in which the legislature has the opportunity to pass additional priorities. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) successfully advocated against the passage of a bill in Illinois that would have prohibited hunters from organizing contests to take …
Hunting Tournaments Survive Illinois Veto Session Read More »
Why It Matters: Pennsylvania is the second largest state in hunting license sales in the country, yet it still widely restricts Sunday hunting opportunities for the sportsmen and women. Currently, there are only three (3) Sundays in which you may hunt game and there are very limited species that can be targeted. Senate Bill 67 …
Sunday Hunting Legislation in Pennsylvania Fails to Progress Read More »
Why It Matters: Poaching – the illegal take of game animals – stands as one of the greatest threats to the societal acceptance of hunting. Additionally, poaching is a major hurdle for professional, science-based wildlife management. Hunters and non-hunters alike should unite to enact proactive measures that strengthen punishments and incentivize reporting of those engaged …
Addressing Poacher Penalties and Fines – or the Lack Thereof Read More »
Why It Matters: The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission was directed by a recent decision out of the ninth circuit court of appeals to adjust wolf trapping seasons within the court-established geographic area. These changes are a result of the court finding that wolf trapping and snaring could pose a “reasonable risk” to ESA listed …
Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife management agencies are charged with collecting data and using what has been collected to carry out science-based management decisions in the best interest of the resource. Because hunting is the preferred management tool for white-tailed deer, this can mean expanded hunting opportunities in areas with larger deer populations: …
Easy “Does” it: New Five-Dollar Antlerless Season Offered in Southern Michigan Read More »
Why it Matters: The use of ballot initiatives, like Proposition 127, to ban hunting circumvents the legislative and regulatory process that provides the opportunity for input by professionals, for revisions, and considerations of broader impacts within Colorado’s overall science-based management plan. These initiatives can allow wildlife management decisions to be made based on emotion rather …
Rocky Mountain High, Colorado: Victory in the Fight Against Prop 127 Read More »
Why It Matters: Voters in Florida spoke loud and clear – hunting, fishing, and the harvesting of wildlife are rights that need to be protected within the Constitution of Florida. Nearly 7 million Floridians took a massive step and voted favorably on Amendment 2 to ensure that the time-honored sporting traditions of Floridians as well …
Why It Matters: Veteran’s Day celebrates and acknowledges our active duty, retired, and separated Veterans for their service to our great country. As an Active-Duty Veteran, the outdoors does play an important role in my life, and the lives of many of my fellow Veterans. One way our state legislatures and agencies show their appreciation …
Why It Matters: With the deer hunting season in full swing across the Great Plains, states like Iowa, Nebraska, and North Dakota are urging deer hunters to have their deer tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Occurring in deer, elk, caribou, and moose, CWD is an always fatal, degenerative neurological disease. Because the disease has …
Great Plains States Urge Hunters to Have Deer Tested for CWD Read More »
Why It Matters: Tomorrow, November 5, those who haven’t voted early or by mail will flock to the polls to have their voice heard on Election Day. As we have reported previously, Floridians can enshrine the right to hunt and fish within their state constitution by voting “yes” on Amendment 2. If Amendment 2 receives …
Election Day is Here – Vote Yes on Amendment 2 in Florida Read More »
Why It Matters: Despite the highest abundance of red snapper anyone has ever seen in the South Atlantic, the most recent stock assessments still consider the popular recreational and commercial fish “overfished and undergoing overfishing”. Because the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council) has not taken drastic action to end overfishing as defined …
NMFS Planning to Step on South Atlantic Council Regarding Red Snapper Management Read More »
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