By Chris Horton, Senior Director of Midwestern States and Fisheries Program Accountability is a word that often gets thrown around in the ongoing feud between recreational and commercial anglers. For me, watching and participating in the Gulf of Mexico red snapper war for almost a decade, one of the most frustrating aspects has been how some …
On November 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 925, the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act (NAWCA), on a bipartisan suspension vote. Introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) member Rep. Mike Thompson (CA), H.R. 925 will authorize $60 million annually through Fiscal Year 2024 to conduct on-the-ground wetland conservation projects across North America. Prior to …
On November 20, the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (HSSCC) held a meeting to discuss pressing issues facing the hunting and shooting sports community, and were joined by the Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, and other senior officials from the Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA). The HSSCC, …
On November 19, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Committee) voted to advance the nomination of Ms. Kate MacGregor to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior. In addition, the Committee also voted to advance the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act (S. 1081). Both actions passed on a …
Senate Committee Advances Important Interior Nominee and Conservation Funding Bill Read More »
Nearly 50 bipartisan legislators and leaders from state fish and wildlife agencies from more than 25 states gathered in Greensboro, Georgia for the 16th Annual National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Sportsman-Legislator Summit. Hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), this year’s Summit theme was “Partners Advancing America’s Conservation Movement: NASC, Fish & Wildlife Agencies, …
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator On November 2, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation attended the 2019 Sportsmen’s Rendezvous in Anchorage, Alaska, hosted by the Outdoor Heritage Foundation of Alaska (OHFA). The Sportsmen’s Rendezvous brought together Alaska Outdoor Heritage Caucus (Caucus) members, state and federal agencies, and non-government organization (NGO) partners from across Alaska. OHFA is …
On November 6, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) had the opportunity to serve on the panel for a discussion regarding alternative management for recreational fisheries during a meeting of the Council Coordination Committee (CCC) in Washington, DC. The Committee consists of the Chairs, Vice-Chairs, and Executive Directors from each of the eight regional fishery management …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On October 29, Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Commissioner Patrick Keliher was elected to serve as the next Chair of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Chosen by the ASMFC member states, Commissioner Keliher will serve a two-year term in this official capacity. Through his new …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On November 7, the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a breakfast briefing that provided an opportunity for legislators, conservation organizations, Department of Natural Resources staff and members of the Natural Resource Commission to discuss conservation issues and activities across the state. This briefing focused on Pheasants Forever’s mission …
Michigan: Pheasants Forever Presents at Sportsmen’s Caucus Breakfast Briefing Read More »
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On November 7 and 8, the 2019 Boating and Fishing Industry Summit was held at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Hosted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), this first-time event brought together boating and fishing tackle manufacturers and retailers, state and federal fish and wildlife …
Contact: Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator On Tuesday, November 5, Texas voters took to the ballot box and approved the constitutional amendment known as Proposition 5, which fully dedicates the sales tax revenue for certain sporting goods items to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Parks Division (TPWD) and the Texas Historical Commission (THC). …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On October 23, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game released a statement announcing finalized agreements with twelve private timberland companies, securing public access to 336,630 acres for hunting, angling, trapping, hiking, wildlife viewing, and recreational travel in northern Idaho. This most recent agreement is in addition to …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On October 29, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board held a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed predator hunting contest ban and wanton waste regulations. The event took place at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters in Westborough and drew …
On October 30, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board (Board) approved an addendum to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass to prevent overfishing and harvest of Atlantic striped bass from North Carolina to Maine. Specifically, the Board approved Addendum VI to Amendment 6 of the Interstate …
Measures to Conserve Striped Bass Approved by Fisheries Managers Read More »
Contacts: Midwestern States Senior Director Chris Horton, Upper Midwestern States Manager Nick Buggia, and Lower Midwestern States Coordinator Kent Keene As the days become shorter, the leaves begin to change colors, and the north winds move in, sportsmen and women across the Midwest are recognizing the fast approach of the white-tailed deer rut. Commonly peaking …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On October 30, Pennsylvania Senate Bill 147 (S 147) passed the House with a strong, bipartisan vote of 144-54. This marks the most significant progress that any effort to repeal the more than three-century-old prohibition on Sunday hunting has ever achieved. S. 147 would authorize Sunday hunting in …
Pennsylvania: Sunday Hunting Clears another Hurdle with Historic Vote on the House Floor Read More »
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On October 27-30, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Southeastern States Director Bee Frederick and Central Appalachian States Manager John Culclasure attended the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 73rd Annual Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The conference brought together state fish and wildlife agency staff, wildlife and …
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On October 26-27, the 13th Annual Governor’s One Shot Whitetail Hunt was held at the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke. Hosted by Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Jim Justice, the event is an annual fundraiser that benefits the Hunters Helping the Hungry program in West Virginia. The West Virginia …
West Virginia: Governor’s One Shot Hunt Raises Funds for Hunters Helping the Hungry Read More »
On October 23, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Representative Joe Cunningham (SC), along with CSC members Representatives Garret Graves (LA), CSC Co-chairs Marc Veasey (TX) and Austin Scott (GA) and CSC Vice-chair Debbie Dingell (MI), introduced the Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2019 (H.R. 4828). The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) played …
Bill to Reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Introduced Read More »
Earlier today, former North Carolina Senator and past Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Kay Hagan passed away at the age of 66. Serving in the United States Senate from 2009-2015, Hagan was assigned to a number of critically important Committees including the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; among others. …
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Remembers Late Senator Kay Hagan Read More »
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