By: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy Federal fisheries management is a complicated mess. The only people you might find disagreeing with that statement are environmental organizations whose funding depends, at least in part, on leading the public to believe we need more regulations for our “imperiled” marine fisheries; or individuals and …
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator On October 7, California Governor Gavin Newsom released a “30×30” Executive Order directing the California Natural Resources Agency to conserve 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by the year 2030. The release of the Executive Order follows on the heels of a similar policy that failed in the …
California Governor Newsom Issues 30×30 Executive Order Read More »
Recently, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and roughly a dozen of the nation’s leading hunting conservation organizations sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt urging a more consistent supply of water to the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in California and Oregon. Established in 1908 as the nation’s first waterfowl refuge, the …
CSF Supports Effort to Better Manage Wildlife Water Needs Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator Earlier last week, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) hosted a series of virtual hearings pertaining to petitions for rulemaking proposals that were received from the anti-sportsmen’s community. On October 6, the MDIFW took oral testimony related to a proposal that promises to prohibit …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator As the people of Utah begin to receive their 2020 ballots in the mail, it is up to registered voters to decide the fate of a very important ballot initiative, the Utah Constitutional Amendment E, Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment. Establishing the state constitutional right to hunt …
Right to Hunt and Fish Takes to the Ballot in Utah Read More »
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On October 9, a coalition of national and in-state sportsmen’s conservation groups submitted a letter to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) expressing support for opening Sunday hunting on Game Lands. The Outdoor Heritage Enhanced Act of 2017 transferred regulatory authority for Sunday hunting on public lands …
Sportsmen’s Groups Support Sunday Hunting on Public Lands in North Carolina Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) is currently accepting public comments on a set of proposed regulatory amendments that will be discussed during the Commission’s upcoming meeting on November 10. Among the amendments is a proposed change that would allow hunters to display their hunter education certification …
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Accepting Comments on Proposed Regulatory Amendments Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On October 20, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a virtual public hearing to consider the proposed administrative rules and environmental assessment regarding recreation management on the Madison River to address over-crowding. The Madison River is an iconic fishing destination for trout anglers worldwide. The popularity …
On October 1, the preliminary results of what has been called “The Great Red Snapper Count” were presented to Congress, and as expected by many, revealed that there are far more red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico than the current system of federal stock assessments estimates. Led by the Harte Research Institute, the “Great …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager September 22, North Dakota’s Office of Legislative Council pre-filed ND D 196 in preparation for the 2021 legislative session. The bill pertains to trespass laws in the state which have been a topic of discussion for the last few years. Currently in North Dakota, private land is open to …
New Legislation in North Dakota Could Create a Useful Tool or Limit Access Read More »
Contact: Brent Miller, Northeastern States Senior Director and States Program Team Administrator On September 26, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved regulations to allow handheld and firearms-mounted thermal and night-vision optics for furbearer hunting. This regulatory change was made possible due to the passage of HB 1188 which was supported by numerous members of the bipartisan …
Night-Vision Optics Approved for Furbearer Hunting in Pennsylvania Read More »
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On September 28, Governor Henry McMaster signed legislation into law that expands the apprentice hunting license program. House Bill 3800 passed the Senate on September 17 after the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and partners in the Families Afield coalition worked with the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) …
South Carolina Apprentice Hunting License Legislation Signed into Law Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator Earlier today, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a sign-on letter of opposition to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) regarding two predator-related proposals from the anti-sportsmen’s community. CSF’s sign-on letter collected resounding support from both in-state and national conservation and sportsmen-centric organizations, as …
Sportsmen’s Groups Stand Together to Fight for Hunting and Trapping Heritages in Maine Read More »
Washington, D.C. – October 1, 2020 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed without objection H.R. 5126, Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (DESCEND Act). The bill requires recreational (including charter boats) and commercial fishermen to have on board a venting tool or descending device that …
U.S. House Passes Descending Device Bill to Conserve Gulf Reef Fish Read More »
October 1, 2020 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives built off the historic passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, and other conservation victories in the 116th Congress, by passing America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act (S. 3051), on a voice vote, making this Congress one of the most impactful for sportsmen and women in a …
September 29, 2020 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation led the effort through the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus to recognize National Hunting and Fishing Day, resulting in 32 Governors signing proclamations declaring Saturday, September 26, 2020 as National Hunting and Fishing Day in their respective states to acknowledge sportsmen and women for their contributions to America’s …
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On September 23, Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order No. 2 to establish the Asian Carp Advisory Commission (Commission). The purpose of the Commission is to address and mitigate the spread of invasive Asian carp (bighead, black, grass, and silver) in Tennessee’s waterways to …
Asian Carp Advisory Commission Established in Tennessee Read More »
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) worked with governors to ensure that Saturday, September 26, 2020, was recognized as National Hunting and Fishing Day in their respective states by issuing proclamations. Hunters and anglers are America’s true conservation heroes, and this day commemorates our nation’s valued conservationists. While additional governors are expected to sign proclamations this …
CSF Ensures Recognition of National Hunting & Fishing Day across the Nation Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On September 22, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), along with the American Sportfishing Association and Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, submitted a collaborative comment letter to the Utah Wildlife Board in support of several proposed fishing regulation changes offered by the Division of Wildlife Resources. As discussed in detail …
CSF Leads Group Letter in Support of Fishing Regulation Changes in Utah Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On September 23, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a second letter in support of regulations proposed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), including the establishment of additional limitations on dry ground sets using body-gripping traps and an effort to simplify the rules associated with …
