By: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager After a decade of serving on my local school board, I have developed a deep appreciation for the struggles facing school districts, especially those in smaller or rural communities. Between ever-changing state standards and funding issues, it can be a struggle to provide a variety of classes that …
Hunting and Fishing are Key to Inclusive Outdoor Education Read More »
May 6, 2021 (WASHINGTON, D.C.)– In a report released today titled, “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful,” the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality laid out the Biden Administration’s (Administration) long-awaited plan for the Thirty-by-Thirty Initiative (30 by 30). This report, which contained many of the priorities previously outlined …
May 3, 2021 (LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS) – On April 29, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law House Bill 1957 (HB 1957), the Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021, which seeks to reaffirm second amendment protections within the state. Shortly before the enactment of HB 1957, Governor Hutchinson vetoed a bill with the same title. While both bills were …
Highlights Why it matters: The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the single most important federal agency to sportsmen and women. DOI is responsible for access and conservation on federal lands including National Wildlife Refuges, National Fish Hatcheries, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service, among others. Collectively, DOI manages more than 450 …
CSF, Partners Support Nominee to Serve in Number Two Role at DOI Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States Senior Coordinator, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Highlights: Why it Matters: Sportsmen and women play an integral and unique role in providing the majority of state-level conservation funding in the United States through the American System of Conservation Funding. Since the inception of this System, state fish and wildlife agencies have …
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Highlights Why it Matters: Hunting and fishing conservation organizations rely heavily on in-person fundraising events to support their missions. Without the ability to fundraise in-person or online, hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) programs; fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects; and other conservation deliverables that non-profit organizations provide …
Sportsmen’s Conservation Organizations Work Together to Change West Virginia Raffle Law Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States and States Program Assistant Highlights Why it Matters: For the past 30 years, hunter participation has been on a generally declining trend across the nation; however, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many states saw an increase in the number of those heading afield in the pursuit of game. Several …
Sportsmen’s Issues Front and Center in the Granite State Read More »
By: Adam Rhoads, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation Brad Rowse Policy Fellow Growing up as a proud Florida boy, opportunities to engage with wildlife and sportsmen’s activities were unlimited. Fishing snook in Tampa Bay; hunting hogs, Osceola Turkeys, and deer on public lands; and watching some of the nation’s most endangered birds migrate, were common activities I …
Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States and States Program Assistant Highlights Why it Matters: Much to the surprise of those not on the Atlantic coast, there are states, such as Maine, that do not allow sportsmen and women to hunt on Sundays. This dated prohibition is one of the last remaining examples of the …
48 States Agree – Sunday Hunting Should be Allowed Read More »
Highlights Why it matters: The Trillion Trees Act will support healthy forests, abundant fish and wildlife populations, a viable forest products industry, and quality hunting and fishing opportunities for America’s sportsmen and women. The Trillion Trees Act will also help improve air, soil, and water quality by revising outdated programs and establishing innovative public-private partnerships. …
CSC House Vice-Chair Plants Trillion Trees Act in Congress Read More »
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 …
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