Why It Matters: The sale of hunting and fishing licenses makes up the bedrock of conservation funding in the United States. While efforts to provide certain groups of well-deserving individuals with a financial break on license fees are commendable, it threatens funding that benefits resources held in the public trust. Additionally, science-based wildlife management depends on reliable data to determine harvestable …
CSF Priority Legislation on the Move in Mississippi Read More »
Introduction Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) are four-digit identifiers used by payment networks to broadly categorize a merchant’s line of business (e.g., grocery, hardware, sporting goods). Recently, the creation and contemplated use of a firearm-specific MCC has raised concerns that financial institutions could flag, track, and/or halt lawful purchases by hunters and recreational shooters. To protect …
Why It Matters: Mississippi was the first state in the nation to implement a Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). Their DMAP program went statewide in the 1980s, which became wildly successful and has resulted in Mississippi having one of the most robust white-tailed deer herds in the country. Ironically enough, Mississippi is the only state in …
Will Mississippi Ever Have Mandatory Deer Harvest Reporting? Read More »
Why It Matters: The National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Annual Sportsman-Legislator Summit, hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), is the only conference for state legislators dedicated to protecting and advancing pro hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and trapping policy. The NASC Summit provides an unmatched opportunity to connect with legislators, state fish and wildlife agency staff, sporting-conservation …
Why Should You Attend the 22nd Annual NASC Summit? Read More »
Why It Matters: For over 80 years, sportsmen and women have been the primary funders of conservation in North America. The “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) relies on those who consumptively use the resource to pay for the privilege to do so. Today, most state fish …
Dedicated Funding for Conservation Efforts in the South Read More »
Why It Matters: There was no shortage of legislation impacting hunters and anglers in the Magnolia State during the 2025 legislative session. Everything from protecting conservation funding from free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses, creating a new wild turkey stamp, ensuring that poachers pay restitution back to the state for illegally taking wild game held …
Recapping the Sporting-Conservation Issues of the Mississippi Legislative Session Read More »
Summary Red snapper are a popular sportfish in the South Atlantic, but despite having the healthiest population of red snapper in recorded history, recreational anglers have been met with severely restrictive season lengths. This punitive result to having more fish in the water can be attributed to a federal management system that relies on often …
Why It Matters: Every year bills are introduced that would allow individuals to purchase a free or heavily discounted hunting and/or fishing license. Legislators tend to target deserving groups. However, if passed, these bills could have a significant impact on conservation funding for their respective state’s fish and wildlife agency. That is where legislation that reimburses the …
Why It Matters: The success experienced by the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) since its inception in 2006, when they also joined the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC,) is largely due to a history of strong leadership coupled with steadfast support from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). Featuring well over 100 members of the Mississippi Legislature, …
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Elects Leadership Read More »
Why It Matters: National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) was established in 1972 to celebrate and recognize hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife conservation. Hunting and fishing are time-honored traditions that help make up the very fabric of the Magnolia State, and Governor Tate Reeves recognized those traditions through signing a proclamation recognizing …
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