Why It Matters: The 2022-2023 winter was hard on ungulate populations, especially mule deer herds in Southeastern Idaho. In fact, record levels of winterkill were recorded across the western states in 2023. One strategy being utilized to help these herds recover is a temporary closure of shed hunting in two Idaho regions as the state …
Shed Hunting Paused in Idaho to Protect Wintering Herds Read More »
Why It Matters: With declining wetland habitats, severe drought, increased predation, and other challenges, waterfowl populations are not as robust as waterfowl hunters and others would like to see. For example, mallard ducks are down 23% from their long-term average, a sign of the struggle associated with breeding success. However, there are well-established practices such …
HEN Act Would Boost Waterfowl Populations Across the Nation Read More »
Why It Matters: Introduced as a way to honor certain groups of people, often veterans, legislative efforts to provide free or discounted hunting or fishing licenses continue to crop up around the Midwest, and across the country. While seemingly a harmless way to thank those who served our country, discounted licenses are a double-edged sword …
The Oprah Effect: Even More Free or Discounted License Bills Proposed in the Midwest Read More »
Why It Matters: Introduced on January 3, 2024, New Hampshire House Bill (HB) 1148 seeks to amend the current process and prerequisites in which a Fish & Game Commissioner is nominated and approved. With the proposed changes to RSA 206:2 Appointment of Commission the nominating process would make nominees for an open seat public by …
Here We Go Again… NH Bill Seeks to Seat Non-Sporting Citizens to Board of Commissioners Read More »
Why It Matters: Hunting and fishing are integral components of many Southern states’ traditions. This is reflected in the legislature, where several states support firearm ownership and use, dedicated conservation funding, and several other pro-sportsmen measures to ensure that outdoor sporting traditions are protected for generations to come. However, there is still much more work …
Conservation Policy Trends We Expect to See Moving in the Southeast This Year Read More »
Why It Matters: For years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has collected recreation fees at most public-use facilities on Corps properties around the country, including boat ramps. Instead of using those fees for the upkeep or improvement of those boating access sites, the fees have been diverted to the general treasury of the …
Why It Matters: Legislation seeking to restrict is the lawful ownership and use of firearms is often eventually used as a vector of attack for issues more directly related to hunting, just as restrictions on hunting are often used as a vector of attack against firearms. Our issues are fundamentally intertwined, given that firearms of …
Anti-Gun Legislation to be Introduced in New Mexico Read More »
Why It Matters: While hunting and fishing license exemptions for qualified individuals or groups are well-intentioned, they threaten conservation funding for state fish and wildlife agencies through both the direct loss of license sales and the loss of matching federal funds through the Pittman-Robertson (PR) and Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux (DJ) Acts. State fish and wildlife agencies depend …
New Year, New Threats to Conservation Funding in Kentucky Read More »
Why It Matters: With hunter participation rates declining across the country, the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus enters 2024 with a partial fix on the docket: requiring that a model hunter safety course be created for schools to offer as an elective. Exposing students to firearm safety and hunting practices aims to recruit more young hunters …
Classroom to Crosshairs: Michigan Seeks to Include Hunter Safety in Education Curriculum Read More »
Why It Matters: The use of ballot initiatives to ban hunting and dictate wildlife management practices, circumventing the regulatory process that provides the opportunity for input by professionals, for revisions, and considerations of broader impacts within the Colorado’s overall science-based management plan. These initiatives can allow wildlife management decisions to be made based on emotion …
Second Ballot Initiative Filed in Colorado to Ban Mountain Lion and Bobcat Hunting Read More »
Why It Matters: Maryland State Senator Jack Bailey, representing the 29th Legislative District (Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties), was presented with the 2023 National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucus’ (NASC) Heritage Award for the Northeastern Region during the 20th Annual NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit held in Dewey Beach, DE from December 5-8, 2023. Sen. Bailey was recognized …
Why It Matters: Representing the interests of hunters and anglers of the Commonwealth at the Virginia General Assembly, Delegate Carr and Delegate Fowler bring over two decades of combined legislative experience to the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. Delegate Carr and Delegate Fowler’s commitment to protecting and advancing the interests of sportsmen and women will be …
New Sportsmen’s Caucus Leaders Added in Virginia Read More »
Why It Matters: As airguns and arrow-shooting airguns continue to gain popularity and pique the interest of sportsmen and women, state fish and wildlife agencies have begun exploring opportunities to allow their use for hunting. Following last year’s legislative efforts to authorize arrow-shooting airgun use during Oklahoma’s general firearms deer season, staff at the Oklahoma …
Why It Matters: On November 28, 2023, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted testimony in support of a suite of House and Senate Bills sent to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources that attempt to offer compromise Sunday Hunting roll backs to outright repeal of the ban . A suite of House …
Last Two States with Sunday Hunting Prohibitions See Cautious Optimism Read More »
Why it Matters: Across the Midwest, firearm deer hunting seasons are among the most anticipated hunting seasons every year. Due to both the timing of many rifle seasons in relation to the white-tailed deer rut and the opportunities that rifle hunting can afford, hunters across the country count down the days until they can hit …
Midwest Rifle Season Recap: Why We Love it and What Can We Learn? Read More »
Why it Matters: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Commission denied a petition to initiate rulemaking around wolf-livestock conflict at their meeting on October 28, 2023. Since that decision, petitioners filed an appeal with Governor Jay Inslee requesting that he overturn the commission’s decision by directing WDFW to initiate rulemaking. This exact process …
Why it matters: Our nation’s vast network of federal public lands and water provide significant recreational opportunities for America’s sportsmen and women. The EXPLORE Act recognizes the importance of federal public lands for sportsmen and women by seeking to increase public access, modernize public land visitation data, and conserve important water systems for anglers and …
House CSC Co-Chair Introduces Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Package Read More »
Why It Matters: Menhaden are a critical part of the coastal ecosystem serving as an important forage food for many recreationally important species such as redfish, speckled trout, and others. In recent months, there have been several confirmed instances of net spills by commercial menhaden vessels. These spills resulted in the wasting of approximately 850,000 …
LDWF Commission Aims to Push Commercial Menhaden Boats 1-Mile Off Louisiana Beaches Read More »
Why it Matters: The use of ballot initiatives to ban hunting circumvents the legislative and regulatory process that provides the opportunity for input by professionals, for revisions, and considerations of broader impacts within the Colorado’s overall science-based management plan. These initiatives can allow wildlife management decisions to be made based on emotion rather than scientific …
Why It Matters: Lack of access is one of the biggest issues facing sportsmen and women today and is reported as a primary reason that lapsed hunters and anglers no longer hunt or fish. Despite its relatively small size compared to other Southeastern states, South Carolina offers abundant access to public land hunting opportunities. With …
South Carolina Proposes New Public Land Hunting Opportunities Read More »
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