Why It Matters: The proposed rule change to close these goliath grouper spawning aggregation sites to catch-and-release fishing in hopes to reduce perceived, potential impacts on goliath grouper populations is not scientifically based. Additionally, these sites are near the heavily populated southeast Florida region, and if they were closed to recreational fishing during one of…
Why It Matters: States have recognized the importance of providing positive outdoor recreation experiences for youth. It is no secret that hunter numbers are declining across the board so taking kids hunting and doing whatever possible to provide them with positive experiences only serves to benefit recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts as well as provide…
Why It Matters: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a top angling destination in the United States, and anglers, as much as anyone, want to ensure this incredible marine resource is effectively managed for healthy habitats and abundant fisheries for future generations. A previous Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed new management direction…
Why It Matters: An increase in access would not only benefit Florida’s sportsmen and women, but it would also assist in the management of natural resources located within the Big Cypress National Preserve. Off highway vehicles can be an important tool for accessing backcountry destinations, managing wildlife habitat, and giving youth, elderly, and those with mobility limitations the opportunity to…
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator On February 22, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) supporting rule proposals that would prohibit the importation and possession of Cervidae (deer family) carcasses or parts from out of state and clarifying the definition of a muzzleloader, while also…
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator On January 21, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in support of a four-month seasonal closure from April through July rather than the currently proposed two-month seasonal closure of May and June at a one-square mile piece of…
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator On December 15, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the National Park Service (NPS) in support of Alternative 5 of the Big Cypress National Preserve Backcountry Access Plan / Environmental Impact Statement (Plan). Alternative 5 is the NPS’s preferred alternative that would reopen 66 miles of…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On November 17, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Senior Director of Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy Chris Horton, and Southeastern States Assistant Director John Culclasure, were guest panelists on a University of South Florida Honors College Hunting and Conservation Panel. Horton and Culclasure spoke to students about the work…
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Commission (Commission) is developing draft rule changes that provide objective criteria for establishing Restricted Hunting Areas (RHAs). The FWC’s stated intent is to reduce confusion for hunters that utilize RHAs and communities that apply for a RHA. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is…
Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States Coordinator On August 5, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation into law that extends the sunset date for the use of airguns to July 1, 2025. Sponsored by Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Representative Trey Rhodes, House Bill 998 authorizes airguns as legal weapons for hunting big…
Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States Coordinator On July 22, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Commission (Commission) approved draft changes to flounder regulations. The changes included measures aimed at rebuilding the flounder fishery in the state. Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute recently released a stock assessment of the flounder population which indicated a…
Contact: Clay Chester, Southeastern States Coordinator On June 29, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1414 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) member Senator Debbie Mayfield, will expand the statute prohibiting the harassment of hunters, anglers and trappers by extending protections to sportsmen and women on public lands and waters….