State: FL
South Atlantic Red Snapper Management
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 variable…
Win for FL Sportsmen Included in Final Backcountry Access Plan for Big Cypress
Why It Matters: Encompassing roughly 179,000 acres, the Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) is a critical piece of public land that provides access for many sportsmen and women in south Florida. Establishing Wilderness designations within the BCNP would have negatively impacted science-based management practices to improve wildlife habitat as well as access to quality hunting…
Florida Becomes the 24th State to Adopt a Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment
Why It Matters: Voters in Florida spoke loud and clear – hunting, fishing, and the harvesting of wildlife are rights that need to be protected within the Constitution of Florida. Nearly 7 million Floridians took a massive step and voted favorably on Amendment 2 to ensure that the time-honored sporting traditions of Floridians as well…
Election Day is Here – Vote Yes on Amendment 2 in Florida
Why It Matters: Tomorrow, November 5, those who haven’t voted early or by mail will flock to the polls to have their voice heard on Election Day. As we have reported previously, Floridians can enshrine the right to hunt and fish within their state constitution by voting “yes” on Amendment 2. If Amendment 2 receives…
Why are Right to Hunt and Fish Constitutional Amendments Important?
Why It Matters: With election day right around the corner (November 5), anticipation is building for Americans to get out and exercise their right to vote. This year’s election is especially important for sportsmen and women, as voters will be presented with the opportunity to protect our time-honored traditions at the ballot box. Aside from…
Protecting Hunting and Fishing at the Ballot Box in Florida
Why It Matters: Passage of Amendment 2, the proposed right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife constitutional amendment in Florida, on November 5 would not only ensure the protection of our shared, time-honored traditions of hunting and fishing from unnecessary limitations or outright bans, but also the continuation of conservation funding through the American System…
FL Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Leadership Opposes Wilderness Designations Within Big Cypress
Why It Matters: Congressionally designated Wilderness oftentimes reduces access for sportsmen and women and limits natural resource management capabilities in favor of preservation over conservation. Establishing Wilderness designations within the Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) would negatively impact science-based management practices to improve wildlife habitat as well as quality hunting opportunities in southern Florida. Highlights:…
Temps Rise on Atlantic Red Snapper Season, While Florida Experiments with a Better Way
Why It Matters: July 12th marked the beginning, and the end, of the 2024 South Atlantic red snapper season. Unfortunately, we are stuck under a federal management paradigm in the South Atlantic that rewards a rapidly rebuilding red snapper population with fewer red snapper fishing opportunities, with the season totaling one day this year. Sound…
Federal Land Hunting & Angling Access
Many sportsmen and women depend on federal lands managed by agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for access to activities like hunting, fishing and recreational shooting. As these agencies develop strategies to manage federal lands, it is critical for those who support these activities…
No-Net-Loss
“No-Net-Loss” of public lands has become increasingly important to ensure access to public lands and waterways for current and future generations of sportsmen and women. Sometimes referred to as “Hunting Heritage Protection Acts,” these policies limit the loss of access to hunting and fishing opportunity by establishing a minimum acreage of publicly- owned areas open…
Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
In recent years, Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) use has increased rapidly across the country.The unmitigated consequences of such growth not only threatens the environmental health of the lands used in OHV recreation but also threatens to eliminate future OHV opportunities. Some states have taken steps to provide adequate funding for sustainable OHV management and to…