Why It Matters: Gun issues and hunting issues are fundamentally intertwined, and when attacks on firearms are made in a legislature, it is important for sportsmen and women to take notice. Legislation looking to regulate firearms and firearms owners are often used as vectors of attack for other issues affecting our hunting traditions and culture. …
Why It Matters: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), like all state fish and wildlife management agencies, relies in-part on revenue collected from hunting and fishing license sales. Recently introduced legislation would offer discounted fishing license fees to seniors while balancing this important pillar of conservation funding. Highlights: Legislators frequently introduce bills that would …
Why It Matters: Despite existing security and reporting requirements on Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders, a bill is making its way through Washington State that would add onerous restrictions on firearms businesses. During recent testimony, licensed firearms dealers warned that these proposed restrictions will put them out of business. Should FFL locations begin closing as …
Washington State FFL Restrictions Heading to the Governor’s Desk Read More »
Why It Matters: Habitat is the driving force behind healthy fish and wildlife populations. At a time when fish and wildlife habitats across the nation continue to become fragmented and degraded, the America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act authorizes crucial funding to proactively conserve species before more costly measures are necessary. This legislation also codifies existing …
CSC Co-Chair Rep. Westerman Introduces Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Habitat Bill Read More »
Why It Matters: Maryland Senate Bill 983 seeks to require the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create a lead hunting ammunition phase-out plan and ammunition verification process by December 31, 2026. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) encouraged the legislature and the Department of Natural Resources to work together to instead consider implementing voluntary, …
CSF Testifies in Opposition to Maryland’s Proposed Lead Ammo Ban Read More »
Why It Matters: Mississippi continues to fight challenges such as the rapid spread of Chronic Wasting Disease and legislative initiatives aimed at giving groups free/discounted hunting and fishing licenses which threatens the success of the American System of Conservation. Additionally, it is paramount that the Mississippi Legislature works in lockstep with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, …
CSF Spearheads Coalition Letter Supporting Conservation Legislation in Mississippi Read More »
Why It Matters: The acquisition of hunting and fishing licenses should not be an overly complicated process. However, as license frameworks evolve over time and more licenses are added, it is easy for hunters, anglers, and trappers to become confused when trying to ensure that they are properly licensed. Fortunately, sportsmen and women in the …
Why It Matters: Introduced on January 3, 2024, New Hampshire House Bill 1186 (HB 1186) – An Act Relative to Firearm Purchaser’s Privacy, seeks to protect Granite Staters from being tracked or halted by financial institutions when purchasing firearms and ammunition. HB 1186 was referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on …
Debate Looms Over Merchant Codes in the Granite State Read More »
Why It Matters: Public access to public lands and waters is critical to maintaining opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting. GPS and other technologies have significantly changed how sportsmen and women navigate public lands as well as their ability to identity new lands for recreational access that may previously have been unknown or …
CSC Members Introduce Keep Public Lands in Public Hands Act Read More »
Why It Matters: Every year bills are introduced that would allow individuals to purchase a free or heavily discounted hunting and/or fishing license. House Bill 300 would require that the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) be reimbursed for any lost revenue resulting from the issuance of free or discounted hunting and fishing …
Why It Matters: Though their legislative session started later than many other states, Oklahoma has wasted little time moving several key pieces of legislation that will be important to sportsmen and women. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is working closely with in-state partners and members of the Oklahoma Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to protect and advance …
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 …
New Mexico 2024 Legislative Session Comes to an End Read More »
Why It Matters: Currently, if you go game bird hunting in Maryland and Delaware, you can only do so Monday-Saturday. Maryland House Bill 778 (MD HB 778) seeks to remove the legislative prohibition on Sunday migratory game bird hunting (waterfowl and dove), while Delaware House Bill 271 (DE HB 271) seeks to remove the Sunday …
Why It Matters: Like many Midwestern states, approximately 80% of the land in South Dakota is privately owned, making public access for sportsmen and women a limiting factor in the state. The Department of Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP), relies heavily on limited public lands to promote quality fish and wildlife conservation efforts while providing …
Future Hunting and Fishing Access Threatened in South Dakota Read More »
Why It Matters: There are seven federal agencies under four different cabinet-level secretaries that have some degree of jurisdiction and regulatory authority over what hunters, anglers, and boaters can or cannot do on navigable waters. As a compliment to the MAPWaters Act for the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, the MAPOceans …
CSF-Supported Bill to Advance Mapping of Marine Waters Introduced in Senate Read More »
Why It Matters: Washington State relies heavily on licensed trappers to help manage and mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Products made from legally harvested animals provide a valuable use of resources. Senate Bill 6294 would have made the retail sale of most furs illegal in Washington by restricting the sale of fur-based products, including fly-tying supplies. Highlights: …
CSF Opposition Helps Defeat Fur Ban in Washington State Read More »
Why It Matters: (1) Efforts to end the Sandhill Crane season in the Volunteer State, despite historic Sandhill Crane population levels, are driven by emotion rather than science. (2) Allowing the indiscriminate baiting of Tennessee’s wildlife would contravene rules established by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Fish and Game Commission. (3) Poaching …
CSF Actively Working both Pro and Anti-Sportsmen’s Bills in Tennessee Read More »
Why It Matters: Science-based fisheries management and access to our fisheries have always been at the center of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) mission. In both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, sharks are increasingly intercepting fish being landed by recreational and commercial fishermen, creating frustration for anglers and challenges for fisheries sustainability. …
Bill Addressing Growing Conflict Between Sharks and Fishermen Clears House Read More »
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 »
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