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 »
Why It Matters: It is no secret that the Mid-Atlantic region (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) can be challenging when it comes to protecting and promoting our sporting heritage. IIn 2025 the region saw just about an equal number of pro-sportsmen’s bills (15.6%) and anti-sportsmen’s bills (16.8%). The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation continues to work with …
Legislative Sessions in the Mid-Atlantic States: What to Expect in 2026 Read More »
Why It Matters: Revenue generated by sportsmen and women purchasing their licenses and tags is the foundation of the American System of Conservation Funding. However, as years pass, the costs that state fish and wildlife agencies incur while carrying out their missions exceed the revenue generated from these license and tag purchases, and legislatures must …
Why It Matters: The National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Annual Sportsman-Legislator Summit, hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), is the only conference for state legislators dedicated to protecting and advancing pro hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and trapping policy. The NASC Summit provides an unmatched opportunity to connect with legislators, state fish and wildlife agency staff, sporting-conservation …
Why Should You Attend the 22nd Annual NASC Summit? Read More »
Why It Matters: Alaska’s Roosevelt elk population on Raspberry Island has rebounded to healthy levels, thanks to careful science-based management by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG). As a result of these successful conservation efforts, Alaska is now able to open a limited draw-only hunting opportunity for residents, balancing harvest with conservation to …
Conservation in Action: New Elk Hunting Opportunity Opens in Alaska Read More »
Why It Matters: July 11th and 12th marked the beginning, and the end, of the 2025 South Atlantic red snapper season. Unfortunately, anglers have been subjected to a federal management model in the South Atlantic that rewards a rapidly rebuilding red snapper population with few red snapper fishing opportunities. A decade ago, anglers faced a …
South Atlantic States Chart New Course for Red Snapper Management Read More »
Why It Matters: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Commission’s recent updates to hunting and fishing regulations aim to balance wildlife conservation with recreational opportunities. However, continued legislative restrictions on things like predator management threaten effective management of species like mule deer, which are declining due to both predation and habitat challenges. Highlights: …
Concerns Abound Following the Legislative Removal of Wildlife Management Tools in Oregon Read More »
Stay current with the latest news, policy activity and how to get involved.
Sign up for Newsletters
Receive latest legislation and regulation changes.
Sign Up For Legislative Alerts
