Why It Matters: The Pittman-Robertson Act is a celebrated partnership in support of conservation, our hunting and recreational shooting heritage, and our firearms rights. The Pittman-Robertson Act emboldens our ability to exercise our recreational shooting rights and our hunting heritage. It is through this “user pays – public benefits” structure in which those who use …
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Why It Matters: Resolutions, and especially signing ceremonies, raise awareness for the public about the critical conservation funding generated by sportsmen and women through the “user pays – public benefits” American System of Conservation Funding. In 2021, 43 Governors and President Biden issued National Hunting and Fishing Day Proclamations, and the Congressional …
Southern Governors Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day Read More »
Why It Matters: This announcement prohibits any U.S. hunter from bringing wild game bird into the United States that was harvested in Canada. While the announcement appears to allow the importation of processed (cooked) game bird meat, this importation of cooked meat could potentially violate other federal regulations. For example, to legally transport waterfowl, the …
USDA APHIS Announcement Effectively Prohibits Importation of Game Bird Meat from Canada Read More »
Why It Matters: There is estimated to be approximately 500,000 abandoned mines across the United States that contribute to water quality impairments in over 100,000 miles of streams. Estimates also indicate that cleaning up these abandoned mines would cost approximately $54 billion. Unfortunately, under current federal law an individual or group cannot touch or attempt …
Contact: Robert Matthews, Senior Coordinator, Upper Midwestern States & Kent Keene, Assistant Manager, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Why It Matters: With a relatively laid-back nature compared to other hunting opportunities, dove hunting is an enjoyable way to introduce a beginner to the world of wing shooting. After honing skills at the sporting clays …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States, Assistant Manager Why It Matters: Formalizing official Advisory Councils to state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses provides Caucus members with a direct line to their outdoor sporting constituency that can deliver invaluable insight to policy as it relates to conservation and our shared outdoor sporting heritage. As Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Members rotate …
Idaho Sportsmen Named Advisory Council to the Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Why It Matters: In 2016, it was reported that more than 20 million Americans spent an estimated $16.9 billion on equipment and travel to participate in target shooting. The purchase of firearms and ammunition is critical to the “user pays – public benefit” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). …
Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Supports Youth Shooting Sports Team Read More »
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 new 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, some …
Proposed Right Whale Conservation Measures Need Further Refining Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, Manager, Northeastern States Why It Matters: CSF has a tenured history of opposing efforts to curb the import of certain African species, commonly referred to as the “Big Five.” Discouraging hunting in Africa encourages poaching and cripples the anti-poaching programs that legally regulated hunting supports. Revenue generated by licensed, regulated safari hunting …
This Year’s Efforts in Fighting Restrictive Trophy Import Bans Read More »
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Manager Pacific States and Firearm Policy Why It Matters: California’s law-abiding hunters and recreational 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, California’s sportsmen and women generate …
California Firearm and Ammunition Tax Bill Once Again Poised for a Floor Vote Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Why It Matters: With the increasing loss of grassland habitats, many popular game and non-game wildlife species are experiencing negative effects due to lack of habitat diversity on the landscape, resulting in a loss of opportunity for sportsmen and women. With decreasing levels of active forest management on public lands in …
CSF Signs onto Letter in Support of Grasslands Restoration in Tennessee Read More »
Contact: Joe Bachar, Coordinator, Northeastern States Why It Matters: Firearm suppressors increase safety for sportsmen and women taking part in shooting activities. Contrary to popular belief, suppressors (also known as “silencers”) do not completely silence firearms, rather they serve to reduce the sound signatures of gunshots to minimize the risk of hearing damage. Although suppressors …
Why It Matters: The federal Marine Recreational Information Program that collects private recreational angler catch data across multiple species and geographic areas is a useful survey for general trends in fish populations but is not at the scale necessary to effectively survey reef fish anglers in the South Atlantic. As a potential solution, the South …
South Atlantic Eying Federal License for Reef Fish Anglers Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Assistant Manager, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Why It Matters: Public participation in the decision-making process surrounding fish and wildlife management is indicative of an engaged public, and members of the outdoor sporting community are always encouraged to be involved at every available opportunity. However, it is important to remember that …
Why It Matters: AWCP is a coalition of 50 national wildlife conservation groups that collaborate on national policy issues for the betterment of professional wildlife and natural resource management, as well as outdoor recreation, including hunting and recreational shooting. Every four years, AWCP publishes a set of recommendations known as Wildlife for the 21st Century (W21) that is developed …
Contact: Robert Matthews, Senior Coordinator Upper Midwestern States Why It Matters: As the original conservationists, sportsmen and women should be informed on threats that invasive species pose to their local ecosystems. With that information, anglers can inform their state wildlife management authorities when they observe one of these species in a place it doesn’t belong. …
How You Can Help Save Your Waterways from Invasive Species 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 …
Public Comment Period Underway for BLM’s Proposed Wild Horse Research Projects Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, Manager, Northeastern States Why It Matters: CSF has a tenured history of working alongside the New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, and in-state and national partners in the Granite State to support our time-honored outdoor sporting traditions, and 2022’s regular sessions were no different. Though primarily defensive, CSF fought to protect …
Sportsmen and Women Defeated Restrictive Legislation in the Granite State Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Why It Matters: An increase in access would not only benefit Florida’s sportsmen and women, but it would also assist in the management of natural resources located within the Big Cypress National Preserve. Off highway vehicles can be an important tool for accessing backcountry destinations, managing wildlife habitat, and giving youth, elderly, and those with …
Contact: Joe Bachar, New England States Coordinator Why It Matters: Since its founding, CSF has continuously fought to protect and advance outdoor sporting heritages across the country. This year in Massachusetts, CSF worked in conjunction with the Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus towards the protection and advancement of pro-sportsmen’s heritages in the state. Engaging in over …
A Look Back at Massachusetts’ Legislative Session: Sportsmen’s Issues in the Spotlight Read More »