Highlights Why it matters: As Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Mr. Bonnie now leads the efforts of USDA’s Farm Services Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency, three agencies critical to the success of some of our nation’s most important private lands conservation programs. Given Mr. Bonnie’s dedication to effective, bipartisan …
Senate Confirms Robert Bonnie as USDA FPAC Undersecretary in Strong Bipartisan Vote Read More »
Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States / Fisheries Policy Highlights Why it Matters: As hunting season in Arkansas gets going in full swing, waterfowlers on some of the state’s most popular flooded-timber wildlife management areas will see lower water levels as the AGFC tries to reverse significant habitat loss important to ducks. Meanwhile, deer hunters …
Arkansas Hunters to See Changes and Opportunities for 2021-2022 Seasons Read More »
Contact: Nick Lewis, Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator Highlights Why It Matters: The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) serve as the lead regulatory agencies for wildlife and fish in the state, respectively, working in conjunction with the sportsmen’s community to conserve wildlife species. These agencies rely on governing bodies that …
Contact: Nick Lewis, Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator Highlights Why it Matters: Many states have antiquated knife laws that criminalize the possession of automatic knives. These knives are useful tools for the outdoor industry, particularly hunters and anglers, as well as the first responder community. The introduction of this legislation is a positive step towards expanding the …
Knife Reform Legislation Introduced in Pennsylvania Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Highlights Why It Matters: States, including Mississippi, without a dedicated conservation funding mechanism may leave millions of dollars on the table every year because they cannot provide the match funding for various federal conservation programs. The Mississippi Caucus’ inaugural Sporting Clays Classic provided a great opportunity for Caucus members …
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Pacific States Assistant Manager Highlights Why it Matters: In recent years, hunting and fishing tournaments have come under fire by “animal rights” organizations who don’t like the idea of animals being taken for a prize or reward. These groups, such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Project Coyote, …
Coyote Calling Contest Ban Rejected by Nevada Commissioners Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Highlights Why It Matters: States without a dedicated conservation funding mechanism may potentially leave millions of dollars on the table every year because they cannot provide the match funding for various federal conservation programs. Louisiana does not have a dedicated conservation funding mechanism. Many states across the Southeast have …
CSF Participates in LA Outdoor Conservation Study Group Meeting Read More »
Highlights Why it matters: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the top federal agency dedicated to conserving our nation’s fish, wildlife, and their associated habitats. The FWS is also responsible for overseeing the management of the lands and waters within the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System. The Refuge System …
CSF Strongly Supports Nomination of Martha Williams to Serve as USFWS Director Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Senior Coordinator, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Highlights Why it Matters: One of the primary goals of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses is to facilitate the exchange of information between state and federal fish and wildlife management agencies, the sporting-conservation community, and our elected officials who serve as members of their …
Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States Highlights Why it Matters: Sportsmen and women have played a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in the United States for over 80 years. The American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a “user pays – public benefits” structure in which those who consumptively use public resources pay for …
By: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator “Conservation” is a term used often in the hunting and angling community and one that sportsmen and women celebrate. But what is conservation? According to Gifford Pinchot, the first head of the U.S. Forest Service and former Governor of Pennsylvania who established the modern definition, conservation is the “wise …
Highlights Why it matters: There are 13.3 million hunters and 32 million target shooters across the country, many of whom rely on public target shooting ranges. Through the excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, these individuals helped contribute $702 million just last year for state-based conservation and access funding under the Pittman-Robertson Act. …
CSF, Partners Urge DOI and USDA to Expand Recreational Shooting Opportunities Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States Highlights Why it Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies serve as our nation’s primary, and most well-equipped, managers of fish and wildlife and their habitats. Staffed by trained professionals with backgrounds in a wide variety of fields, including biology, law enforcement, lands management, and numerous other disciplines, these …
Highlights Why it matters: Allocating fisheries resources between the commercial and recreational sectors is perhaps the most difficult decision a regional fishery management council will face. Many allocations were set decades ago and have not been adjusted because of the contentious nature of deciding who should get more fish and who should get less. The …
Gulf King Mackerel Amendment Ignores Value of the Recreational Fishery Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Senior Coordinator, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Highlights Why it Matters: Conservation success stories, particularly those that result in increased opportunities for sportsmen and women, should always be cause for celebration. The successful restoration of Missouri’s black bear population through natural immigration from Arkansas and Oklahoma is one such example. Thanks to …
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Highlights Why It Matters: The Virginia Board of Wildlife Resources’ adoption of the resolution expressing support for allowing Sunday hunting on public lands sends a strong message to the Virginia General Assembly as legislation to remove the prohibition on public lands Sunday hunting is considered. In the last two …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Senior Coordinator, Rocky Mountain States Highlights Why it Matters: Despite its enticing name, “Wildlife For All,” is the latest initiative to come out of the anti-sportsmen camp and riddled with misinformation and deception. Backed by notable and outspoken anti-hunting organizations, the initiative tries to challenge the indisputable and voluntary role sportspeople play …
Highlights Why it matters: Chronic wasting disease is a progressive, always fatal, degenerative neurological disease occurring in both farmed and free-ranging deer, elk, and moose (cervids) populations. Roughly 80% of hunters in the United States participate in some form of deer, elk, or moose hunting, and as such, it is critical that we stop the …
Highlights Why it matters: The Cottonwood decision prevents our nation’s forest managers from utilizing active management practices to improve our forests including timber harvests, timber stand improvement, thinning, and prescribed fire, among others. As a result, our forest managers are limited in their ability to improve habitat, increase forest resiliency to reduce the threat of …
CSF Supports Effort to Undo Crippling Decision Undermining Forest Health Read More »
Highlights Why it matters: This bill will be a critical step forward to mitigating the impacts climate change, man-made infrastructure, and natural disasters have on our nation’s coastal communities. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources estimates that 640,000 acres, approximately the size of Rhode Island, will be under water by the year 2050. Unfortunately, this …
Legislation to Improve Coastal Protection and Resiliency Heard in Committee Read More »
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