Several states have passed legislation that allows non-resident, full-time college students to obtain hunting and/or angling licenses at the same price as state residents. The intent of these bills are to increase hunter and angler recruitment and retention within a subset of sportsmen and women which are especially prone to being restricted from hunting due…
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…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States, Assistant Manager Why it Matters: Airguns are a tempting option for hunters and recreational shooters as they are considered to be “hearing safe,” producing less than 140 dB of sound when fired. Despite continued advancement in airgun technology, regulations surrounding the use of airguns vary significantly from state to state….
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On November 3, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) released an article describing proposed regulation changes to big game and waterfowl hunting, in addition to the Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit program (CWMU) for 2021 and encouraging the public to submit comments. Elk DWR biologists are proposing to…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On October 1, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources published an article confirming that the Utah Wildlife Board had approved numerous changes to the 2021-2022 fishing regulations, along with several rule amendments. As stated in a previous article, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), along with the American Sportfishing…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator As the people of Utah begin to receive their 2020 ballots in the mail, it is up to registered voters to decide the fate of a very important ballot initiative, the Utah Constitutional Amendment E, Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment. Establishing the state constitutional right to hunt…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On September 22, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), along with the American Sportfishing Association and Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, submitted a collaborative comment letter to the Utah Wildlife Board in support of several proposed fishing regulation changes offered by the Division of Wildlife Resources. As discussed in detail…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator After conducting a survey earlier this spring of anglers statewide, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is proposing a few changes to current fishing regulations. The goal of the proposed changes is to increase angler satisfaction and ensure the sustainability of the various fisheries throughout the state….
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator During the 2020 session earlier this year, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member, Governor Herbert of Utah signed into law House Bill 125 (HB 125). Due to growing population of predators and their increasing impact on big game populations within the state, HB 125 prioritizes healthy populations of big game…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator The 2020 legislative session was a huge success for Utah’s outdoor sporting community as 9 pro-sportsmen and women pieces of legislation were enacted by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Gary Herbert. The culmination of each enacted bill is a tremendous win and a direct result of the hard work and dedication…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On March 11, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Gary Herbert signed House Joint Resolution 15 (HJR 15), a proposal to enshrine the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife in the Utah Constitution as a valued part of Utah’s outdoor heritage. Sponsored by Representative Casey Snider and co-sponsored by Senator Allen Christensen,…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Inter-Mountain Western States Coordinator On February 24, a new rule went into effect, allowing hunting within 29 of Utah’s 44 state parks, increasing hunter access and opportunities throughout the state. Previously, limited hunting was only allowed within 14 state parks. Approved in November 2019, the Utah State Parks Board supported the proposed…