Earlier this week, the National Park Service (NPS) issued a final rule that will now provide archery hunters with better access to public lands that surround the National Park System. Prior to the rule change, hunters could only transport archery equipment through National Parks if their bow or crossbow remained in a motor vehicle or…
On September 18, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee marked up and passed S. 593, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. This bipartisan legislation was introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Senators Shelley More Capito (WV), John Boozman (AR), Michael Bennet (CO), and CSC Vice-Chair Heidi Heitkamp (ND). This bill…
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined 23 partner organizations from the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) in requesting that the Department of the Interior (DOI) develop a department-wide policy recognizing the benefits of man-made water sources for wildlife conservation. In a letter submitted to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, the group highlighted the many…
On September 13, the House Natural Resources Committee held a markup and passed two bills including H.R. 502, a bill to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as well as H.R. 6510, the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act. H.R. 502, would permanently reauthorize LWCF at the current authorized level of…
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) applauds the recent decision by NOAA Fisheries to deny an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) that would have allowed pelagic longline (PLL) vessels into the East Florida Coast Pelagic Longline Closed Area. “Both resident and non-resident anglers who fish along the east coast of Florida owe NOAA Fisheries a debt of gratitude…
On September 7, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the opening of more than 251,000 acres to new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Specifically, the 251,000 acres will span across 30 refuges, and will increase the number of units open to hunting to 377, and fishing to…