State: IN

Why It Matters: Bills piling up on legislative calendars across the country means that hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers could see changes to their favorite pastimes. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is committed to protecting our time-honored outdoor traditions through active engagement in the legislative process. Highlights:  With legislative sessions across the country in full…

Why It Matters: Active forest management is an effective way of improving wildlife habitat and forest health, which in turn increases access and opportunity for outdoor pursuits of these healthier wildlife populations. Forest restoration projects such as the one proposed on the Hoosier National Forest are crucial to conservation and CSF’s mission of advancing the…

Why It Matters: Being aware of changes to state laws and regulations is the first step in any successful hunting season. Before the buck-of-a-lifetime walks into your crosshairs this year, make sure that you are up to speed on any changes that may or may not be taking effect this hunting season. Highlights: Midwestern states…

Contact: Nick Buggia, Manager, Upper Midwestern States Highlights  Indiana House Bill 1183 would extend the check time on any trap that captures and terminates a furbearer to 48-hours, though it does retain the 24-hour check on all non-terminal traps. The bill would also create a one-day fur buyer license. The extension to 48-hours gives trappers…

Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Highlights Why it Matters: Wetlands play a vital role in our country. They provide a unique habitat critical for many species, as well as some of our most beloved game species and furbearers. Wetlands also help filter our water, improving water quality for our lakes and streams. Finally, wetlands…

Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On January 29, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter in opposition for Senate Bill 266 (SB 266) and joined a letter of opposition for Senate Bill 373 (SB 373) in Indiana. If passed, both bills would have negative effects on sportsmen and women in the state. SB…

Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On January 11, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined several other conservation organizations in signing an amicus brief (brief) in the U.S. District Court’s Southern District of Indiana. The brief supports the U.S. Forest Service’s Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project (Houston South Project) in the Hoosier National…

Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On October 15, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Upper Midwestern States Manager Nick Buggia coordinated a meeting with the new Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Dan Bortner, at Clark State Forest in Henryville, Indiana (IN). Members of the IN-Forest Forever Coalition and DNR staff were…

Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director, and Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to limit the ability of people to gather in large group settings, conservation organizations are exploring new ways to raise revenue as traditional in-person fundraising events, like banquets, have been canceled this year. Online raffles are one…

Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On August 14, Governor Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the addition of two new state forests in the Hoosier State. The 1,500-acre Ravinia State Forest was previously part of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, and the 1,153-acre Mountain Tea State Forest was formerly a…

Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On July 29 and 30, the Indiana Natural Resource Commission held public hearings regarding their Biennial Wildlife Amendments, which are proposed changes to the state’s wildlife regulations. Included in the amendments was the listing of the ruffed grouse as a state Endangered Species in Indiana. CSF submitted a letter…

Contacts: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager; Kent Keene, Lower Midwestern States Coordinator Since many Midwestern states have either wrapped up their 2020 legislative sessions or remain suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s States Program Team will be providing brief regional legislative updates over the next few weeks. Below…