Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Highlights Why it Matters: Due to a limited budget, the LDWF has difficulty providing services for hunters and anglers. For example, Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are understaffed, the agency has 22 unfilled vacancies in their law enforcement division and shooting range hours have been reduced. Additionally, new pressing natural …
Funding Relief in Sight for Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States Senior Coordinator and Internal MARCOMM Liaison Highlights Why it Matters: Shooting sports are one of the fastest growing outdoor recreation activities nationwide attracting men, women, and kids from diverse interests and backgrounds. Despite being an extremely safe and inclusive activity for all ages, recreational shooting has come under fire …
Idaho Takes Aim at Securing the Future of Recreational Shooting Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Senior Coordinator, Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Highlights Why It Matters: The continuation of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department provides a unique opportunity to discuss the important role that state fish and wildlife agencies play in the conservation of our nation’s fish and wildlife resources for the benefit of all …
Highlights Why it matters: The Conservation Reserve Program has been among the largest and most successful private lands conservation programs since its establishment in 1985. In recent years, enrollment in the program has declined and is currently several million acres below the acreage cap established by Congress in the 2018 Farm Bill. The changes announced …
USDA Announces Major Changes for Conservation Reserve Program Read More »
April 22, 2021 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) was reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chair Representative Debbie Dingell (MI) and CSC Member Representative Jeff Fortenberry (NE). Reintroduction of RAWA is a critical step in advancing the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) commitment to the future of America’s …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Highlights Why it Matters: Wetlands play a vital role in our country. They provide a unique habitat critical for many species, as well as some of our most beloved game species and furbearers. Wetlands also help filter our water, improving water quality for our lakes and streams. Finally, wetlands …
400,000 Acres of Wetlands are Now Unregulated in the Hoosier State Read More »
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Highlights Why it Matters: Sportsmen and women have a rich history of hunting with dogs, and hunters place great value on providing their loved four-legged canine companions with good care and well-maintained kennels. As legislative sessions have convened across the Southeast, several bills related to hunting with dogs, substandard …
5 Bills to Watch if you Hunt with Dogs in the Southeast Read More »
Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy Highlights Why It Matters: Hunter education courses are an excellent opportunity to introduce middle and high school students to a variety of topics related to conservation and our outdoor heritage. Further, these opportunities provide educators with an opportunity to introduce students to important concepts like …
Arkansas Caucus Passes School-Based Hunter Education Bill Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, Northeastern States Assistant Manager and States Program Assistant Highlights Why it Matters: Proposals to ban lead ammunition are commonly brought forth by raptor rehabilitation centers under the auspices that these bans will somehow rectify individual cases of birds being harmed after ingesting lead fragments. While individual cases do occur, it is essential …
Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Stands up for Maine’s Hunting Community Read More »
Highlights Why it matters: Wildlife causes more than $12.8 billion in damage each year to natural resources, public infrastructure, private property, and agriculture. For example, the damage to livestock, aquaculture, and other agricultural products has been estimated to reach nearly $1 billion annually. As such, WS works to prevent, minimize, and manage the damage on …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States Senior Coordinator Highlights Why it Matters: On April 5, 2021, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 32 (SB 32) into law, banning trapping on public lands in the state. Not only is this decision based on emotional propaganda founded by misinformation, it is also a devasting blow …
Despite Outcry, New Mexico Loses Public Land Trapping Read More »
As Co-Chairs of the bipartisan and bicameral New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, State Senator Joseph Griffo, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, and Assemblyman Colin J. Schmitt are proud to report on the recent progress made through the FY 2022 Budget towards providing the youth of New York and their families with additional opportunities to enjoy time afield. …
Highlights Why it Matters: Red snapper are one of the most important recreational species in the Gulf of Mexico, particularly in the states of Alabama and Mississippi. Prior to last week’s meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, these two states were facing potential drastic cuts in their private recreational red snapper season …
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Pacific States Assistant Manager Highlights 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 the …
Nevada’s Wild Horses, Wildlife and Wildlands in Jeopardy Read More »
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Pacific States Assistant Manager Highlights Why it matters: California’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, California’s sportsmen and women generate tens of …
California Tax Bill Takes Aim at Recreational Shooters and Hunters Read More »
Highlights Why it matters: Established in 1908 as the nation’s first waterfowl refuge, the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge is a 50,000-acre component of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, dedicated primarily to waterfowl conservation. An estimated 80% of waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway, or 25% of the waterfowl in North America, depend on …
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Highlights Why it Matters: Hunting and fishing are critical aspects of Georgia’s cultural heritage. Establishing a new NPS unit could limit hunting and fishing access on thousands of acres, many of which are currently under the management authority of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The NPS is …
Georgia Sportsmen’s Caucus Wants National Park Service to Hear Hunters Out Read More »
Contacts: Chris Horton, Senior Director of Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy; Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager; & Kent Keene, Senior Coordinator of Lower Midwestern States and Agriculture Policy Highlights Why It Matters: As many of the Midwestern State’s legislative sessions are nearing their end, several priority bills have made progress throughout the region. While …
Movers and Shakers: Legislative Updates from the Midwest Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States Program Assistant Highlights Why it Matters: Fish and wildlife management decisions must be made in consideration of a species population as a whole, and not reliant on an isolated incident. Proposals to ban lead ammunition are commonly brought forth by raptor rehabilitation centers under the auspices that these …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States Senior Coordinator and Internal MARCOMM Liaison Highlights Why it Matters: Our nation’s abundant public lands are a source of pride for all Americans. Unfortunately, despite being owned by the American public as a whole many of those public lands are inaccessible due to the patchwork of public and private land …
Building Wyoming’s Conservation Legacy by Improving Public Land Access Read More »
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