Why It Matters: Poaching – the illegal take of game – stands in the way of professional science-based wildlife management and remains among the greatest threats to the social acceptance of hunting. Proactive measures to increase penalties for those found guilty of poaching would disincentivize bad actors from interfering with science-based wildlife management and would …
Legislation to Increase Poaching Penalties and Fines Introduced in Tennessee Read More »
Why It Matters: Success of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is dependent on coordination amongst federal and state wildlife managers, landowners, and others that have a vested stake in the recovery of a listed species. One of the most pressing challenges with the ESA is failing to delist a species from federal management and return …
FWS Announces Grizzly Listing and Management Proposal Read More »
Why It Matters: Science-based fisheries management and access to our fisheries have always been at the center of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) mission. In both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, sharks are increasingly intercepting fish being landed by recreational and commercial fishermen, creating frustration for anglers and challenges for fisheries sustainability. …
Bill To Resolve Conflicts Between Sharks and Anglers Reintroduced Read More »
Why It Matters: Thanks to the conservation management efforts of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and their partners, the Louisiana black bear’s population has rebounded to feature a harvestable surplus – resulting in one of the greatest conservation success stories in the South. The 2024 Louisiana bear hunting season, which ran from Dec. …
2024 Louisiana Black Bear Season Ends in Success Read More »
Why It Matters: North Dakota’s 2025 legislative session has begun and a bill was promptly introduced that would prohibit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department from adopting or implementing policies on baiting, or supplemental feeding, for hunting big game animals on private land. State fish and wildlife agencies have long been recognized as the …
Why It Matters: On January 8, 2025, New Hampshire House Bill 211 (HB 211) Air Rifles for Hunting Game, was introduced in the House Fish and Game and Marine Resource Committee. In its current form (while a positive step) HB 211 lacks sufficient language to account for conservation funding participation via the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration …
Why It Matters: The U.S. Forest Service faces several issues going into 2025, including, among others, a workforce challenge, a budget shortfall, and more than 117 million acres of fire-prone forests in need of restoration. The withdrawal of the National Old-Growth Amendment, which the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) strongly supports, avoids further distracting the agency …
U.S. Forest Service Withdraws National Old-Growth Amendment Read More »
Why It Matters: The success experienced by the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) since its inception in 2006, when they also joined the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC,) is largely due to a history of strong leadership coupled with steadfast support from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Featuring well over 100 members of the Mississippi Legislature, …
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Elects Leadership Read More »
Why It Matters: Without these important protections, hunters and recreational shooters in Ohio could have been subject to discrimination by financial or anti-sportsmen organizations or could face unnecessary costs on top of those already shouldered by hunters through the American System of Conservation Funding, which would likely deter participation and decrease critical conservation funding. Highlights: …
Firearm Privacy Legislation Sent to Ohio Governor’s Desk Read More »
Why It Matters: Suppressors are a common tool used by hunters and recreational shooters to protect their hearing, be respectful of others around them, and, in many cases, increase the accuracy of their firearms while simultaneously reducing recoil This has the added benefit of making each shot safer, and helping to ensure a clean harvest …
Why It Matters: As the election year frenzy has settled down over the holiday season, legislative bodies are swearing in new members and choosing chairs and leaders of committees. Although voting numbers seem to be increasing, a historical trend of hunters not voting exists. Some sources prior to the 2024 election were reporting that there …
Why It Matters: After more than two decades of work, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, a bipartisan effort to reduce burdensome roadblocks to restoring mine sites that can pollute streams, is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The passage of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock …
CSF Priority to Clean Up Abandoned Mines Heads to President’s Desk Read More »
Why It Matters: With an estimated 7.5 million anglers who pursue Atlantic striped bass, it is the most economically and culturally important recreational fish species from North Carolina to Maine. It is vitally important to communities along the mid and upper Atlantic Seaboard that striped bass are sustainably managed for abundance and access by the …
Atlantic Striped Bass on Rebuilding Trajectory, But Is It Fast Enough? Read More »
Why It Matters: It is no secret that the Mid-Atlantic region (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) plays an important role in our outdoor heritage. However, with the region also presents many challenges for sportsmen and women, conservation efforts generally. As 2024 ends, we can look back at the successes that are attributed to a strong …
Why It Matters: As the Washington State 2025 legislative session nears, we are anticipating that several anti-gun bills will be revisited. Previous sponsors of Washington House Bill 1902 have demonstrated public support for renewing a “permit to purchase” bill that failed in 2024. Bills like this place unnecessary burdens on local police departments, legal hunters …
Renewal of Anti-Firearms Legislation Anticipated for the 2025 WA Legislative Session Read More »
Why It Matters: Michigan students that otherwise may have never been exposed to our time-honored outdoor traditions could soon sign up for an important elective: hunter education. Counting as both a credit towards graduation and the classroom requirement to obtain a Michigan hunting license, this standardized course stands to create lifelong hunters to join us …
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 »
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