State: GA

Why It Matters: America’s sporting heritage depends on more than healthy wildlife populations—it depends on people. As hunter participation fluctuates and longtime sportsmen age out of the field, efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate (R3) hunters have become increasingly important. Expanding opportunities for new participants through youth hunting programs, apprentice licenses, and mentored experiences helps ensure the future of conservation […]

Why It Matters: For over a decade, South Atlantic red snapper anglers have been trapped in a management system that routinely relies on federal recreational catch data that consistently misses even the National Marine Fisheries Service’s mark for useable data. This year, a state-led effort to collect more accurate and timely catch information through exempted fishing permits (EFPs) offered a […]

Why It Matters: As is with much of the country, turkey hunting continues to be wildly popular among hunters across the Southeast. Turkey hunting traditions run deep throughout the region, and the pursuit generates millions of dollars through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). From recruiting the next generation of […]

Why It Matters: Prescribed burning enhances wildlife habitat, reduces wildfire risk, and improves forest health. Reducing regulatory and legislative barriers that restrict the use of prescribed fire will promote more controlled burning to support a wide range of wildlife species, including both nongame species  and game species important to sportsmen and women.  Highlights:    On May 6, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Brian Kemp (Georgia) signed House Bill 983 into law, prohibiting counties and municipalities […]

Why It Matters: Our time-honored hunting traditions remain alive and well with today’s hunters, but will rely on the next generation to carry them into the future. In doing so, today’s youth will eventually be license buyers and, in turn, the primary funders of conservation through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the American System of Conservation Funding. By […]

Why It Matters: Georgia’s sportsmen and women were well represented once again at the Georgia General Assembly during the 2026 legislative session. From issues positively impacting conservation funding to hunter education in schools to prescribed fire, there were numerous wins delivered this session, ensuring Georgia’s hunters and anglers can feel confident their interests were well represented in Atlanta.   Highlights:   Georgia is an incredibly diverse state […]

Why It Matters: Prescribed burning enhances wildlife habitat, improves forest health, and reduces wildfire risk. Reducing regulatory barriers to prescribed burning provides clarity for the state, local governments, and the public, while reducing inefficiencies and risks for prescribed burners and landowners. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Coastal Plain, Georgia’s forest resources and wildlife will benefit from increasing the use of prescribed […]

Why It Matters: Today’s youth will soon be shouldered with carrying our time-honored traditions into the next generation. This also includes being the primary funders of conservation through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the American System of Conservation Funding. Being proactive and creative in recruiting and retaining the next generation of sportsmen and women is critical in…

Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women continue to step up to the plate as the primary funders of conservation in North America. Through the “user pays – public benefits” structure that is the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), hunters and anglers generate revenue from sporting license sales and excise tax revenue from the Wildlife and Sport Fish…

Why It Matters: Black bears present hunters with the opportunity to get afield in pursuit of one of the most storied big game animals in the country, both past and present. Simultaneously, black bear hunters generate valuable conservation funding dollars through the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding…