Why It Matters: Once on the brink of extinction, the Louisiana black bear’s population has rebounded to the point where it must be managed. Beginning in December of 2024, the story of the Louisiana black bear is among the greatest conservation success stories in the southern United States and is a testament to the North…
Why It Matters: Louisiana is known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise” for good reason. Abundant hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and trapping opportunities can be found throughout the state, and these traditions continue to be protected in large part by the Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. However, having a pro-sportsmen governor as a member of the Governors Sportsmen’s…
Why It Matters: Each year, legislators look at ways to recognize and thank certain qualified individuals/groups by providing free and/or discounted licenses for hunting, fishing, and trapping. While this is well-intended, such legislation has the potential to reap deteriorative effects on the fish and wildlife agencies’ budgets. To prevent the loss of sportsmen-generate dollars for…
Why It Matters: With the recent adjournment of the Louisiana State Legislature’s 2024 general session, there were several big wins for sportsmen and women in “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Governor Jeff Landry signed into law pro-sportsmen bills that protect conservation funding, allow for the use of dogs to track wounded deer, and expand protections against hunter/angler harassment on…
Why It Matters: Legislation to protect conservation funding for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) by requiring that the agency be reimbursed for revenue lost due to the creation of free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses is a forward-leaning mechanism to safeguard the ability of the state fish and wildlife agency to…
Why It Matters: Our four-legged canine companions can play a crucial role in many aspects of our sporting traditions, including in the tracking and recovery of wounded game. Exhausting all available resources when tracking and recovering game is one of the cornerstones of hunting that ethical sportsmen and women share, so the use of tracking…
Why It Matters: Legislation that reimburses the state fish and wildlife agency for revenue lost due to the creation of free and discounted hunting licenses is an effective way to protect conservation funding from misguided attempts to recognize specific groups by providing them with free or discounted licenses. While these efforts are oftentimes well-intentioned, they have a significant…
Why It Matters: Thanks to the conservation management efforts of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and their partners, utilizing funding generated in large part by hunters through the American System of Conservation Funding, data supports establishing a highly regulated hunting season for Louisiana black bears. This will provide sportsmen and women, who are…
Why It Matters: The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Collegiate Sportsmen and Women’s Coalition (CSWC) seeks to educate young adults from diverse interests and backgrounds about the importance of hunting, angling, trapping, and recreational shooting to fish and wildlife conservation while also providing them with hands-on education in how to effectively engage in the policy process to protect these…
Why It Matters: Maintaining genetically diverse populations and minimizing human-wildlife conflict are key components to the success of wildlife conservation efforts. Hunting has proven time and time again that it is one of the best management tools to support these efforts. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and its Commission, recognize that hunting would…
Why It Matters: The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Collegiate Sportsmen and Women’s Coalition (CSWC) seeks to educate young adults from diverse interests and backgrounds about the importance of hunting, angling, trapping, and recreational shooting to fish and wildlife conservation while also providing them with hands-on education in how to effectively engage in the policy process…
Why It Matters: Menhaden are a critical part of the coastal ecosystem serving as an important forage food for many recreationally important species such as redfish, speckled trout, and others. In recent months, there have been several confirmed instances of net spills by commercial menhaden vessels. These spills resulted in the wasting of approximately 850,000…