Summary A 2022 proposed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) draconian vessel speed rule would have required anglers and boaters along the Atlantic with vessels 35 feet and longer to travel at 10 knots from shore to as far as 90 miles offshore from Massachusetts to Florida for much of the year to “protect” North …
Summary The fundamental necessities for wildlife to persist are food, shelter, and water. Lack of access to any one of these needs impacts individual animal survival and ultimately the persistence of entire populations of wildlife. Ensuring wildlife can reach these needs is a core component of habitat connectivity. Unfortunately, habitat connectivity is compromised in many …
Summary Over the past decade, several states have introduced regulations allowing these cartridges, which provide effective, safe hunting options in densely populated zones. Straight-walled cartridges are considered safer due to their lower velocity and reduced risk of over-penetration compared to traditional bottlenecked cartridges, making them ideal for areas with high population density. These cartridges also …
Summary Red snapper are a popular sportfish in the South Atlantic, but despite having the healthiest population of red snapper in recorded history, recreational anglers have been met with severely restrictive season lengths. This punitive result to having more fish in the water can be attributed to a federal management system that relies on often …
Summary While muzzleloading firearms, a historical method of hunting, remain popular in many states, technological advancements in these firearms—such as inline muzzleloaders, pelletized black powder substitutes, the new FireStick platform, and telescopic sights—have led to discrepancies in state regulations. Some states maintain strict definitions, limiting use to traditional technologies like flintlocks, while others permit modern …
Summary Often cited for its potential safety risks, fanning or reaping of turkeys statistically has not proven to be an unsafe act as some anecdotally claim. Simply, the data does not exist to back up the claim that the act or practice of fanning or reaping wild turkeys has a track record of casualties. Additionally, …
Fanning or Reaping as a Method of Taking Turkeys Read More »
Summary Airbow and airgun legality for hunting use varies by state. Where some limit airgun use based on minimum calibers, velocities and ammunition grain weights based on the game species, other states do not mention airguns at all, leaving ambiguity in the minds of prospective users. As advances in technology continue, legislators are generally encouraged …
Summary Opportunities to expand angling access throughout the country have become increasingly limited in recent years due to increases in private ownership along waterways and attendant riparian rights limiting new access construction. State authorities often have the opportunity to expand fresh water angling access through the establishment of access points when state highway transportation departments …
Considering Recreational Angling Access in Transportation Projects Read More »
Summary Over the last decade, many states have expanded opportunities for archery hunters wishing to use crossbows. Incorporating crossbow hunting opportunities into game management may increase hunter recruitment and retention, and crossbows can be valuable tool for controlling game populations, particularly in suburban and urban areas. Introduction Over the past decade, many states have eliminated …
Summary Defined as the distance from an occupied dwelling, public road, or city limits that is required to legally discharge a bow or firearm, legal discharge distances vary tremendously from state to state. Often enacted due to unfounded safety concerns, arbitrary and unnecessarily large discharge distances pose negatively impact hunter access in suburban and exurban …
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