Last week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) led with Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), in the promotion of a social media campaign that encourages sportsmen and women to engage in safe social distancing practices while hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, or …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator In light of the actions being taken by legislatures responding to COVID-19, the Connecticut General Assembly will remain suspended until April 13 – though this date is subject to change. Up until this point, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been actively engaged in the Nutmeg State, through …
Connecticut: Activity on Sportsmen’s Policies from Start to Finish Read More »
Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States Coordinator Due to COVID-19, the Governor’s signing deadline has been extended to April 18. As of April 6, no anti-sportsmen’s bills have been signed into law, while a number of pro-sportsmen’s bills are eligible for the Governor’s signature. The Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) led by Co-Chairs Senator Keith Perry and Representatives Bobby Payne …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper-Midwestern States Manager Michigan’s 2020 legislative session has been suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak, however, there are still many important pieces of legislation that sportsmen and women should be aware of in the Great Lakes State. Once the legislative session resumes, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to track and engage …
Michigan: An In-Depth look at the Great Lakes State 2020 Legislative Session Read More »
Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it was extending the waiver of entrance fees for the National Wildlife Refuge System and federal fish hatcheries. This extension builds off of an earlier announcement on March 19 that temporarily suspended entrance fees for the nearly 500 National Wildlife Refuges. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is excited …
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces the Continuance of Entrance Fee Waivers Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator The 2020 legislative session was a huge success for Utah’s outdoor sporting community as 9 pro-sportsmen and women pieces of legislation were enacted by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Gary Herbert. The culmination of each enacted bill is a tremendous win and a direct result of the hard work and dedication …
Utah: One for the Record Books – Outstanding 2020 Legislative Session Read More »
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects beyond health concerns and “shelter-in-place” orders, and the impact is being felt by sportsmen and women in Washington State. Most notably, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed recreational fishing statewide in the wake of Governor Inslee’s ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ directive. While public safety …
April 2, 2020 (WASHINGTON. D.C.) – Yesterday, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) sent letters to all 50 Governors, 27 of whom are members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), encouraging Governors to retain opportunities, where possible, for people to responsibly enjoy the outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the positive physical and mental attributes associated with activities such as hunting, …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator On March 24, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont took strategic action to protect anglers who are gearing up for opening day on the water. Originally scheduled to begin Saturday, April 11, the Governor’s Executive Order No. 7L proclaims that “effective immediately and through the remainder of the 2020 fishing season, …
Connecticut: Caucus Coordinates Angling Opportunity with Governor’s Office Read More »
On March 26, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the acceptance rates for the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) 2019-2020 general sign-up enrollment period. During the enrollment period, landowners had a voluntary opportunity to submit competitive offers to USDA’s Farm Services Agency (FSA) for consideration. Each application was then ranked based on an Environmental Benefits …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On March 20, the Idaho State Legislature adjourned sine die. As of March 27, Governor Little has enacted 4 pro-sportsmen bills (House Bill 330, 396, 426 and 493), while the remaining 3 pro-sportsmen bills (House Bill 528, 544 and 545) are currently sitting on the Governor’s desk, awaiting …
Idaho: 2020 – Phenomenal Legislative Session for Sportsmen and Women Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Senior Coordinator Sportsmen and women in Massachusetts have just cause for anticipating the legislature’s return to what may be considered normal conditions. Prior to directing the majority of its efforts towards responsive measures for COVID-19, the Massachusetts General Court had set itself in motion to host a Sportsmen’s Day …
Massachusetts: Reviewing CSF’s Active Engagement in the Bay State Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator Though Missouri’s 2020 legislative session has been suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there are still many important pieces of legislation that sportsmen and women should be aware of in the Show-Me state. Once the legislative session resumes, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to track and …
Missouri: A Closer Look at the Show-Me State’s 2020 Legislative Session Read More »
Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced they have prepared a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) regarding the potential use of genetically engineered crops on national wildlife refuges in the Southeastern United States and are seeking public comments. The National Wildlife Refuge System often enters into cooperative agriculture agreements with farmers and agriculture …
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Comments Regarding Cooperative Farming Read More »
On March 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is awarding nearly $49 million in grants to states and tribal governments through the Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Each state and tribal government receiving a grant will use the funding to encourage private landowners to allow public access to their …
USDA Announces Awards for the Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program Read More »
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Many pro-sportsmen’s bills were signed into law during West Virginia’s 2020 legislative session. Very few anti-sportsmen’s bills were filed this session, and none were signed into law. Working alongside conservation partners and the state fish and wildlife agency, the bicameral and bipartisan West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus), which is …
Contact: Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States & States Program Administrator Over the weekend the Trump administration issued guidance through the Department of Homeland Security that firearms-related businesses should be allowed to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as governors across the nation have issued well-intentioned orders aimed at minimizing person-to-person contact to slow the spread …
“Essential” Designations for Firearms-Related Businesses Read More »
On March 20, leaders of the recreational fishing and boating community submitted a letter to the Department of Commerce urging approval of Amendment 29 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan approved by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) in September 2019. Amendment 29 would require anglers fishing for snapper and grouper species in South Atlantic …
Angling and Boating Community Supports Descending Device Amendment in the South Atlantic Read More »
Contact: Chris Horton, Fisheries Policy and Midwestern States Senior Director While some states are closing state-owned wildlife management areas and boat ramps due to COVID-19 concerns, others are promoting hunting and fishing as a way to practice social distancing in a rewarding setting while enjoying our outdoor heritage. On March 19, the Arkansas Game and Fish …
Arkansas’s Answer to Social Distancing – Free Fishing Licenses Read More »
Last week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) sent a letter to the more than 2,000 state legislators who are members of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucus (NASC), encouraging them to help maintain the openness of public land in their respective states during this time of uncertainty as a result of COVID-19. The letter encouraged state legislators …
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Encourages State Public Land to Remain Open Read More »