Why It Matters: Within striking distance of crossing the finish line on a multi-year effort, the Michigan Senate’s unanimous passage of a Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) priority bill to allow hunter education and firearm safety to be taught in schools for credit towards graduation aims to introduce young people to firearm safety, the great outdoors,…
Why It Matters: Through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses and tags, sportsmen and women provide the foundation for the American System of Conservation Funding. However, over time, the operational costs of state fish and wildlife agencies can exceed the revenue generated from these license and tag purchases, and legislatures must sometimes revisit the…
Why It Matters: Although hunters are at home in the field or woods, they must still be aware of what happens in the halls of their state government. Changes and updates to hunting laws and regulations can impact the pursuit of sportsmen and women’s favorite species, and hunters must stay on top of those changes…
Why It Matters: Revenue generated by sportsmen and women purchasing their licenses and tags is the foundation of the American System of Conservation Funding. However, as years pass, the costs that state fish and wildlife agencies incur while carrying out their missions exceed the revenue generated from these license and tag purchases, and legislatures must…
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: Hunting is the preferred tool for wildlife management, as it is the most effective, cost-efficient, and socially acceptable method of maintaining healthy wildlife populations. It is imperative that policies are guided by science-based principles and that hunters are provided opportunities to be active participants in conservation. Highlights: In April, the Congressional Sportsmen’s…
Why It Matters: To properly conserve natural resources and provide quality hunting and fishing opportunities, state fish and wildlife agencies are charged with a long list of responsibilities. Growing operational costs necessitate adjustments to the revenue that is generated through the American System of Conservation Funding and its complements to ensure that our time-honored outdoor…
Why It Matters: School is where students should be exposed to ideas that they aren’t exposed to at home – and with fewer hunters in the fields and woods, there are fewer hunters to learn from. Offering hunter education in schools stands to expose more prospective hunters to the thrills and tenets of our sporting-conservation…
Why It Matters: Sportsmen and women are the original conservationists and, as our sporting-conservation heritage is threatened by a growing number of ballot-box biology initiatives, it is imperative that hunters, anglers, and trappers participate in the political process. Ensuring that each license purchaser that is eligible to vote is provided with a registration opportunity stands…
Why It Matters: Hunters are the original conservationists and have shouldered the duty of managing wildlife populations through their participation afield and their funding of state fish and wildlife agencies through license and sporting goods purchases. Ensuring that hunters are not barred from participating in the management of populations is critical for the continued success…
Why It Matters: Hunters are the backbone of conservation and to continue carrying that banner, new sportsmen and women must be exposed to the woods and fields. However, as fewer folks dress themselves in camouflage and orange, there are fewer to pass on our time-honored outdoor traditions to new generations. Allowing schools to instruct safe…