Why It Matters: In the age of technology where at least 88% of children aged 13-18 use the internet daily, and roughly less than 40% of those youth hunt, fish, hike, etc. on a weekly basis, a change is needed to keep current and future generations of sportsmen and women on the landscape. Legislators seek to do […]
Why It Matters: Healthy aquatic habitats are the foundation of abundant, sustainable fisheries and ample fishing opportunities for America’s anglers. For two decades, the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) has united federal and state agencies, fishing conservation organizations, industry, local communities, and private landowners behind a common goal: restoring, protecting, and enhancing the waters that support fish and […]
Why It Matters: In response to an estimated budget shortfall between $2-$12 billion, every agency in Washington state has been instructed to begin a budget reduction exercise. Natural resource agencies, while only representing 1.4% of the state’s budget, are not exempt. With a portion of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) budget supplemented by the state’s general fund, we could see cuts to […]
Why It Matters: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was designed to recover species and create a pathway toward long-term conservation. As grizzly bear populations continue to recover across parts of the West, proposals providing states and Tribes with greater management authority represent an important next step. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports science-based wildlife management and believes successful recovery should be accompanied by management flexibility […]
Why It Matters: Despite most state legislative sessions being adjourned in the summer months, legislators are still hard at work preparing for next year’s upcoming legislative session. Hosting policy centric events in conjunction with legislative conferences, like the Southern Legislative Conference, offers the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), an excellent opportunity to discuss policy issues impacting sportsmen and women and strategize for the upcoming legislative sessions. Highlights: […]
Why It Matters: Learn-to-trap programs offer great opportunities for individuals who have little to no experience with trapping to learn new skills. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have mentors to introduce them to our time-honored outdoor traditions, and not having the proper knowledge can be a barrier for youth or first-time trappers. Recognizing this, […]