Why It Matters: There was no shortage of legislation impacting hunters and anglers in the Magnolia State during the 2023 legislative session. Everything from establishing a dedicated source of funding for the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, to codifying key tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, safeguarding Mississippi Department of Wildlife and …
Key Priorities Stall in Mississippi but Foundation Laid for 2024 Push Read More »
Why It Matters: Though license fees are often among the more affordable items needed to participate in many of our time-honored outdoor traditions, they are at times considered to be a barrier to participation. To alleviate some of these perceived hurdles, free fishing weekends are just one of the many opportunities afforded to those interested …
Why It Matters: The surge in fishing and hunting participation during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of our nation’s vast outdoors and abundant natural resources as an opportunity for Americans to reconnect with nature and improve mental and physical health. While most federal agencies responsible for managing our natural resources …
CSF Supported Bill to Create NOAA Youth Fishing Program Reintroduced Read More »
Why it Matters: The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has a tenured history in fighting against Sunday hunting prohibitions wherever they exist. In the northeast region, states including Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware continue to impose these restrictions – in their own unique ways – upon sportsmen and women. Being able to …
Sunday Hunting in the Northeast – Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs Read More »
Why It Matters: Nebraska’s 2023 legislative session provided many challenges as a near session-long filibuster ultimately blocked many proposed bills from being debated. Despite this hurdle, The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was successful in securing legislative victories that protect the investments in conservation made by sportsmen and women and provide greater resources for future conservation …
Victories Secured in the Cornhusker State Despite Gridlock Read More »
Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies have long been recognized as the primary and most respected managers of fish and wildlife in the United States. These agencies are staffed by trained professionals with backgrounds in a wide variety of expertise including law enforcement, land management, wildlife biology, human dimensions, and numerous other disciplines. …
Caucus Driven and Bi-Partisan Wolf Bill Vetoed in Colorado Read More »
Why It Matters: Allowing full-time nonresident college students to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate recognizes the financial realities facing students attending higher education out-of-state. Additionally, by taking this step, this furthers hunter and angler recruitment, retention and reactivation goals and balances the modest decline in conservating funding with the long-term gains …
Why It Matters: The recreational boating and fishing community understands the importance of protecting North Atlantic right whales and fully supports efforts to do so. However, a new proposed rule regarding vessel speed reductions along much of the Atlantic seaboard will have significant implications for offshore anglers and boaters at certain times of the year. …
House Subcommittee to Hold Oversight Hearing on Proposed Vessel Speed Rule Read More »
Why It Matters: The management of black bears – or lack thereof – in the northeast has made headlines over the past year. Connecticut garnered attention earlier this year when Senate Bill 1148 (S.B. 1148), legislation authorized the Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to adopt regulations that would establish an …
Connecticut: Missed Opportunity to Manage State’s Black Bears Read More »
Why It Matters: Protecting and maintaining access and opportunities for hunters and anglers while working to ensure that wildlife management decisions are guided by best available science is key to the mission of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Through CSF’s engagement at the Tennessee General Assembly during the 2022-2023 legislative session, numerous anti-sportsmen bills were …
Tennessee Legislative Session Recap – Important Wins for Sportsmen and Women 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 …
Firearm and Ammunition Tax Passes California Assembly, Moves to Senate Chamber Read More »
Why It Matters: The conclusion of legislative sessions across the Lower Midwest provides an opportunity to reflect on the victories for sportsmen and women secured this year while taking inventory of the remaining challenges and opportunities that await us in the future. While the region did witness significant wins, thanks to the work of like-minded …
Lower Midwest Legislative Sessions Adjourn, CSF Celebrates Victories, Prepares for 2024 Read More »
Why It Matters: Just as they are in the Gulf of Mexico, red snapper are an extremely popular reef fish in the South Atlantic. Unfortunately, the population has been subject to overfishing and is currently under a rebuilding plan. Ironically, as the population has rapidly rebuilt, anglers get only a couple of days each year …
Another Two-Day Red Snapper Season in the South Atlantic, Despite Historic Numbers Read More »
Why It Matters: Representative Bauer stepping into the leadership role as a Caucus Chair of the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) is important for the Caucus’s continued strength, especially for the representation of South Carolina’s sportswomen. The Palmetto State provides hunters and anglers with a wide array of sporting opportunities in a diversity of …
New Caucus Co-Chair in South Carolina Making Strides for Sporting Community Read More »
Why It Matters: When the global “30×30” initiative to protect 30% of a nation’s lands and waters began to gather steam in the U.S., the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) led a coalition of hunting and fishing conservation organizations to help guide the initiative towards meaningful conservation efforts that build upon our past successes. Fortunately, the …
Why It Matters: Oregon’s law-abiding hunters and 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 Oregon Department of …
Why It Matters: In July 2021, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter of support with recommendations to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) relative to the originally proposed Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) Recreational Hunting and Fishing Plan. To the hunting conservation community’s surprise, the final plan …
Why It Matters: In policymaking, omnibus legislation is the result of compromise between legislators from different parties and the legislative chambers advocation for a wide range of priorities. As Minnesota legislators negotiated the final version of the natural resource omnibus bill, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) remained engaged with legislators to ensure that the best …
Minnesota Legislative Session Closes with Major Victories for Sportsmen and Women Read More »
A broad coalition of hunting and conservation organizations applauded Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo for vetoing a bill that would have hindered thousands of Nevada’s youth hunters from safely using shotguns and rifles commonly used in hunting. On May 17th, Gov. Lombardo vetoed Assembly Bill 355, which would have prohibited anyone under the age of 21 …
Outdoor Coalition Applauds Gov. Lombardo for Supporting Youth Hunters Read More »
Why It Matters: For over 85 years, sportsmen and women have played a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in the United States through the American System of Conservation Funding. They have risen to the occasion in financially supporting their respective state fish and wildlife agencies, and on occasion, agreeing to license fee increases that …
Much Needed License Fee Increases – There’s Nothing Fishy About Them Read More »
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