Why It Matters: Despite the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) being one of a handful of state fish and wildlife agencies whose authority is vested via the state’s Constitution, the agency’s budget is still subject to approval by the General Assembly. After adjourning their fiscal session without approving a budget for the AGFC, Governor …
Arkansas Governor Calls Special Session to Fund Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Read More »
Why It Matters: Many sportsmen and sportswomen head to the outdoors to get away from their phones and technology, so it can be easy to forget that technology has many benefits for, as well as impacts on, conservation efforts. From GIS mapping systems that will help improve sagebrush habitat, to debates over hunting and fishing …
Why It Matters: New York Assembly Bill 9862 (AB 9862) and Senate Bill 8479 (SB 8479) are headed to the Governor for signature. The enactment of this legislation will allow financial institutions to assign merchant category codes (MCC’s) to retailers who sell firearms and ammunition, thus allowing these financial institutions to potentially track and/or halt …
Merchant Category Code Legislation Heads to New York’s Governor’s Desk Read More »
Scuba diving oil platform HI A376A on 11Sep20 as part of a trip to the Flower Garden Banks NMS.
Several actions are underway to ensure that removal is just an option and that artificial reefing is also an option.
Gulf of Mexico’s rigs make great artificial reefs. Let’s keep that valuable fish habitat in the water.
Why It Matters: With the recent adjournment of the Louisiana State Legislature’s 2024 general session, there were several big wins for sportsmen and women in “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Governor Jeff Landry signed into law pro-sportsmen bills that protect conservation funding, allow for the use of dogs to track wounded deer, and expand protections against hunter/angler harassment on …
Why It Matters: Introduced on February 14, 2024, Connecticut House Bill 5114 (HB 5114) – An Act Establishing an Excise Tax on Ammunition to Provide Funding for Community Gun Violence and Intervention Program Grants, sought to establish an 11% excise tax on ammunition and dedicate funds towards a community gun violence intervention and prevention program. …
Connecticut Adjourns and Sin Tax Dies on the Vine Read More »
Why It Matters: Legislators, particularly those with a passion for our shared outdoor pursuits, are typically flooded each day with opposition to and attacks against the things they do. Events that bring sportsmen and women together with legislators to celebrate our hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting traditions in a positive environment are an effective way …
California Sportsmen’s Caucus Comes Together for Annual Trap Shoot Read More »
Why It Matters: Each year, state legislatures around the country introduce and consider bills that would hinder sportsmen and women from partaking in our time-honored outdoor traditions. Oftentimes, those bills would also interfere with state fish and wildlife agencies’ authority to follow science-based management principles. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) works to thwart the passage …
Bill to Ban Hunting Contests Fails to Pass as Illinois Legislature Adjourns Read More »
Why It Matters: One of the most difficult challenges with estimating recreational harvest is obtaining a reliable estimate of how many people are fishing for a given species over time. This difficulty was recently highlighted again when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced last summer that the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Fishing …
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – How Many People Caught the Fish? Read More »
In the hidden depths of California’s coastal waters, an overlooked world of marine life thrives beneath the shadow of towering oil rigs.
Why It Matters: Viewed as the deadliest stretch of Highway 26, the area from Stoney Point to the Wind River Reservation is currently a high priority for both the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD). During their May 21, 2024, retreat, the WGFD Commission approved an additional $500,000 in …
Wildlife Crossings Find Support With The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Read More »
Why It Matters: Preventing sedimentation in streams is critical to protecting habitat for trout and other aquatic organisms. Streams with less sedimentation have better water quality, and vegetated buffers provide shade that helps regulate water temperatures for trout and other cold-water species that require cool, well-oxygenated waters to survive. Better fish habitat supports healthier fisheries …
Trout Stream Buffer Legislation Pending Before the North Carolina Legislature Read More »
Why It Matters: Throughout many Midwestern states, much of the low-hanging fruit has already been enacted for the benefit of sportsmen and women. However, these successes do not mean that the sporting-conservation community should rest on our laurels, and we must remain vigilant to emergent threats to our time-honored outdoor traditions. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation …
Incredibly Quiet Legislative Session Adjourns in the Show-Me State Read More »
Why It Matters: At a time when technology continues to rapidly change the way in which Americans live, it is important that our outdoor traditions keep up with the times. Allowing hunters to have an electronic copy of their federal duck stamp on their smartphone for the entirety of the hunting season will bring the …
FWS Moves Quickly to Implement CSF Priority, Duck Stamp Modernization Act Read More »
Why It Matters: State legislative sportsmen’s caucus leaders along the Atlantic Coast understand the importance of protecting North Atlantic right whales (NARW) and fully support efforts to recover the species. However, a proposed rule regarding vessel speed reductions along much of the Atlantic seaboard will create significant access barriers for offshore anglers and boaters for …
Atlantic States Sportsmen’s Caucuses Offer Another Round of Thoughts on Whale Rule Read More »
Why It Matters: The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will soon be experiencing changes following the Governor’s signature on House Bill 2530, which impacts the appointment process for Commissioners. These changes come after the original language of HB 2530 was overhauled during Kansas’ veto session and replaced with the commission appointment language that was discussed …
Kansas Commission Restructuring Bill Signed by Governor Read More »
Why It Matters: After expiring last year, leaders in the House and Senate are making progress toward the next iteration of the legislation. Last week, the House Agriculture Committee held a markup for a Farm Bill led by Committee Chairman Congressman G.T. Thompson. This hearing marks an important step toward the development and passage of …
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