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Why It Matters: The sportsmen’s community in Washington State has supported WDFW’s conservation efforts since its inception. Unfortunately, with recent Commission appointments, the hunting and angling community has seen our input discounted. In fact, several on the Commission have frequently proposed naming wildlife (or “non-human life”) as stakeholders of the Commission. It is important that…

Why It Matters: The Louisiana black bear is one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories in Louisiana in recent memory. Louisiana has not held a black bear hunt in the state since the late 1980s. However, there are now harvestable surpluses of black bears in specific Bear Management Areas (BMAs). With the increase in populations…

Why it matters: Year after year, the cost associated with natural resource management, as with all things, continues to increase. Given the “user pays – public benefits” framework of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), ensuring that license prices keep up with inflation helps state fish and wildlife agencies continue their work of providing…

Why It Matters: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an always fatal neurologic disease caused by an environmentally resilient, infectious protein called a prion that infects both farmed and free-ranging cervids. CWD was first discovered in Colorado during the late 1960s and was subsequently detected in wild deer in 1981. While CWD was first detected in…

Why It Matters: On September 29, 2023, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted testimony in opposition to New Hampshire House Bill 512 (HB 512) – An Act Exempting Firearms Manufactured in New Hampshire from Federal Laws and Regulations. HB 512, if passed, is very likely to result in an unintended and consequential diminishment to the…

Why It Matters: California’s law-abiding hunters and recreational shooters have long played a vital role in funding conservation through various wildlife management efforts throughout the state. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user pays — public benefits” program, California’s sportsmen and women generate tens of millions of dollars each year for…