Why It Matters: Maintaining genetically diverse populations and minimizing human-wildlife conflict are key components to the success of wildlife conservation efforts. Hunting has proven time and time again that it is one of the best management tools to support these efforts. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and its Commission, recognize that hunting would …
CSF Submits Letter in Support of Opening a Black Bear Season in Louisiana Read More »
Why It Matters: Despite a steady increase in bobcat populations in Indiana, there is not currently a season in place for sportsmen and women to harvest the elusive predator. A bill that would establish such a season has now made its way through the Indiana Senate, and Hoosier sportsmen and women are one step closer …
Bill Establishing Bobcat Season Clears Indiana Senate Read More »
Why It Matters: With the success of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in Washington D.C., the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) next set out to create a network of state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses; and, in 2004, the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) was launched. Currently, there are approximately 2,000 state legislators who are members of individual …
Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus Holds First Meeting of the 2024 Legislative Session Read More »
Why It Matters: The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act includes nearly a dozen provisions that seek to enhance the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their associated habitats across North America, while also providing an important protection for our nation’s anglers. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) served as a driving force behind the enactment of …
Senate CSC Members Introduce Comprehensive Conservation Package Read More »
Why It Matters: On February 6, 2024, the New Hampshire House Fish and Game and Marine Resources convened for a day of hearings on sportsmen and women related bills. Of note were House Bill 1417 (HB 1417) relative to wild trout management, House Bill 1148 (HB 1148) relative to the Fish and Game Commission, and …
A Good Day for Sportsmen and Women in the New Hampshire Capitol Read More »
Why It Matters: The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is widely recognized as the most successful model of wildlife management in the world. Among the seven core components that comprise the model is the key tenant that wildlife policy should be formulated using the best available science. Unfortunately, this core component is often at …
Misguided Legislation to End Sandhill Crane Season Introduced in Tennessee Read More »
Why It Matters: The New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, in partnership with the New York Sportsmen’s Advisory Council (NYSAC) and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), hosted their Aannual Sportsman-Legislator breakfast to discuss policies that will protect and promote the Empire State’s deep rooted outdoor heritage. Events such as the New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus’ breakfast are …
New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts 2024 Sportsman-Legislator Breakfast Read More »
Why It Matters: With an estimated 3 million anglers fishing the Gulf of Mexico every year from all over the nation and the world, it is vitally important that popular recreational species like red snapper, gag grouper, and many others are effectively managed to ensure anglers have access to healthy fisheries. Collecting and using good …
Ongoing Challenges in Federal Fisheries Management in the Gulf of Mexico Read More »
Why It Matters: Legislation seeking to restrict the Second Amendment is often eventually used as a vector of attack for other issues affecting sportsmen and women, just as restrictions on hunting are often used as a vector of attack against Second Amendment rights. These issues are fundamentally intertwined given that firearms of every kind are …
Anti-Sportsmen Legislation Advances in New Mexico Read More »
Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies rely on hunters, anglers, and recreational shooting sports participants to support their conservation efforts through the unique “user pays – public benefits” American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). Through the ASCF, state fish and wildlife agencies not only collect funds from the hunting or fishing licenses sold, …
Significant Sportsmen-Generated Conservation Dollars At Risk in Nebraska Read More »
Why It Matters: The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Collegiate Sportsmen and Women’s Coalition (CSWC) seeks to educate young adults from diverse interests and backgrounds about the importance of hunting, angling, trapping, and recreational shooting to fish and wildlife conservation while also providing them with hands-on education in how to effectively engage in the policy process …
CSF Launches Collegiate Sportsmen and Women’s Coalition at Louisiana State University Read More »
Why It Matters: Firearm and ammunition laws and regulations are often intricate, confusing, and, without state preemption laws, can vary from locality to locality. Recently, South Dakota introduced and passed a firearm preemption bill of their own, restricting homeowner’s associations from placing restrictions on the possession and use of firearms or ammunition. Firearm preemption legislation …
Why It Matters: Healthy habitats can support an abundance of species and contribute to an ecosystem’s resilience to changing environmental conditions. In some cases, manmade, artificial habitats can enhance species carrying capacities beyond natural habitats. Numerous studies coupled with angler observations and experience, serve as testimonies to the ability of artificial structures, especially aging oil …
CSF’s Horton Delivers Angler Perspectives on Biodiversity at Smithsonian Summit Read More »
Why It Matters: It is no secret that hunter participation rates are declining across the country. While it may oftentimes go unrecognized, hunter safety education courses offer young and new hunters the opportunity to learn proper firearm safety and safe hunting practices to take afield. Hunter safety programs serve to keep hunters safe while in …
Misguided Hunter Education Repeal Bill Introduced in Kentucky Read More »
Why It Matters: Legislative efforts to offer discounted or no-cost licenses for certain demographics, most commonly veterans, continue to be increasingly common across the country. It is no different in the Great Plains, as Nebraska has introduced several bills that would offer both discounted and no-cost licenses for resident and nonresident veterans that, if passed …
CSF Recommends Amendments to Discounted and Free License Bills in Nebraska Read More »
Why It Matters: Introduced on January 12, 2024, Vermont Senate Bill 258 (S 258) – An act relating to the management of Fish and Wildlife – proposes to transfer the authority to adopt rules for the taking of fish, wildlife, and fur-bearing animals from the Fish and Wildlife Board to the Department of Fish and …
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 of dollars each year for the Oregon …
Why It Matters: Law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters have long played a vital role in funding conservation through various wildlife management nationwide. Recently, state legislatures have begun proposing state excise taxes in addition to the existing manufacturer-level taxes already being paid under federal law. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user …
State Firearms and Ammunition Excise Taxes Proposed in WA & NM Read More »
Why It Matters: While the 118th Congress has found it challenging to reach agreements and pass bills, there are a few pieces of legislation making their way through the process that are strongly bipartisan and stand a higher-than-average likelihood of becoming law before this Congress adjourns later this year. Among those are two Congressional Sportsmen’s …
CSF Supported Bills to Recruit Anglers and Protect Habitat Heard in House Read More »
Why It Matters: The committee passage of the EXPLORE Act, the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act, and the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act marks an important step in the advancement of these priority bills for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). These bills seek to improve outdoor recreational access and to enhance fish and …
House and Senate Committees Each Pass CSF Priorities Read More »
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