Why it Matters: Throughout most of the Midwest, land is predominantly held in private ownership. While that does pose a challenge for those who are not fortunate enough to own, lease, or otherwise access these private lands, there are many sportsmen and women who rely solely on private access. However, despite facing less competition with …
Maximizing Opportunities for Sportsmen and Women on Private Lands Read More »
Why It Matters: With fall hunting seasons just beginning, North Carolina and South Carolina public land hunters may include hunting in their Sunday to-do list. Sunday hunting restrictions are blue laws that were originally enacted to encourage church attendance. Now, in both North Carolina and South Carolina, hunters can enjoy public land Sunday hunting opportunities. …
Expanding Public Land Sunday Hunting Opportunities in the Carolinas Read More »
Why it matters: With the fall turkey season right around the corner, and tag application periods open in most of the Great Plains States, it is important to keep yourself informed on the hunting regulations in the states you plan to hunt. Regulations on bag limits and the number of permits available can change from …
Fall Turkey Regulation Changes in the Great Plains Read More »
Why It Matters: California’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters have long played a vital role in funding conservation through various wildlife management efforts throughout the state. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user pays — public benefits” program, California’s sportsmen and women generate tens of millions of dollars each year for …
California Senate Could Vote on Firearm and Ammunition Tax Bill This Week Read More »
Why it Matters: With Fall semesters underway throughout the country, students within the sporting community will be looking to fields and forests for needed relief and downtime from their studies. On top of financial considerations for books, supplies, and semester credits, non-resident students may have to factor in out-of-state license fees in order to participate …
School’s Back in Session: The Case for Out-of-State Students Paying Resident Fees Read More »
Why It Matters: Generally reauthorized every five years, the United States Farm Bill represents one of the largest and most important pieces of legislation passed by Congress. Covering topics ranging from crop insurance to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Farm Bill’s provisions touch all Americans in one way or another. For sportsmen and women, …
The Top Items That Congress Should Include in the 2023 Farm Bill Read More »
Why It Matters: Archery in schools programs are an excellent opportunity for youth to be introduced to the sporting community. An estimated 14 million youth have benefitted from participation in archery in schools programs nationwide. Getting youth involved in archery in schools programs is an important hunter recruitment tool, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) …
Archery in Schools Programs – Valuable to Youth Introduction to the Sporting Community Read More »
Why It Matters: Early September often marks the return of year-round legislatures to their respective state capitols, and Lansing is no exception. Upon their return, Michigan legislators will be greeted with a handful of sporting bills – some that advance the interests of sportsmen and women, and some that do not. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation …
Michigan Legislature Returns to Session with Sporting Bills on the Docket Read More »
Why it matters: Hunter education, archery in schools, wilderness courses, and other outdoor focused school activities provide unmatched enrichment opportunities for students from all walks of life. These programs provide critical life skills for students and, according to teachers engaged with these programs, student participation has been correlated with improvements in academic performance, behavior, and school …
CSC, CSF Leaders Urge Department of Education to Revisit Hunter Education Interpretation Read More »
Why It Matters: Oregon’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters have long played a vital role in funding conservation and wildlife management efforts throughout the state. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user pays – public benefits” structure, Oregon’s sportsmen and women generate tens of millions of dollars each year for the …
Appeal Filed in Federal Lawsuit Over Oregon’s Measure 114 Read More »
Why It Matters: Who doesn’t love something at a free or discounted rate, especially when it comes to something that you greatly enjoy doing? Every year across the country, legislators take it upon themselves to attempt to provide certain groups with the opportunity to purchase free or discounted hunting and/or fishing licenses. While we can …
The Issue with Free and Discounted Hunting/Fishing Licenses Read More »
Why it Matters: Representing the first opportunities for wingshooters to tune up for the fall and winter, dove hunting seasons are a great time to get outdoors. As one of the more challenging bird hunting pursuits, dove hunting can be an enjoyable and challenging introduction to the outdoors. Be sure to check local regulations regarding …
Wingshooting Seasons Off to Fast (Flying) Start Next Week Read More »
Why It Matters: New Hampshire Fish and Game’s biennial rule making session took place earlier this year with many new proposals sent to and approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR). Included in the rules package are new opportunities for Granite State bear hunters. Beginning in 2024, bear hunters will now be …
Additional Opportunities for Bear Hunters Passed in New Hampshire Read More »
Why It Matters: California’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters have long played a vital role in funding conservation through various wildlife management efforts throughout the state. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user pays — public benefits” program, California’s sportsmen and women generate tens of millions of dollars each year for …
California Firearm and Ammunition Tax Could Soon Receive Senate Floor Vote Read More »
Why it matters: A recent discovery by the National Marine Fisheries Service that the current Marine Recreational Information Program is overestimating angler harvest, one of the key components needed for stock assessments and setting annual harvest quotas, creates significant challenges for fisheries managers and could hamper recreational angler access in the years ahead. While it …
CSF Seizes Opportunity for State Forward Fisheries Management at Gulf Council Meeting Read More »
Why It Matters: New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (NJDFW) is requesting the public’s help reporting potentially diseased deer within the Garden State. Wildlife managers ask that if you suspect a deer is diseased to report via the new Deer Disease Sighting Form (arcgis.com). This input is extremely valuable to the New Jersey Department …
New Jersey Rolls Out New Deer Disease Sighting Form Read More »
Why It Matters: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an always fatal neurologic disease caused by an environmentally resilient, infectious protein called a prion that infects both farmed and free ranging cervids. CWD was first discovered in Colorado during the late 1960s and was subsequently detected in wild deer in 1981. Although CWD was first detected …
Rules Proposed in North Carolina to Strengthen Protections Against CWD Read More »
Why it Matters: While the dog days of summer may not seem like the ideal time to be thinking about prescribed burning, actions taken now can set the stage for the use of prescribed fire later in the year. For land managers interested in improving wildlife habitat in many parts of the Lower Midwest, this …
Burning for You: The Role of Prescribed Fire Across the Lower Midwest Read More »
Why it Matters: Arguably the most important access program in the Farm Bill for sportsmen and women, the Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) has expanded public access to roughly a million acres of private lands across the nation. As one of the few Conservation Title programs that does not receive baseline funding, …
CSC Members Dingell and Johnson introduce VPA Improvement Act in the House Read More »
Why it matters: Federal fisheries management relies heavily on information about what was caught yesterday to predict how many fish can be caught tomorrow. The number of fish landed by the relatively few commercial fishermen can be counted dockside when they land and sell their fish. However, for millions of recreational anglers, the only way …
New Glitch with Federal Recreational Catch Data – Problematic or Promising? Read More »
Stay current with the latest news, policy activity and how to get involved.
Sign up for Newsletters
