Why It Matters: While often well-intended, bills that seek to offer no cost or discounted licenses to certain demographics can negatively impact the ability of state fish and wildlife departments to manage their state’s public trust fish and wildlife resources. Given the potential impacts that such efforts can have on the American System of Conservation …
Why It Matters: The funds that are being distributed by the Department of the Interior are generated entirely by sportsmen and women through the purchases of firearms, ammunition, fishing tackle, and motorboat fuel. For over 80 years, sportsmen and women have played an integral and unique role in providing the vast majority of conservation funding …
$1.6 Billion of Sportsmen and Women Generated Funding Announced by DOI Read More »
Why It Matters: Healthy coastal habitats are important for many recreationally important species like striped bass and red snapper. Many of our coastal areas are increasingly challenged by environmental factors such as warming water temperatures, rising sea levels, and storm surge due to anthropogenic impacts caused by leveeing rivers and reducing sediment flows to our …
CSF, Partners Express Support for Important Coastal Conservation Effort Read More »
Why It Matters: Legislation pertaining to the ownership and possession of firearms continues to be a popular topic throughout the Midwest, and around the country. CSF continues to engage on both pro and anti-sportsmen legislation pertaining to firearms. Given both the importance of firearms to many outdoor pursuits, as well as their critical role in …
Why it Matters: Sportsmen and women play an integral and unique role in providing the majority of state-level conservation funding in the United States through the American System of Conservation Funding. Since the inception of this System, state fish and wildlife agencies have received over $71 billion from sportsmen and women nationwide. As the primary …
Why It Matters: (1) The TWRA is tasked with conserving Tennessee’s fish and wildlife, and HB 265 directly threatens their efforts to manage the state’s deer and elk herds by combating Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). (2) Trotlines have been utilized by fishermen for subsistence and recreational purposes for generations, and instances where trotlines have caused …
CSF Weighs in on Numerous Hot Button Bills in Tennessee Read More »
Why It Matters: Together, both bills would bring about significant benefits to Maryland’s sporting communities. For the past 34 years, hunting and trapping license fees have gone unadjusted in Maryland. House Bill 983 would allow sportsmen and women to continue their historic role of stepping up to the plate and supporting conservation funding within their …
In Maryland, CSF Testified on Behalf of Sportsmen and Women Read More »
Why It Matters: Trapping is unique in that it can be used for predator and furbearer management, harvest, to maintain healthy ecosystems, manage invasive species, and can also be used to capture live wildlife for research and management purposes. Restraining traps have been particularly critical in conservation efforts by allowing state agencies to capture and …
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 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. Fortunately, …
CSF Supports Funding for Whale Monitoring as a Solution Read More »
Why It Matters: As efforts to undermine the ability of sportsmen and women continue across the US, constitutional amendments protecting the right to hunt, fish, and trap represent one of the strongest assurances that our time-honored outdoor traditions will remain available. As additional states seek to explore these protections, it is critical that the entire …
Proposed Right to Hunt, Fish, and Trap Constitutional Amendment on the Move in Iowa Read More »
Why It Matters: Removing barriers to hunting participation, like Blue Laws with no basis in wildlife management that prohibit hunting on Sunday, is critical to supporting hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts and putting hunters on an equal access playing field with other public land user-groups that are not prohibited from engaging in their recreational pursuits on …
Public Lands Sunday Hunting Resolution Introduced in South Carolina Read More »
Why It Matters: Wild horses (i.e., feral horses, unauthorized livestock etc.) and burros have long been a symbol of the American West, receiving protection from Congress in 1971 under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. Under this Act, wild horses and burros were to be maintained in a manner that produces a “thriving ecological …
Why It Matters: For over 80 years, hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooters have played a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in the United States through the American System of Conservation Funding (System). Specific to New Mexico, 98% of the Department of Game and Fish’s budget comes from sportsmen’s dollars (to the tune of over $45 …
Tensions Build as New Mexico’s 60-Day Session Reaches the Halfway Point Read More »
Why It Matters: HB 999 would establish a dedicated source of revenue for the Fund by dedicating sales tax on outdoor gear under the North American Industry Classification System Tax Code Section 451110. This added security in funding through 2025 would enhance the Fund’s capability to contribute to projects benefiting fish and wildlife, their habitats, and opportunities …
CSF Submits Comments in Support of Dedicated Conservation Funding in Mississippi Read More »
Why It Matters: Beginning during the 2021-22 hunting season, a pilot program was implemented in New York, allowing counties to authorize mentored deer hunting for 12 and 13-year-olds. The overwhelming acceptance of this program brings New York’s hunting age in line with most other states in the country. The success of that first year was …
Second Year of Empire-Sized Success for New York’s Mentored Hunting Pilot Program Read More »
Why It Matters: Legislation that restricts sportsmen and women from sharing in the enjoyment of our outdoor pastimes are a threat to the longevity of hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and trapping. The basic ability to exchange ammunition between fellow hunters and recreational shooters must be protected, and CSF will continue to oppose this bill. Highlights: …
CSF Opposes Illinois Bill That Would Prohibit the Transfer of Ammunition Read More »
Why It Matters: Healthy coastal habitats are important for many recreationally important species like striped bass and red snapper. Many of our coastal areas are increasingly challenged by environmental factors such as warming water temperatures, rising sea levels, and storm surge to anthropogenic impacts caused by leveeing rivers and reducing sediment flows to our marshes. …
CSF-Supported Coastal Habitat Bills Back on the Table in the 118th Read More »
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 …
Measure 114 Remains on Hold in Oregon; Federal Lawsuit Still Underway Read More »
Why It Matters: In New Jersey, the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Council serve as the premier experts on all matters relative to fish, wildlife, and their habitats. For over half of a decade, New Jersey’s Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy (CBBMP) has lapsed due to political obstructionism. The …
Sportsmen’s Organizations Rally to Support Black Bear Hunting in New Jersey Read More »
Why It Matters: As state legislatures continue to consider a variety of legislation across the nation, CSF remains engaged to protect and advance our outdoor sporting traditions. Recently, such engagement ranges from supporting efforts to promote the safe and responsible handling of firearms and participation in hunter education courses, to protecting the management authority and …
Action Packed Sessions Continue Across Lower Midwest Read More »
