Why It Matters: Each year, state fish and wildlife agencies introduce regulations that impact hunting, fishing, trapping, and sometimes, recreational shooting. While the agency follows the required process for the potential adoption of these regulations, most sportsmen and women are unaware that they can potentially impact these regulations through the public comment period and staying up to date and in contact with their state agency.
Highlights:
- The regulatory process welcomes public input, for sometimes lengthy windows, through many avenues such as public hearings (in person and virtual) as well as accepting written testimony.
- Many sportsmen and women do not stay up to date with their state fish and wildlife agency, which can result in the missed opportunity to comment on a potential regulation that directly impacts hunting, fishing, trapping, or recreational shooting.
- Staying involved with your state’s fish and wildlife agency also allows you to participate in hands-on volunteering opportunities for fisheries, wildlife, and other conservation projects.
Each state has different laws regarding the regulatory process for their fish and wildlife agency. Some state fish and wildlife agencies have the authority to set regulations on most issues, while others still have items controlled by the legislature such as Sunday hunting (as it is in statute) and must rely on the legislative process to make changes. For example, the recent repeal of the longstanding and antiquated legislative prohibition on Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania (HB 1431), repealed the statute, now giving the state agency (Pennsylvania Game Commission) the full regulatory authority on Sunday hunting. The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Board of Game Commissioners then held a public hearing to solicit feedback from the public before setting regulations on Sunday hunting for all game species.
Outside of the regulatory process, staying involved with your state fish and wildlife agency affords you opportunities that you may not get from anywhere else. For example, in Maryland, the Department of Natural Resources often posts opportunities for the public to participate in events such as tree plantings, trash pickup, habitat work, and workshops geared toward the Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation (R3) initiative. Additionally, sometimes other conservation groups partner with state agencies for habitat projects where they welcome the public to attend and learn more about the work they are doing.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) encourages all sportsmen and women to stay involved with their state fish and wildlife agency to ensure you are aware of any potential changes to your beloved outdoor pastimes and can voice your opinions during the regulatory process. Additionally, you may be able to participate in a hands-on conservation project in your state!
