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 »
Why It Matters: With white-tailed deer hunters around the country already enjoying, or looking forward to the fast approaching, rut, now is an excellent time to celebrate the role of hunters as some of America’s most passionate conservationists. However, the contributions of sportsmen and sportswomen do not end with conservation funding and wildlife population management. …
Hunters’ Harvest: Sharing the Rewards of our Efforts this Season Read More »
Why It Matters: If they are left unmanaged, axis deer populations can grow to unsustainable rates on Maui Nui, harming the local watersheds and native wildlife and their habitat. Maui Nui, consisting of the Maui County islands of Maui, Lana’l, Moloka’I and Kaho’olawe, has experienced large populations of axis deer leading to several emergency proclamations …
Why It Matters: On Tuesday, October 22nd, the Pennsylvania State Senate voted 47-3 to send House Bill 1409 (HB 1409) to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk. HB 1409 (sponsored by Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member and Chair of the House Fish & Game Committee, Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik) extends the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s (PFBC) Board …
Pennsylvania Fishing License Fee Bill is Headed to Governor Shapiro’s Desk Read More »
Why It Matters: Advancement in muzzleloading technology has created a modern iteration of the classic firearm with enhanced safety and reliability without sacrificing the characteristics that have defined muzzleloader hunting for hundreds of years. Wisconsin recently passed legislation that will allow hunters in the Badger State to use this updated technology during the 2024 season, …
Welcome to the Smoke Show: Wisconsin Muzzleloader Definition Updated Read More »
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