Why It Matters: When the global “30×30” initiative to protect 30% of a nation’s lands and waters began to gather steam in the U.S., the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) led a coalition of hunting and fishing conservation organizations to help guide the initiative towards meaningful conservation efforts that build upon our past successes. Fortunately, the …
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 …
Why It Matters: In July 2021, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter of support with recommendations to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) relative to the originally proposed Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) Recreational Hunting and Fishing Plan. To the hunting conservation community’s surprise, the final plan …
Why It Matters: In policymaking, omnibus legislation is the result of compromise between legislators from different parties and the legislative chambers advocation for a wide range of priorities. As Minnesota legislators negotiated the final version of the natural resource omnibus bill, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) remained engaged with legislators to ensure that the best …
Minnesota Legislative Session Closes with Major Victories for Sportsmen and Women Read More »
A broad coalition of hunting and conservation organizations applauded Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo for vetoing a bill that would have hindered thousands of Nevada’s youth hunters from safely using shotguns and rifles commonly used in hunting. On May 17th, Gov. Lombardo vetoed Assembly Bill 355, which would have prohibited anyone under the age of 21 …
Outdoor Coalition Applauds Gov. Lombardo for Supporting Youth Hunters Read More »
Why It Matters: For over 85 years, sportsmen and women have played a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in the United States through the American System of Conservation Funding. They have risen to the occasion in financially supporting their respective state fish and wildlife agencies, and on occasion, agreeing to license fee increases that …
Much Needed License Fee Increases – There’s Nothing Fishy About Them Read More »
Why It Matters: The Committee passage of the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act, the Save our Sequoias Act, and two other bills to address the Cottonwood decision are important steps forward in improving access for sportsmen and women and restoring the health of our forests. These CSF legislative priorities are focused on enhancing public lands access …
House, Senate Committees Each Pass Two Top CSF Priorities Read More »
Why It Matters: Set to expire at the end of September, the reauthorization of the Farm Bill remains a top priority for many across the country. This includes the sporting-conservation community that supports the conservation programs contained in the Farm Bill’s Conservation and Forestry Titles. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) appreciates the state legislators who …
NASC Executive Council Voices Support for Farm Bill Conservation Programs Read More »
Why It Matters: Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a highly regulated season for some harvest of goliath grouper using population data that showed goliath grouper are no longer subject to overfishing. Counterintuitively, the FWC also proposed a rule supported by the diving community to close three goliath grouper spawning …
In Big Win for Recreational Anglers, FWC Tables Goliath Grouper Closures Read More »
Why It Matters: Fishing tournaments benefit communities in multiple ways. Large-scale professional tournaments can have significant economic impacts on communities that surround popular fisheries while simultaneously bringing in nonresidents, resulting in additional funding to state fish and wildlife agencies through license and fishing equipment sales. Smaller and/or youth tournaments can introduce new anglers to the …
North Dakota Governor Signs Fishing Contest Bill Read More »
Why It Matters: The signing of Senate Bill 327/House Bill 983 (Chapter No. 543) into law marks a major milestone for the Old Line State. For three decades, there have not been any increases to the hunting and trapping license fees, but through the signing of this legislation into law, sportsmen and women will continue …
Why It Matters: If enacted, LD 958 would make it illegal to sell or offer for sale painted lead jigs weighing one ounce or less or measuring 2 1/2 inches or less in length beginning September 1, 2024, and illegal to use them beginning September 1, 2026. Given the lack of evidence that painted lead …
CSF Joins Angling Community in Opposing Restrictive Jig Legislation Read More »
Why It Matters: The legislative session in Iowa provided no shortage of legislation that furthers previous efforts to advance pro-sportsmen conservation policies to ensure a strong future for hunting and fishing in the state. These efforts included constitutionally protecting the right to hunt and fish, a proposed sales tax increase needed to fund the Natural …
Why It Matters: Sunday hunting prohibitions are rooted in antiquated Blue Laws that are not based on scientific wildlife management principles. Sunday hunting restrictions hinder hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts (R3) and limit hunter access to public land while allowing access for other user groups on Sundays. By opening Sunday hunting on Wildlife Management …
South Carolina Lifts Public Lands Sunday Hunting Prohibition! Read More »
Why It Matters: While it may seem obvious to some, the unrivaled contributions of sportspeople to the conservation of wildlife and their habitats may not be widely understood by some in the general public. By hosting Sportsmen’s Day at the Capitol and adopting SJR23-0009, the Colorado Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus is working to ensure that more …
Colorado’s Sportsmen’s Day at the Capitol Draws Hundreds Read More »
Why It Matters: At a time when Congress continues to be divided on many important issues, the priorities of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) continue to be an area of strong bipartisan agreement. One of these priorities includes the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which last week added nearly a dozen bipartisan cosponsors, a sign of …
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Garners Bipartisan Cosponsors in Senate Read More »
Why It Matters: The hearing on the Duck Stamp Modernization Act and the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act marks the first significant step in the legislative process for these bills. This hearing demonstrates the Subcommittee’s commitment to sportsmen and women through the prioritization of important conservation and access priorities. Highlights: Last week, the …
SALEM, Oregon — Citing concerns for youth hunting, high school shooting sports and conservation funding, a coalition of 15 national and state organizations have united in opposition to House Bill 2005, which passed the Oregon House of Representatives in a 35-24 vote on Tuesday. HB 2005 contains a myriad of new firearm regulations and specifically threatens …
Why It Matters: State-based fish and wildlife management authority should be left in the jurisdiction of the respective state fish and wildlife agency. In Maine, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) is the best equipped to address fish and wildlife management issues within the Pine Tree State. It is staffed by trained professionals …
Maine Bill to Simplify Regulations Undermines Science-Based Wild Turkey Management Read More »
Why It Matters: North Dakota’s 2023 legislative session proved to be a busy one as it was packed with several important pieces of legislation, both good and bad for sportsmen and women. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was active in promoting increased opportunities for youth hunters, and vigilant in opposing legislation that aimed to undermine …
Legislative Session Recap of the Peace Garden State Read More »
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