State: ID

Why It Matters: An essential component in defending and expanding our rights and/or privileges to recreate outdoors is public recognition for the cultural significance of traditional sportsmen’s activities and sportsmen’s contribution to conservation. Measures highlighting the significance of sportsmen, like Idaho House Bill 652 (HB 652), which named hunting as the official state sport of Idaho, are one such way to celebrate our outdoor heritage. Sportsmen were the original conservationists and remain conservation’s main source […]

Why It Matters: As emergent technologies potentially allow hunters and anglers to be more efficient and successful in the field, questions of fair chase ethics, and population stability inevitably follow shortly behind. State fish and wildlife agencies across the country are tasked with finding a suitable middle ground, where hunters and anglers can still take advantage of new technologies, without giving them an unfair advantage over wildlife and harvesting too many game species off the…

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) announced today that Nate Serlin has joined the organization as the Rocky Mountain States Coordinator. In this role, Nate will work closely with the state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses under the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) and members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming to protect…

Why it Matters: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) provides important hunting and fishing opportunities across the country. Despite the importance that FWS lands, particularly through the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS), play for sportsmen and women, there are often inconsistencies between state and federal regulations, as…

Why It Matters: Wolf management remains a contentious issue, balancing ecological health, livestock protection, and cultural values. Science-based decisions must be made by state commissions, utilizing data and recommendations from the agency biologists to ensure sustainable wolf populations while addressing conflicts with prey species and human interests. Highlights: Idaho’s Department of Fish and Game’s (IDFG)…

Why It Matters: As Idaho continues to navigate the balance between outdoor heritage and modern legislative pressure, Senate Bill 1013 emerges as a promising step forward. This bill, introduced by  Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs, aims to bolster trapping education and mentorship programs, offering a structured entryway for individuals interested in trapping while reinforcing its…

Why It Matters: As a part of their ongoing case to delist grizzly bears, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is reviewing and updating hunting and trapping rules to aid in their overall recovery plan. Temporary black bear hunting rules were recently adopted by the IDFG commission, and a formal rule making process,…

Why It Matters: A recent court ruling has made wide scale changes to trapping seasons in the northern portions of Idaho, designated as grizzly bear habitat. Prior to this ruling, Idaho Senate Bill 1211, supported by the Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, had expanded wolf trapping seasons in areas with chronic livestock depredation and/or reduced elk…

Why It Matters: Quagga mussels, initially detected in the Snake River in September 2023, prompted rapid treatment and mitigation efforts that included limiting access to the waterway. Supported by Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-chairs, Senate Bill 1372 added $6.6 million in funding towards detection, treatment, and eradication of aquatic invasive species. Early detection and treatment…