By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager In Michigan, water is what brings us all together. It doesn’t matter if you are from Detroit or Calumet, we all have memories and traditions that revolve around our lakes and rivers. If you are an angler, Michigan is a premier destination for fresh water fishing. Whether you …
Michigan’s Arctic Grayling Initiative: Reintroducing an Icon Read More »
Contact: Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director On May 30, Alabama HJR 265 – a joint resolution commending efforts undertaken to secure state management of red snapper and support state management of all recreationally important saltwater fish species – received final passage. The measure was later signed by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Kay Ivey on June …
Alabama: Red Snapper Management Joint Resolution Passes Legislature Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On June 3, the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began a 30-day public comment period to allow stakeholders to weigh-in on a proposed shooting sports pilot project to open four new recreational shooting microsites on public lands in Maricopa County, near Phoenix. Recreational …
Arizona: Public Comment Period Open for Proposal to Build Recreational Shooting Sites Read More »
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator The California Legislature officially proclaimed June 1-9, 2019 as California Fishing and Boating Week, in conjunction with the National Fishing and Boating Week. Through ACR 81, California recognizes that fishing and boating provide invaluable opportunities for families to reconnect through outdoor recreation on the water. Mark Smith with Northern …
California: Legislature Declares State-wide Fishing and Boating Week Read More »
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On June 5, regular sessions adjourned for the Connecticut General Assembly, bringing an end to numerous anti-sportsmen bills that were introduced earlier this year. Coordinating efforts alongside the Co-Chairs for the Connecticut Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) worked tirelessly to prevent several pieces of legislation …
Connecticut: CSF Prevents Anti-Sportsmen Legislation as Sessions Adjourn Read More »
Last week, Government Accountability Office (GAO) staff attended the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Destin, Florida to learn more about the different stakeholder perspectives on fishery reallocations. Their presence was a direct result of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act, also known as the Modern Fish Act, which was signed into law …
Government Accountability Office Gathers Intel at Gulf Council Meeting Read More »
Recently, the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (HSSCC) submitted a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue encouraging the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to consider the needs of hunters and state fish and wildlife agencies when evaluating access to designated wilderness areas. The HSSCC is a federal advisory council that develops and provides recommendations …
On June 5, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service submitted a proposed rule to open or expand more than 1.4 million acres of National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands and waters to hunting and fishing. There are more than 560 National Wildlife Refuges nationwide, including more than 360 …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to announce the formation of the Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Advisory Council. In this role, members of the Advisory Council will provide guidance and assistance to the Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs. Members of the Caucus Advisory Council include: Matt Dunlap, …
Maine: Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Advisory Council Member Formed Read More »
Contact: Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator On May 24, the United States Forest Service (USFS) began a 60-day public comment period allowing stakeholders to weigh in on the proposed closure of Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) to feral hog hunting. Mark Twain National Forest covers 1.5 million acres across 29 counties throughout the Missouri …
Missouri: US Forest Service Proposes Feral Hog Hunting Ban on Mark Twain National Forest Read More »
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is seeking session ideas and participation from partners with an interest in the 16th Annual National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses Sportsman-Legislator Summit to help develop the conference agenda. In particular, proposals for sessions during the two full days of educational programming are invited. Ideas for prospective keynote sessions and presentations …
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator On May 31, the Oregon Senate voted unanimously to pass HB 3035, an anti-poaching bill, that increases the maximum penalty for certain wildlife law offenses. The legislation increases penalties for offenses committed without a culpable state of mind to a Class A misdemeanor ($2,000 fine) and increases the maximum …
Contact: Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director On June 7, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), in conjunction with the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, hosted the 3rd Annual South Carolina Sporting Clays Classic at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Palmetto Shooting Complex in Edgefield. The event brought together elected officials, state agency leaders, members of …
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On May 30, the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries appointed Ryan Brown as the Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). Brown is a committed hunter and angler and has an extensive background in natural resources policy. Brown worked for the …
Virginia: Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Executive Director Appointed Read More »
Recently, the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council submitted a letter to Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary David Bernhardt in support of the DOI’s efforts to increase migratory waterfowl populations while enhancing hunting opportunities. The Council develops and provides recommendations to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to promote and advance hunting and …
The Honorable Thad Cochran, former Senator and U.S. Representative from Mississippi, passed away on Thursday, May 30. Cochran, who served more than 45 years in Congress, was a Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Member and avid sportsman. He staunchly supported numerous pro-sportsmen’s conservation bills throughout his tenure in Congress, including the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act, the Modern Fish Act, …
In Memory of Former Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Thad Cochran Read More »
Contact Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On May 30, the Maine Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted another Caucus luncheon, which was attended by Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) New England States Coordinator Joe Mullin, along with several in-state and national conservation organizations and industry-related partners. With the majority of bills having made their way through committees, …
Maine: Legislators Discuss Apprentice Hunting Program at Caucus Luncheon Read More »
Contact Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator In a victory for Maine’s sportsmen and women this past week, LD 1071, “An Act to Prohibit the Sale of High-Capacity Magazines,” was official defeated on May 28. LD 1071 would have prohibited the selling or supplying of a “high-capacity magazine” from person to person. In this sense, …
Maine: Sporting Community Defends Against “High-Capacity” Magazine Ban Read More »
Contact Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator On May 25, the Oregon Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife hosted the annual Youth Fishing Day at the Capitol. Pools with trout and bass were brought to the steps of the Oregon State Capitol building to provide a quality experience and unique opportunity for …
Oregon: Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Youth Fishing Derby at the Capitol Read More »
Contact John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On May 24, the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission approved deer hunting regulation changes in an effort to limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and minimize its impact on Tennessee’s deer herd. In the three southwestern Tennessee counties where CWD has been confirmed (Fayette, Hardeman and …
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