Why It Matters: On October 21, 2025, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hearing featuring 55 bills, many of which would have a substantial impact on sportsmen and women’s access and opportunities, both in potentially good and bad ways. At least six bills addressed opening Sunday Hunting, multiple bills want …
Massachusetts Hearing Buries Major Conservation Issues Read More »
Why It Matters: Through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses and tags, sportsmen and women provide the foundation for the American System of Conservation Funding. However, over time, the operational costs of state fish and wildlife agencies can exceed the revenue generated from these license and tag purchases, and legislatures must sometimes revisit the …
Michigan License Reimbursement & Fee Update Clears Senate Floor Read More »
Why It Matters: Access to America’s public lands and waters are key to passing along our time-honored traditions to the next generation. After all, it is the hunters and anglers of tomorrow that will shoulder the responsibility of funding conservation through the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding …
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) announced today that Kaylee Mortensen has joined the organization as the Southwestern States Coordinator. In this role, Kaylee will work closely with the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses under the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) and members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah …
CSF Welcomes New Southwestern States Coordinator Read More »
Why It Matters: The recent renovations at the Hank Harmon Public Shooting Range in Juneau exemplify the enduring impact of sportsmen and women’s contributions through the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) – a “user pays-public benefits” model that has fueled wildlife conservation for over 85 years. By channeling excise taxes from sporting goods and …
Why It Matters –A recent Presidential Executive Order provided a formal opportunity for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and others to weigh in on how we can better manage our marine recreational fisheries. Highlights: 1 million marine recreational anglers support 691,565 jobs and annually contribute $138 billion in sales impacts to the U.S. economy. Recreational fishing …
CSF and Recreational Fishing Community Weigh in on Seafood E.O. Read More »
Why It Matters: The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission’s October 9, 2025, virtual meeting addressed current threats to wildlife health, habitat integrity, and hunting season frameworks. These decisions directly influence hunting opportunities, population sustainability, and access for sportsmen and women across the state. By prioritizing science-based adjustments and public input, the Commission reinforces Montana’s commitment …
Why it Matters: Across the Great Plains region, one of the most anticipated fall hunting seasons is opening soon. Pheasants stand as one of the most popular birds hunted in the Great Plains and offer opportunities for groups to get out and hunt together. However, the pheasant hunting season could have looked substantially different in …
Great Plains Hunters Gear Up as Pheasant Season Takes Flight Read More »
Why It Matters: The South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) works diligently throughout the year to engage Caucus members with the sporting-conservation community. The bipartisan Caucus works under the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) umbrella that serves to protect and advance our hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting sports in South Carolina. Whether it’s policy …
SC Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Successful Annual Southern Sporting Classic Read More »
Why It Matters: One of the last lines of defense against attempts to undermine our time-honored outdoor traditions is located on a Governor’s desk. This is why the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) is a critical component of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) three-pronged approach to our mission. By joining the GSC, Governor Josh Shapiro demonstrates …
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Joins the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
Why It Matters: Voluntary conservation agreements are valuable tools for conserving private working forests that support fish and wildlife habitat. Combined, both phases of the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement conserves more than 85,000 acres where sustainable forest management will continue to benefit forest health, wildlife habitat, and the economy. Notably and not common for …
CSF-Supported Conservation Easement on Large Working Forest in Montana Approved Read More »
Why It Matters: The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Game Management Advisory Commission (GMAC) plays a pivotal role in shaping policies that balance wildlife conservation with recreational hunting opportunities. As Hawaii grapples with ever-increasing ungulate populations and their impacts on native ecosystems, the Commission’s recent discussions highlight the need for data-driven, science-based …
Advancing Sustainable Game Management: Insights from Hawaii’s GMAC Meeting Read More »
Why It Matters: Louisiana and Florida are two of the most recent states to re-establish hunting seasons on black bears. While hunters cannot just go and buy tags or permits over the counter, they are throwing their names into the proverbial hat (lottery system) in hopes of drawing tags. Hunters are not the only ones …
Black Bear Seasons Generating Valuable Conservation Funding in Florida and Louisiana Read More »
Why It Matters: Opportunities for public engagement with state fish and wildlife agencies and commissions is an often-underappreciated part of wildlife management. During public comment periods, professionally trained biologists balance on-the-ground information on wildlife habitat and populations with the desires of the public that such agencies serve. Together, this system allows state agencies to communicate …
Why It Matters: In the Northeast, regulated trapping isn’t just a pursuit— it is an essential wildlife management tool that ensures that furbearer populations thrive in balance with their habitats and other wildlife species. With regulated trapping season kicking off across Northern New England for species like red and gray fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, coyote, …
Drought Impacts the Unsung Hero of Wildlife Conservation in Northern New England Read More »
Why It Matters: On September 29th, 2025, H 3082– an act establishing an excise tax on guns and ammunition was heard by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue. This proposed law would add a 4.75% excise tax on firearms and ammunition to explicitly fund “community-based public health interventions and research to prevent gun violence; and …
Massachusetts Hears Bill to Add Excise Taxes to Firearms and Ammunition Read More »
Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women in Tennessee and around the country continue to step up to the plate to fund professional, science-based fish and wildlife management. Dubbed the original conservationists, hunters and anglers provide the vast majority of conservation funding in North America through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the …
CSF Advocating for Dedicated Conservation Funding in Tennessee Read More »
Why It Matters: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has launched a critical public comment period for shaping the state’s 2027-2029 hunting seasons, offering sportsmen and women a direct voice in regulations that affect everything from bag limits to access on public lands. This three-year cycle ensures sustainable game populations while maximizing hunting …
Public Comment Opens for WA 3-Year Hunting Season Setting Read More »
Why It Matters: With more than 7 million anglers pursuing 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 angling …
Challenges With Striped Bass Data and Timelines Could Unnecessarily Punish Anglers Read More »
Why It Matters: Although hunters are at home in the field or woods, they must still be aware of what happens in the halls of their state government. Changes and updates to hunting laws and regulations can impact the pursuit of sportsmen and women’s favorite species, and hunters must stay on top of those changes …
Expanded Opportunities Available to Great Lakes Hunters this Season Read More »
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