Contacts: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager and Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator From June 23 – 26, the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) hosted its 86th Directors’ Meeting at Maumee Bay State Park and Convention Center in Oregon, Ohio. This annual meeting brings together the directors of the state fish …
Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies hosts 86th Annual Directors’ Meeting Read More »
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On June 25, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) held an open house and public comment period in Brainerd, Minnesota regarding the delisting of gray wolves from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The event filled the 300-seat venue in northern …
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On June 20, legislation (HB 166) that would facilitate increased funding for the Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW) passed the Senate and is headed to conference committee after the House refused to concur with the Senate’s amendments to the budget bill. The budget contains modest increases for resident …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On June 26, a milestone was reached by Pennsylvania’s sportsmen and women as an important Sunday hunting bill passed the Senate with a vote of 36-14. Co-sponsored by Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Daniel Laughlin and Senator Jim Brewster, Senate Bill 147 would authorize the Pennsylvania Game Commission …
Pennsylvania: Sportsmen’s Caucus-Driven Sunday Hunting Bill Passes Senate Read More »
This week, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Fisheries Program Director Chris Horton joined fellow members of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council for their first meeting of the year to discuss a variety of issues important to the angling and boating community. The Council, which consists of conservation and business leaders from across the country, …
On June 18, the House Rules Committee voted to report H.R. 3055 to the House floor for further consideration and amendments. During the floor amendment process, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) was heavily involved in working with Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members to incorporate several pro-conservation amendments into H.R. 3055. This “minibus” funds the Departments of …
Bill to Fund Important Federal Agencies Moves to House Floor Read More »
Contact: Aoibheann Cline, Western States Coordinator On June 20 – 21, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted the 6th annual Wine, Wings & Wildlife western regional event in Sonoma, California. The event brought together members of the sportsmen’s community from across the West for a reception and dinner at the Barn of Tyge William Cellars, …
California: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Hosts 6th Annual Wine, Wings & Wildlife Read More »
On June 19, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the approval of $78 million in funding for wetland conservation projects by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission is chaired by Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, and is an advisory group that considers and approves any areas of land or …
Department of the Interior Approves $78 Million for Wetland Conservation Projects Read More »
Recently, the Hunting and Shooting Conservation Council (HSSCC) submitted a letter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to assist in facilitating discussions between various stakeholders to resolve longstanding recreational shooting disputes. The HSSCC develops and provides recommendations to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to promote and advance hunting and the shooting sports. Congressional Sportsmen’s …
Contact: Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator Across much of the Lower Midwestern region, the 2019 Legislative Sessions are coming to a close. As a result of work by the bipartisan legislative sportsmen’s caucuses across this region, supported by Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation staff, several pieces of pro-hunting and fishing legislation are set to become law. …
Contact: Joe Mullin, New England States Coordinator On June 18, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) hosted its final public listening session on coyote hunting contests and species population management practices at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay. The event primarily served the purpose of allowing MassWildlife the opportunity to gather public …
Massachusetts: MassWildlife Hosts Final Listening Session on Coyote Contests Read More »
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On June 14, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) issued a release notifying the public that a second white-tailed deer inside Libby city limits was exhibiting signs of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal disease of increasing concern for wildlife managers across North America. In accordance with the …
Montana: Second Free-Ranging Case of Chronic Wasting Disease Suspected Read More »
On June 19, the House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative markup on H.R. 3195, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Member (CSC) Congressman Van Drew (NJ). Earlier this year, S. 47 – the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act – …
Natural Resources Committee Advances Bill to Fund Land and Water Conservation Fund Read More »
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On June 20, House Bill 483 (Let Them Spawn) passed its third reading in the state’s House of Representatives on a 58-47 vote. Sponsored by North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Larry Yarborough and Representative Michael Wray and Caucus members Representatives Jason Saine and Brian Turner, HB …
North Carolina: Coastal Fisheries Reform Legislation Advances Read More »
Contact: Brent Miller, Senior Director, Northeastern States On June 18, the bipartisan and bicameral Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its Annual Cigar Reception at the Susquehanna Ale House in Harrisburg, where an important Sunday hunting-related bill was discussed. Over 40 members of the Caucus were joined by Directors and staff members from both the Fish …
On June 12, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ) introduced H.R. 3195, a bill to provide permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee where it awaits further action. LWCF was first enacted in 1965 to provide funding …
Recently, the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council submitted a letter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt regarding the usage of Backcountry Conservation Areas. The Council develops and provides recommendations to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to promote and advance hunting and the shooting sports. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane serves as Council Chairman. …
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On June 5, the Idaho Fish and Game Department (IDFG) began a 21-day public comment period to allow stakeholders to provide input on rule proposals affecting the importation of wildlife, certain deer and elk tags, youth turkey hunting, the use of Wildlife Management Area (WMA) permits where pheasants …
Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Earlier this month, Illinois HB 3623, which proposes expanding apprentice hunting opportunities in the state, passed both Houses. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation strongly supports this important bill. HB 3623 amends the current law allowing individuals to apply for an apprentice hunting license more than once. If signed into …
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On May 31, a regulation change that significantly expands the Kentucky crossbow deer season went into effect. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation supported the regulation change and submitted a letter in support that stressed the importance of increasing access and opportunity for Kentucky hunters to support hunter recruitment, retention, …
Kentucky: Crossbow Deer Season Expansions Enacted for 2019-2020 Read More »
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