Access & Opportunity

Protecting and Expanding Access for Sportsmen and Women

Access to quality outdoor opportunities for sportsmen and women is one of the greatest limiting factors facing the sporting-conservation community. CSF works at the federal and state levels to defend public land ownership, expand recreational access, and remove unnecessary barriers that limit opportunity for sportsmen and women.

From safeguarding millions of acres from disposal to advancing walk-in access programs and modernizing access policy, we lead on the issues that ensure hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting remain accessible for generations to come.

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Public Lands in Public Hands

We defend against efforts to sell or transfer public lands that would limit access for sportsmen and women without a thoughtful and transparent process.

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Expanded Recreational Access

We advance policies that open new opportunities on public and private lands through strategic partnerships and legislation such as the Making Public Lands Public initiative to facilitate access to landlocked parcels of public lands.

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Balanced Resource Use

We support policies that allow for responsible multiple-use management practices that improve fish and wildlife habitat and access for sportsmen and women.

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Long-Term Opportunity

Today’s policies must ensure future generations are afforded the same or greater access as we do today.

Sportsmen and women will be able to hunt black bears in FL for the first time in over a decade.

Air rifles will now be authorized for hunting in NH and can pay into conservation funding like all other methods of take.

400,000 hunters in MN may continue to use crossbows to take game during archery season.

Deer hunters in IN may harvest deer with fewer limitations on allowed cartridge lengths.

Congress was not asked to transfer 27M acres of federal lands to the state, highlighting support for public access for sportsmen and women in WY.

Hunting and recreational shooting access protected on 168,000 acres of state lands in VT.

More than 250,000 acres of public hunting and angling access were protected in AR.

Access to huntable land in SD protected against overly burdensome discharge distance restrictions.

Hunters in MD will retain their ability to use traditional lead ammunition.

More than 1.1M sportsmen and women in LA may now hunt with modern muzzleloader iterations, enhancing safety while afield yet conserving tradition.

Hunters in MD and TN may now use new technologies to assist in the recovery of wounded game while maintaining the Fair Chase Ethic central to our outdoor traditions.

Regulated, nighttime hunting opportunities for certain species were expanded in UT.

Public hunting and angling access to private lands were protected and enhanced in MT.

New projectile options are now available for muzzleloader hunters in ID.

Access rights to 42 million acres of private lands and 7 million acres of huntable public land were protected in ND.

New Sunday hunting opportunities opened on nearly 30 million acres in CT and PA.