Several states have passed legislation that allows non-resident, full-time college students to obtain hunting and/or angling licenses at the same price as state residents. The intent of these bills are to increase hunter and angler recruitment and retention within a subset of sportsmen and women which are especially prone to being restricted from hunting due…
Recreational fishing is widely accepted as a wholesome and non-controversial lifetime outdoor activity with numerous positive benefits. By sanctioning angling as a recognized sport, athletic associations and schools provide opportunities for students and families who might not otherwise participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities. Due to its wholesome and non-controversial nature, recreational fishing is widely recognized…
The vast majority of states throughout the nation offer an online component of the hunter’s safety course, which provides potential hunters a way to receive their hunter safety certification at their own pace. By offering new hunters an easy and efficient way to gain hunter safety certification, more people will have the opportunity to begin…
Similar to hunting, a lack of access is cited as one of the primary barriers to participation in the shooting sports. School-based programs offer opportunities to participate in shooting activities at a young age which is essential in maintaining and increasing the number of hunters and recreational shooters across the United States. Trap, skeet, sporting…
Many state legislatures have enacted legislation to afford senior citizens, veterans, and active duty military members special hunting and fishing opportunities and discounted fees as a means of maintaining hunter numbers, as well as to reward them for their service to the country and commitment to conservation. However, states should be cautioned to work with…
Why It Matters: On September 23, 2023, sportsmen and women across the nation celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD). This year, Governor Brian Kemp was one of 40 governors that signed proclamations commemorating NHFD. As the original conservationists, sportsmen and women make immense contributions to conservation funding and the economy in Georgia and across…
Why It Matters: On September 23, 2023, sportsmen and women across the nation celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD). This year’s efforts from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) helped secure proclamations commemorating the day from 39 governors and the President of the United States. Governors from all 12 Southeastern region states signed NHFD proclamations…
Why It Matters: One of the key principles of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the world’s most successful wildlife conservation model, is that wildlife resources are held in the public trust. At the core of this tenet is the Public Trust Doctrine, which established a trustee relationship for the government to manage fish,…
Why It Matters: Offshore fishing is an integral part of Georgia’s sporting heritage, and it also supports many coastal economies. Proposed federal regulations that limit the speed in which vessels can travel off the east coast gravely threaten fishing opportunities, economies, and the safety of boaters. These regulations were proposed without input from the recreational fishing…
Why It Matters: Senator Goodman stepping into this leadership role is important to the advancement of the Caucus as Senator Harper provided invaluable leadership to its success. From the mountains to the coast, Georgia features a robust assortment of hunting and fishing opportunities, and the bicameral and bipartisan Caucus serves on the front lines of…
Why It Matters: Red drum are a popular target for recreational anglers, many of whom travel from across the country to pursue these fish. Georgia currently has the most liberal red drum creel and vessel limits of any state in the South Atlantic region. These proposed changes are aimed at decreasing large individual catches and…
Why It Matters: Exotic invasive species that are kept as pets, such as the Burmese python, the Argentine tegu in Georgia, and others, are often released and can quickly become invasive to local and regional ecosystems. Once populations become established, many outcompete and otherwise cause serious damage to native wildlife populations. Highlights: On September 30,…