On April 26, the Pennsylvania House Committee on Game and Fisheries unanimously voted to pass House Bill 485. The bill, sponsored by Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Representative Neil Goodman, would expand Pennsylvania’s mentored hunting program to include hunters that are 12-16 years old. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pennsylvania Federation of…
On March 28, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced that hunters will be able to use modern sporting rifles to harvest small game and furbearers in the 2017-2018 hunting seasons. The decision comes after the Commissioners preliminarily approved a proposal in January that would have allowed semi-automatic rifles to be used in all seasons where…
On March 20, the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation hosted their quarterly meeting, which focused on Chronic Wasting Disease and hunter recruitment. The Council is comprised of 20 individuals who provide input on ways to promote and enhance Pennsylvania’s outdoor heritage, along with an advisor, Robb Miller, who oversees administration of Council…
Pennsylvania legislators kicked off the 2017 legislative session by re-introducing two bills to provide sustainable conservation funding for the state’s fish and wildlife commissions – Senate Bills 30 and 192. This legislation would provide the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) the authority to establish license and permit fees. Both bills…
On January 31, the Pennsylvania Game Commission voted unanimously to approve the use of modern sporting rifles for hunting. The authorizing legislation (HB 263) was sponsored by Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Representative Matt Gabler, and was signed into law by Vice-Chair of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, Governor Tom Wolf. HB 263 authorizes the use…
On October 27, the Pennsylvania House overwhelmingly voted in favor (160-25) of Pennsylvania House Bill 263, which will provide hunters the opportunity to use semiautomatic handguns and rifles to harvest game. PA HB 263 was introduced in February 2015 by Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus member Representative Matt Gabler, and co-sponsored by six other Caucus members….
In 2015 alone, Pennsylvania’s sportsmen and women generated over $99 million in conservation funding through the “user-pays, public-benefits” program known as the American System of Conservation Funding. These funds are essential for both the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as they carry out their work to protect and enhance Pennsylvania’s…
On September 6, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), alongside numerous conservation partners, submitted a letter of opposition on Pennsylvania House Bill 2083 (HB 2083) to members of the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee. The following conservation organizations joined CSF in voicing concerns about HB 2083: Ducks Unlimited, National Deer Alliance, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pennsylvania…
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) recently amended the application process for deer control permits to place a greater focus on public hunting as an effective management tool to control isolated pockets of white-tailed deer overabundance. The new regulation, which went into effect on August 20, will now require applicants for deer control permits to explain…
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation recently hosted events at both the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 19, and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on July 26. The RNC Stars and Stripes Shoot-Out was a success with many senators and representatives representing the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC), state legislators representing the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucus (NASC),…
On June 7, the bipartisan, bicameral Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its Annual Cigar Reception in Harrisburg. More than 100 guests, including more than 40 members of the Caucus; Executive Directors of both the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; and Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) Member Governor Tom Wolf’s Hunting, Fishing,…
On May 24, the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a policy briefing on Senate Bills 1166 and 1168, legislation that would provide the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) the authority to establish license and permit fees. Approximately 20 members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus attended the briefing as well…