On October 2, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, in conjunction with 35 other conservation organizations, sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the USDA to fully implement the Farm Bill’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP is the largest and most successful voluntary conservation program in the United States. Originally …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On October 2, Nick Buggia, the Upper Midwestern States Manager for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), testified in front of the Indiana Interim study Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources (a joint House and Senate Committee) in Indianapolis. Buggia advocated for the continued and expanded use of sound …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On September 30, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF), New England States Coordinator, Joe Mullin, delivered a presentation at the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs (WCLSC) Leadership Conference in Westborough. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) generously opened their Field Headquarters to facilitate this event, which …
Massachusetts: CSF Presents at Sportsmen’s Leadership Conference Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) has concluded public meetings on proposed changes to cougar hunting, as described in a previous article. The proposed changes include: The New Mexico Game Commission is still accepting written comments on the proposed changes until November, before voting. Interested …
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On October 2, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Mike DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will acquire 31,443-acres from American Electric Power (AEP) at a press conference with sportsmen’s groups in attendance. AEP’s roughly 60,000-acre ReCreation Land property in eastern Ohio has been open …
Ohio: Governor DeWine Announces Large Public Land Acquisition Read More »
Last week, President Trump announced his intention to nominate Kate MacGregor to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). Since joining the DOI in 2017, MacGregor has served in a number of roles including Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Lands and Minerals Management, and her current role as Deputy Chief of …
President Nominates MacGregor to Serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior Read More »
On September 27, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined several other sportsmen-conservation organizations with in the sportfishing community in support of improved angler access opportunities to better managed fisheries by submitting letters concerning management decisions impacting Biscayne Bay, Gulf of Mexico red snapper, and bluefin tuna. In Biscayne Bay, despite the opposition from the recreational …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On September 17, the Indiana Natural Resource Commission (INRC) approved a citizen’s petition submitted by the Ruffed Grouse Society to add ruffed grouse to their state endangered species list. After careful consideration, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter of support for the listing, which called for …
Indiana: Ruffed Grouse to be listed as State Endangered Species Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On Tuesday, October 22 and 29, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) will be hosting public hearings related to the management of coyote hunting contests. The hearings will be centered on the proposed regulations to change the manners in which the Commonwealth’s predators are hunted – …
Massachusetts: MassWildlife to Host Public Hearings Related to Predator Hunting Contests Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On September 18, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced a public comment period and meeting pertaining to the proposed purchase of two perpetual conservation easements. Collectively referred to as the “Coal Creek Conservation Easement,” the purchase would include 10,072 deeded acres in Custer and Prairie …
Montana: Public Meeting and Comment Period for Proposed Coal Creek Conservation Easement Read More »
On September 25, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted to advance the nomination of Aurelia Skipwith to serve as the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Skipwith, who currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks at the Department of the Interior, was nominated to serve …
Senate Committee Advances Nominee for Top FWS Post Read More »
On September 27, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) announced an open grant application period for its Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). VPA-HIP is a US Farm Bill program designed to increase recreational public access on private lands for wildlife-related activities. Additionally, VPA-HIP funding may be …
USDA to Invest $50 Million in Recreational Public Access on Private Lands Read More »
Governors from across the country have signed proclamations recognizing Saturday, September 28 as National Hunting and Fishing Day. Among these 35 proclamations is: *Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus Member
By Zach Widner, Northwest States Senior Manager For me, fall doesn’t officially begin until I’ve bagged the first dusky grouse off a high mountain ridge here in my home state of Idaho. Coupled with the excellent trout fishing found in many nearby rivers and creeks, I can’t think of a better way to ring in autumn …
National Hunting and Fishing Day: Why You Should Participate Read More »
On September 25, the House Natural Resources Committee voted yes on two important conservation programs which have been a priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC). H.R. 925, the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act (NAWCA) and H.R. 1747, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act (NFHP), are both …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On September 5, after thorough public scoping, tribal consultation, and analysis of resource conditions, the US Forest Service released a Decision Memo, granting the request of the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) for improved management of the House Rock Wildlife Area (HRWA) bison herd, located within the …
On September 18, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 2245, the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies Act, or CECIL ACT, largely on a party- line vote. Following a legislative hearing in late July, the Natural Resources Committee advanced this highly partisan legislation which, among many other things, seeks to …
House Natural Resources Committee Advances Shortsighted Anti-Hunting Legislation Read More »
On Tuesday, the House Natural Resources Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing on H.R. 925, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), and H.R. 1747, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act (NFHP). The North American Wetlands Conservation Act provides matching grants to protect, restore, and manage critical wetland …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On September 16, the Indiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted their first Sportsmen’s Rendezvous at Atterbury Shooting Complex in Edinburgh. Attended by approximately 50 people, this event provided an opportunity for legislators, conservation organizations, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff, and members of the Natural Resource Commission to discuss …
Indiana: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts First Sportsmen’s Rendezvous Read More »
Contact: Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States On the weekend of September 13, Co-Chairs and Members of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus gathered at the historic Woodmont Lodge in Washington County, for their annual Caucus retreat. Brent Miller, The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Senior Director, Northeastern States, attended the event alongside Caucus Co-Chairs and members …
Maryland: Caucus Gathers for Annual Retreat at Historic Woodmont Lodge Read More »
