The vast majority of states throughout the nation offer an online component of the hunter’s safety course, which provides potential hunters a way to receive their hunter safety certification at their own pace. By offering new hunters an easy and efficient way to gain hunter safety certification, more people will have the opportunity to begin…
Many state legislatures have enacted legislation to afford senior citizens, veterans, and active duty military members special hunting and fishing opportunities and discounted fees as a means of maintaining hunter numbers, as well as to reward them for their service to the country and commitment to conservation. However, states should be cautioned to work with…
Why It Matters: As an avid sportsman, Senator Shane Wilkin is dedicated to protecting and advancing Ohio’s outdoor sporting traditions. Senator Wilkin is a member of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and it is critical to have pro-sportsmen representation on this key committee for issues impacting hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooters. Highlights:…
Why It Matters: Though license fees are often among the more affordable items needed to participate in many of our time-honored outdoor traditions, they are at times considered to be a barrier to participation. To alleviate some of these perceived hurdles, free fishing weekends are just one of the many opportunities afforded to those interested…
Why It Matters: Allowing full-time nonresident college students to purchase hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate recognizes the financial realities facing students attending higher education out-of-state. Additionally, by taking this step, this furthers hunter and angler recruitment, retention and reactivation goals and balances the modest decline in conservating funding with the long-term gains…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On January 11, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Mike DeWine signed knife ban repeal legislation into law. Senate Bill 140 repeals the prohibition against carrying a concealed deadly weapon if the knife is not used as a weapon and removes the prohibition against the manufacture or sale of…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On December 8, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the Ohio House of Representatives in support of knife ban repeal legislation. On November 24, Senate Bill 140 (SB 140) reported out of the House Committee on Criminal Justice on a 7-4 vote. The House of…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On November 10, the Ohio House of Representatives Criminal Justice Committee discussed knife ban repeal legislation. Senate Bill 140 was previously discussed in the same committee in November 2019 after passing the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote (32-1). Former Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Joe Uecker…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On August 25, the Co-Chairs of the Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) led a virtual meeting with conservation partners to discuss issues impacting Ohio’s sportsmen and women. Senator Sean O’Brien, Senator Michael Rulli, and Representative Gil Blair, discussed their recent field day with the Ohio Department of Natural…
On August 21, Co-Chairs of the Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Senator Sean O’Brien and Senator Michael Rulli participated in a field day with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). ODNR Director Mary Mertz and other agency staff joined Sen. O’Brien and Sen. Rulli as they electroshocked fish on Conneaut Creek, discussed Ohio’s Scenic Rivers…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On January 29, the Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus welcomed members from Ohio’s sporting conservation community to the statehouse for a Caucus Reception to kick off the 2020 legislative session. More than 100 people, including roughly 60 legislators, leadership staff from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and representatives from sportsmen’s groups…
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On November 21, the House Criminal Justice Committee discussed knife ban repeal legislation (Senate Bill 140). The bill previously passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support (32-1) on June 27. Originally sponsored by former Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Joe Uecker, SB 140 would repeal the prohibition…