On November 6, voters in North Carolina approved an amendment to the state constitution to protect the Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife. The amendment passed 57.18% to 42.82%. A total of 2,061,766 votes were cast “for” the amendment. Once the amendment is certified and enrolled, North Carolina will be 22nd state to constitutionally…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On November 6, voters in North Carolina will have the opportunity to constitutionally protect the Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wildlife (RTHF). If this amendment (ballot measure 1) is approved by voters, North Carolina’s hunting and fishing traditions would be protected in perpetuity. Protecting these pastimes is…
By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum recently became the 36th member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), a group of bipartisan state chief executives dedicated to supporting the outdoor traditions of sportsmen and women in their respective states. “North Dakota has a rich heritage of hunting and fishing, and I’m…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On October 12, a coalition of sportsmen’s conservation organizations submitted a letter to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) encouraging the agency to move forward with rulemaking to open Sunday hunting on Game Lands. In 2017, the Outdoor Heritage Enhanced legislation was signed into law, removing the…
By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On October 9, the North Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its 4th annual Legislative Clay Competition at Capitol City Sporting Clays in Bismarck. Attendees included North Dakota Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Erin Oban and Representative Todd Porter along with several other legislators, representatives from the North Dakota Governor’s…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On July 30, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted comments on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) “Proposed Replacement of the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of Red Wolves in Northeastern North Carolina.” Current regulations have not effectively managed red wolves on the Albemarle Peninsula in…
By Joel Hodgdon, Central Midwestern States Coordinator During this year’s annual Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) Directors’ meeting, North Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Representative Todd Porter was honored with the 2018 MAFWA President’s Award. The award was presented to Rep. Porter by North Dakota Game and Fish Department Director Terry Steinwand,…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On June 25, legislation to constitutionally protect the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife in North Carolina passed both legislative chambers. The amendment will be presented to voters for ratification in the November 2018 elections. Before the House passed Senate Bill 677 92-23, it adopted an amendment…
By Joel Hodgdon, Central Midwestern States Coordinator From June 24-27, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Central Midwestern States Coordinator Joel Hodgdon attended the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) Director’s Annual Meeting in Bismarck, North Dakota. The meeting brought together state fish and wildlife agency directors and staff from across the midwestern region, as…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On June 20, legislation to constitutionally protect the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife in North Carolina passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support (44-4). Senate Bill 677, sponsored by North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Members Senators Danny Earl Britt, Tom McInnis, and Norman Sanderson, would be…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On May 24, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Representative Kyle Hall introduced legislation (HB 991) that would provide continuity in fox trapping regulations in certain counties in North Carolina. The legislation would set fox trapping season in select counties across the state to be consistent with North…
By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On May 21, North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Senator Bill Rabon was announced as the 2017 State Legislator of the Year by Safari Club International (SCI). A longtime champion for sportsmen’s rights and an active member of the Caucus, Sen. Rabon was instrumental in the efforts to…