Why it Matters: Firearms are arguably one of the most important sporting tools for hunting and shooting sports participation while serving as a critical source of conservation funding thanks to the Pittman-Robertson Act. State firearm preemption laws keep the regulation and lawmaking ability around firearms vested at the state level and limit the ability of…
Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women carry the bulk of the load as it relates to conservation funding through the “user pays – public benefits” American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). While the sporting-conservation community bears this financial responsibility with honor, what is less discussed and appreciated is the role that non-resident hunters and anglers…
Why It Matters: Following an overhaul of the state’s regulatory processes by the Indiana General Assembly, the process through which harvest quotas are set in the Hoosier State has been significantly complicated. Rather than harvest quotas being set based on population data collected by the Indiana DNR, those quotas must now be set through a…
Why It Matters: In January 2013, New York State passed the NY SAFE Act which included a provision mandating background checks on ammunition at point of sale. In 2016, California followed suit with Proposition 63 which was later amended by the legislator to mandate ammunition background checks in 2019. Neither system could take effect until…
Why It Matters: While it may not be obvious or intuitive, for some species, the fish we release when saltwater fishing factors into how many days we can pursue that fish in the future. To ensure sustainable access to those fisheries, and because it is simply the right thing to do, we need to do…
Why It Matters: National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) was established in 1972 to celebrate and recognize hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife conservation. Hunting and fishing are time-honored traditions that help make up the very fabric of the Magnolia State, and Governor Tate Reeves recognized those traditions through signing a proclamation recognizing…