One Chamber Down, One to Go – CSF Priority Hunting Access Legislation Sails Unanimously Through South Carolina House

Why It Matters: In recent years, as southern coastal states face rapid influxes of new residents, efforts to conserve lands open to public hunting access remain front and center for sportsmen and women. Proactive measures to establish a “no-net-loss” of public hunting access will protect sportsmen and women’s ability to get outdoors, and in return, our time-honored traditions for generations to come.

Highlights:

• On January 30, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council Member Representative Bobby Cox and Caucus Co-Chair Representative Heather Bauer introduced House Bill 3872, which would limit the loss of available acreage open to hunting for South Carolina’s sportsmen and women.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted comments in strong support of House Bill 3872.
• First reported favorably out of the House Wildlife Subcommittee on February 18, House Bill 3872 was subsequently reported favorably by the full House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee and was quickly followed by a unanimous 110-0 “Yes” vote on the House floor.
• House Bill 3872 will now head to the Senate for further consideration.

CSF staff around the country are busy tracking thousands of pieces of legislation impacting sportsmen and women. As measures move from committee to committee or on to the next chamber, CSF staff are working closely with legislative sportsmen’s caucus members on priority legislation that positively impacts sportsmen and women and their abilities to enjoy our time-honored traditions.

House Bill 3872 (HB 3872), an effort spearheaded by CSF and the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, quickly cleared subcommittee, full committee, and the House floor without receiving a single “No” vote.

HB 3872 applies to South Carolina managed lands which are defined as lands owned by the state in which the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) holds management authority and are enrolled in the Wildlife Management Area program. The following provisions also apply under HB 3872:

• SCDNR managed lands must be open to hunting access unless limited by the SCDNR for fish and wildlife management or otherwise limited by statute outside of the SCDNR’s authority;
• The SCDNR must exercise its authority in a manner that supports, promotes, and enhances hunting opportunities;
• SCDNR land management decisions must not result in the net loss of habitat land acreage available for hunting opportunities;
• If the loss of acreage for hunting were to occur, the SCDNR shall expeditiously find replacement acreage to compensate for the closure;
• And the SCDNR must submit to the Senate Fish, Game, and Forestry and House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committees a written report describing the acreage that was closed to hunting during the previous fiscal year and the acreage that was opened to compensate for the closure.

CSF would like to again thank Representatives Bauer and Cox for their leadership on the “no-net-loss” of public hunting lands initiative. CSF looks forward to working with the Caucus, the SCDNR, and our partners to continue to advance House Bill 3872.

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