On September 11, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted its 30th Annual Banquet & Auction celebrating past and present Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) members and 30 years of protecting and advancing sportsmen’s traditions and fish and wildlife conservation on Capitol Hill and across the country. Nearly 60 CSC members joined leaders from the sportsmen’s conservation community …
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator AB 1254 would ban bobcat hunting in California until 2025, after which the state’s Fish and Game Commission would be authorized to reopen a bobcat hunting season after adoption of a bobcat management plan. When the bill was introduced, AB 1254 was an outright ban of bobcat hunting in …
On August 30, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and 23 other conservation organizations submitted a letter to Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt supporting the establishment of the Green River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Western Kentucky. Located along the Green River and Ohio River in Henderson County, the Green River NWR would conserve wetlands, floodplain forests …
On September 4, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and 34 other organizations submitted a letter to Congress in support of a number of top conservation priorities. The letter, which was sent to the leadership of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the House Natural Resources Committee, highlighted …
On August 26, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted comments on the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) proposed rule to revise its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. CSF supported many of the proposed categorical exclusions (CEs) and process clarifications, including CEs for issuing outfitting and guiding permits, rehabilitating roads and carrying out ecosystem restoration activities, …
Recently, the Department of the Interior announced the Administration’s efforts to continue increasing public access on public lands and waters by announcing the expansion of new hunting and fishing opportunities on more than 1.4 million acres across the nation. The expansion spans across 77 National Wildlife Refuges and 15 National Fish Hatcheries that are managed …
Department of Interior Announces Expansion of 1.4 million acres to Hunting and Fishing Read More »
Contact: Joseph Mullin, New England States Coordinator On August 28, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a hearing during which several sportsmen-related bills were available for public comment. One such bill was Senate Bill 1417 (SB 1417) – legislation that would ultimately authorize the use and possession of a firearm …
Massachusetts: Committee Hearing to Discuss Legislation Authorizing Suppressor Ownership Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator On August 23, the Missouri Conservation Commission provided the final approval for new regulations regarding the transportation of deer carcasses into and within the state. Following initial approval from the Commission in May and a subsequent public comment period, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) finalized these regulatory …
Missouri: New regulations to limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On August 27, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) hosted a dedication ceremony for the successful purchase of 442 acres of private land along Falls Creek, opening a new public access point to 26,000 acres of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, one mile of Falls Creek, and providing a …
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On September 3, the Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their annual dove hunt at the High Camp Farm in Erin. The event, hosted in conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, brought the Tennessee sportsmen’s community together for a day of comradery afield. Roughly 50 people, including a …
Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Dove Shoot Read More »
The National Marine Fisheries Service is currently accepting comments on the proposed final rule for Amendments 50A-F to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, these amendments would provide for permanent state management of the private recreational red snapper fishery in …
Time to Land State-based Red Snapper Management for the Future Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On August 26, approximately 12 Utah Sportsmen’s Caucus members and 25 other individuals, traveled into the high country of Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in pursuit of Tiger and Bonneville Cutthroat Trout. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator Ellary TuckerWilliams was also in attendance. “Utah legislators and other policy …
Utah: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Late Summer Fishing Trip Read More »
Contact: Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director Beginning later this year, Alabama residents will now have an opportunity to pursue sandhill cranes. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recently announced the new season for the migratory birds through a permit draw system. It is the first time since 1916 that there will be a …
Alabama: Sandhill Crane Season Returns to Alabama Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator With the 2019 archery deer season kicking off, Arizona Game and Fish (AZGFD) released a statement reminding hunters of a new rule, which regulates the possession and transport of harvested cervids and associated animal parts to reduce the likelihood of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) transmission into the state. …
Arizona: Steps Being Taken to Protect Elk and Deer from Chronic Wasting Disease Read More »
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator On August 20, the California Legislature Outdoor Sporting Caucus hosted the 13th Annual End of Session Reception at Mayahuel, in downtown Sacramento. The event brought together legislators, legislative staff, California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, NGOs and industry professionals to discuss sportsmen’s policy issues facing Californians before the …
California Outdoor Sporting Caucus Hosts 13th Annual End of Session Reception Read More »
Recently, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and 27 other organizations submitted a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in support of Aurelia Skipwith to serve as the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Last month, President Trump nominated Skipwith, who currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish …
On August 21, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the transfer of 11,149 acres from the Western Rivers Conservancy along the John Day River in Oregon to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This transfer also increases public access to 2,000 acres of public land that was previously “landlocked” by private lands and was …
Department of the Interior Announces Increased Access for Sportsmen and Women Read More »
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On August 17, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Upper Midwestern States Manager Nick Buggia traveled to Edinburgh, IN where he was invited to speak to the Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable (Roundtable), a coalition of in-state hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation organizations that work to promote pro-sportsmen policies in the state. …
Indiana: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Meets with In-State Sportsmen’s Groups Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On August 21, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s (MDIFW) Advisory Council voted to bring a significant change to a fishing method in the State’s northern region. With a unanimous agreement in favor of the proposed rule, the MDIFW Advisory Council agreed to ban the use …
Maine: Use of Live Bait Banned in State’s Northern Management Zone Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator In the near future, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) will be announcing the date, time, and location of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board’s public hearing regarding the topic of coyote hunting contests. Earlier this summer, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board received regulatory recommendations from MassWildlife, …
Massachusetts: MassWildlife Suggests Elimination of Predator Hunting Contests Read More »