Earlier this month, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director Margaret Everson announced that 38 federal wildlife refuges will be staffed and remain open for 30 calendar days to the public for recreation, which includes hunting and fishing opportunities. Not only does this decision allow certain federal employees to be paid during the shutdown…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On January 17, the Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held its first meeting of the 2019 legislative session in Richmond, Virginia. The meeting was attended by Caucus members, representatives from state agencies, and in-state sportsmen’s groups. Cale Godfrey, Assistant Chief of Wildlife Resources for the Virginia Department of Game…
By Brett Stayton, Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator Brett Stayton joined the Delaware Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus for their first meeting of the year on January 10. Riding a wave of momentum after establishing a very successful track record over the past few years, the Caucus Co-Chairs have once again developed an…
By Bee Frederick, Southeastern States Director On January 8, Congressional Sportsmen Foundation (CSF) Southeastern States Director Bee Frederick attended and presented at the Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF) Keeping Georgia Wild Summit. The bi-annual meeting, organized by GWF, brings together the sportsmen’s community with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and legislative leaders to discuss issues…
The 2018 Gulf of Mexico private recreational red snapper season was the first season deemed a success by the recreational fishing community in recent years. Last year, the states – not the federal government – were allowed to manage the recreational red snapper fishery under exempted fishing permits (EFPs). However, EFPs are temporary, and the…
On January 8, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman and Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) introduced the Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47). S. 47 includes a number of longstanding priorities of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) that are critically important to increasing access for…