On May 22, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor John Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 226 into law, making Colorado the 38th state to authorize the adoption of an apprentice hunting program based on the Families Afield™ model. When fully implemented, Senate Bill 226 will allow individuals, age 10 and up, to hunt under the supervision of …
On May 29, 32 national pro-sportsmen’s organizations, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), sent formal comments to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on the proposed management plan for recreational shooting in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests (ARNF) in Colorado. The comments respond to a USFS press release issued on May 4, announcing the beginning of …
Conservation Groups Comment on Management Plan for Colorado Recreational Shooting Read More »
On June 1, the 78th Nevada Legislature came to a close, with a number of pro-sportsmen bills receiving significant attention during the session. One major victory for Nevada’s sportsmen and women during the 2015 session was the passage of Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 11. The bill, introduced by Nevada Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Scott Hammond, …
On June 2, Parliamentarians from across Canada and spanning all parties gathered in Stittsville, Ontario for the 4th Annual Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus Shooting Day. With approximately 60 Members of the Parliament (MP) in attendance, along with many of their senior staffers, the event served as a forum for MPs to discuss conservation and economic benefits …
Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus Hosts 4th Annual Shooting Day at the Range Read More »
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to announce the addition of the bipartisan South Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus – Chaired by Senators Scott Parsley and Gary Cammack, and Representatives Lee Schoenbeck and Spencer Hawley – to the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC). With the addition of South Dakota, the NASC network now includes …
South Dakota Becomes 47th State to Join the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Read More »
On June 8, the West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their inaugural meeting at the statehouse in Charleston, WV. The recently formed caucus joined the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC), becoming the 46th state to establish a legislative caucus since NASC was founded in 2004. The informal breakfast meeting served as an opportunity for …
West Virginia Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Inaugural Meeting in Charleston Read More »
On June 10, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members gathered to discuss the recently introduced “Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act” of 2015 (H.R. 2406) – a comprehensive sportsmen’s package similar to the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 (S. 405), which was introduced in the Senate in February. The “Comprehensive Sportsmen’s Packages in the House …
CSF Hosts Briefing on Comprehensive Sportsmen’s Packages Read More »
Please call your Natural Resource Committee Members, and ask them to vote ‘yes’ on H.R. 2647 on Thursday, June 11. On Thursday, June 11, the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee will vote on H.R. 2647, the “Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015.” Introduced by Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR), this legislation will improve forest management …
LEGISLATIVE ALERT: House Natural Resources to Vote on Forest Health Bill Read More »
Recreational Boating and Fishing Community Strongly Objects to Fishing Closure On June 5, the National Park Service announced its final General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park. Despite commitments made by Biscayne National Park officials to work with stakeholders and the state of Florida to explore less restrictive options, the GMP includes a marine …
On June 3, the Connecticut Senate approved legislation that would allow Sunday archery hunting for deer on private lands in the Constitution State. Championed throughout the process by the Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, HB 6034 now heads to the Governor for his consideration. The Sunday hunting ban in Connecticut originated from the American colonial era …
Sunday Hunting Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk in Connecticut Read More »
Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization contains major provisions benefitting recreational fishing June 2, 2015 (Washington, DC) – A coalition of organizations representing the saltwater recreational fishing and boating community congratulated the U.S. House of Representatives on its passage of H.R. 1335, a bill to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the primary statute governing the nation’s …
Recreational Saltwater Fishing Coalition Lauds House Legislation Read More »
On May 20, S.1315, the Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2015 (KOPA), introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Senator Mike Enzi (WY) cleared a major hurdle, passing through the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee with bipartisan support. The legislation was voted out of the Commerce Committee and would ensure that any law-abiding citizen …
Knife Owners’ Protection Act Clears Major Hurdle in Senate Read More »
On May 20, the Texas State House of Representatives passed SJR 22 – a constitutional amendment that would protect hunting and fishing in the Texas Bill of Rights. The amendment, after passing both chambers of the Texas State Legislature, will now be placed on the November 3 ballot to be ratified by the state’s voters. …
On May 19, House Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) leadership introduced the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2015 (H.R. 2406), aimed “to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting, and for other purposes.” Introduced by CSC Co-Chairs Congressmen Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Tim Walz (D-MN), and CSC Vice-Chairs Congressmen Jeff …
House Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Leadership Introduces Sportsmen’s Package Read More »
Recently, Governors Earl Ray Tomblin (D-WV) and Terry Branstad (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), issued a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), strongly supporting the agency’s decision on March 10, to table a recent framework that would have banned one of the most commonly used rounds …
Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Comment on Proposed BATFE Ammunition Ban Read More »
On April 29, the Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a Sportsmen’s Caucus Reception in Augusta, Maine at the Governor Hill Mansion. Over two dozen Maine legislators gathered with partners from the sportsmen’s community to discuss the importance of hunting and angling to Maine’s heritage, economy, and for the conservation of critical fish and wildlife habitat …
Previously, Maryland law – unlike federal law – did not require criminal intent as a condition of violating the state’s migratory bird baiting law. In Maryland, as in many states, baiting for deer is legal, while baiting for waterfowl is illegal. Under the previous law, individuals could have been charged with baiting for waterfowl simply …
Maryland Reforms Waterfowl Baiting Law, Repeals “Strict Liability” Doctrine Read More »
Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Spring Shoot, Wild Game Dinner, and Breakfast Briefing
The Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus kicked off the month of May with a blast by holding a spring shoot and wild game dinner at the Capitol Area Sportsmen’s League on May 6. Over 30 Caucus members were joined at the range by representatives from nearly 20 sportsmen’s groups, as well as staff members from the …
Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently announced a permanent funding solution for three regional trout hatcheries in Tennessee and Georgia. Previously only fully funded through 2016, Tennessee’s Erwin National Fish Hatchery and Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, as well as Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery …
Three Southeastern Federal Fish Hatcheries Receive Permanent Funding Read More »
On May 12, 35 Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) joined the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and representatives from the sportsmen’s community at Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet Center in Glenn Dale, Maryland, for a friendly competition of shooting rounds of trap, skeet and sporting clays. “Members of the CSC are committed to …
