National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrates the time-honored traditions of hunting and angling, as well as the immense conservation and economic contributions made over time by the original conservationists – sportsmen and women – who support sound, science-based wildlife management through license sales, excises taxes on outdoor gear, and sustainable-use models. National Hunting and Fishing…
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…
Similar to hunting, a lack of access is cited as one of the primary barriers to participation in the shooting sports. School-based programs offer opportunities to participate in shooting activities at a young age which is essential in maintaining and increasing the number of hunters and recreational shooters across the United States. Trap, skeet, sporting…
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: The previously amended version of House Bill 1300 sought to transfer $150,000,000 from the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), which would have also jeopardized around $40,000,000 in federal conservation dollars for the state; a potential total combined revenue loss of more than $190,000,000 for conservation funding. The PGC has been tasked with managing…
Why It Matters: Extending the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC) ability to set license fees through the regulatory process affords it the opportunity to make smaller adjustments over a gradual period, thereby avoiding the sticker shock that is often associated when increases are made through one legislative effort. In 2022, Pennsylvania had 1,146,972 certified…
Why it Matters: Events such as the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus’ Annual Cigar Reception, offer forums and opportunities for candid conversations among both new and tenured Caucus members, agency staff, and industry professionals about crucial conservation-related issues within the Keystone State, while also serving to celebrate the great work that has been accomplished thus far…
Why it Matters: The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has a tenured history in fighting against Sunday hunting prohibitions wherever they exist. In the northeast region, states including Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware continue to impose these restrictions – in their own unique ways – upon sportsmen and women. Being able to…
Why It Matters: For over 85 years, sportsmen and women have played a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in the United States through the American System of Conservation Funding. They have risen to the occasion in financially supporting their respective state fish and wildlife agencies, and on occasion, agreeing to license fee increases that…
Recent advances in technology, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s), which can assist in the tracking and taking of game, have posed an ethical debate within the hunting community. Legislators and sportsmen should be mindful of Fair Chase issues and, on a state-by-state basis, determine if legislation is warranted to ensure hunting is practiced ethically…
Why It Matters: Modernizing the method by which Pennsylvania’s hunters may purchase antlerless tags provides a heightened level of convenience and practicality. Currently, hunting license holders apply for antlerless licenses by submitting pink envelopes to their respective county treasurer’s office – a process that takes months to complete. By updating this method to an electronic…
Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies are instrumental in setting the frameworks that result in the successful conservation and management of a state’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Sportsmen and women (including hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers) have played a crucial role in funding conservation efforts in the United States for over…