Contact: Bob Matthews, Senior Coordinator, Upper Midwestern States Why It Matters: Modern night-vision scopes and binoculars produce clear images that allow hunters to reliably identify targets. Although South Dakotans were already permitted to hunt predators on public lands at night, they were not permitted to use night-vision devices, which hindered their ability to hunt predators …
Predator Hunting Will Soon Be Safer and More Effective in South Dakota Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Why It Matters: The passage of HB 762 and HB 406 positions Louisiana to establish a new conservation funding source where the state could leverage significantly more federal funds to implement conservation programs that benefit fish and wildlife resources. Expanding methods of take through the passage of HB 422 allows …
2022 Session Highlights for “Sportsman’s Paradise” Read More »
Why it matters: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the top federal agency dedicated to conserving our nation’s fish, wildlife, and their associated habitats. The Service also supports more than 2.4 million hunting related visits and 7.3 million fishing visits annually, marking the Service one of the most important federal land management agencies for …
2022 – 2023 Hunt Fish Rule, Mixed Bag for Sportsmen and Women Read More »
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Manager Pacific States and Firearm Policy Why It Matters: Wild horse and burro management is critical to conserving public lands, vegetation, and riparian areas. Overpopulation causes severe damage to the ecosystems and habitat upon which the horses rely, along with other wildlife and fish populations. Existing water and vegetation resources cannot sustain …
Contact: Robert Matthews, Senior Coordinator, Upper Midwestern States Why It Matters: Because state natural resource agencies rely, in part, on anglers for funding, it is imperative that states create initiatives that are focused on strengthening and growing their angler-base. Free fishing weekends offer an opportunity for people that have never picked up a pole to …
Free Fishing Days Are a Worthwhile Investment That Can Create Lifelong Anglers Read More »
Contact: Joe Bachar, New England States Coordinator Why it Matters: Dogs play an integral role in many of our nation’s sporting pursuits. From hunting-related traditions, such as tracking big game, pointing, flushing, and retrieving downed fowl, to competing in a variety of field trials across the country, our four-legged friends play an irreplaceable part in …
Massachusetts Municipalities to Potentially Limit Number of Dogs Owned Read More »
Why it matters: The anticipated House vote this week represents the first time the House has held a floor vote on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act as an individual bill. Importantly, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act includes a permanent and dedicated funding structure, a critical mechanism to promote on-the-ground species conservation efforts and to provide more …
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, Top CSF Priority Set to Receive Vote in U.S. House Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, Manager, Northeastern States Why it Matters: Firearm suppressors are often referred to as the hearing protection of the 21st Century. Vermont acknowledged this in 2015 when it authorized their ownership and authorized their use at firing ranges. Thanks to the recent signing of S. 281, they will now also be legal to …
A Decade in the Making: Vermont Gains Right to use Suppressors While Hunting Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Why It Matters: The passage of HB 762 positions Louisiana to establish a new conservation funding source where the state could leverage significantly more federal funds to implement conservation programs that benefit fish and wildlife resources and by extension, the sportsmen and women who enjoy the “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Counties, municipalities, state …
Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program Advances to Governor’s Office Read More »
Why it matters: The announcement of a request for proposals from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation marks one of the most significant steps that the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to advance the America the Beautiful Initiative. Closely tied to the global Thirty-by-Thirty (30×30) initiative which seeks to protect 30% of lands and waters by …
NFWF Announces Request for Proposals to Advance the America the Beautiful Challenge Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Assistant Manager, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Why It Matters: After months of legislative work across the region, the 2022 regular sessions have adjourned in the Lower Midwest. While the sportsmen’s community is able to celebrate many victories, there is still much more work to be done as we seek to …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States, Assistant Manager Why it Matters: Airguns are a tempting option for hunters and recreational shooters as they are considered to be “hearing safe,” producing less than 140 dB of sound when fired. Despite continued advancement in airgun technology, regulations surrounding the use of airguns vary significantly from state to state. …
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Manager, Pacific States and Firearm Policy Why It Matters: Oregon’s hunters, anglers, and trappers 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 …
CSF Submits Comments on New Initiative to End Hunting, Fishing and Trapping in Oregon Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Assistant Manager, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Why it matters: Thanks to advancements in shotshell technologies, smaller bore shotguns have become an effective and ethical option for hunters in pursuit of turkey. Thanks to their relatively light weight and low recoil, these options represent a great choice for young, small-framed, or …
Contact: Joe Mullin, Northeastern States Manager Why it Matters: Sunday hunting bans are one of the last remaining examples of the puritanical blue laws, but in recent years, much progress has been made towards lessening these restrictions. In Maryland, Sunday hunting for all game birds and mammals on Sundays is authorized in select counties, but …
Why it matters: There are many forms of gear employed by commercial fisherman to harvest target species of fish. However, some gears such as large-mesh drift gillnets often result in unintended bycatch, most of which is discarded dead and left to waste. For this reason, large-mesh drift gillnets have been eliminated as a commercial gear …
Last Remnant of Dirty Fishing Gear a Thing of the Past, Hopefully Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator 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 southern flounder, among others. The establishment of a menhaden catch limits and reporting requirements would help conserve menhaden and support …
Contact: Kent Keene, Assistant Manager, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Why It Matters: Opportunities to recognize and highlight our time-honored traditions are important to maintain interest and ensure that these traditions are passed on to the next generation. Recognizing the history of archery in the Show-Me State, the formal recognition of archery as the …
Archery Soon to be Official State Sport in Missouri Read More »
Why it matters: Just as they are in the Gulf of Mexico, red snapper are an extremely popular reef fish in the South Atlantic. Unfortunately, the population has been subject to overfishing and is currently under a rebuilding plan. As the population rebuilds, anglers encounter more and bigger red snapper, though the federal program that …
Contact: Joe Mullin, Manager, Northeastern States Why it Matters: Legislative and administrative efforts that encourage and expand the abilities of hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers by increasing access and opportunities have the potential to immediately bolster financial support for state fish and wildlife agencies, thus supporting their mission-driven conservation projects. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation …
Massachusetts Caucus Co-Chair Fights for Including Sportsmen’s Priorities in Budget Read More »
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