Sunday Hunting legislation (H.B. 1237) was reported out of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, January 22, by a vote of 12-10. Introduced by Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, this provision would allow for hunting on private property on Sundays, provided the hunter has written permission of the landowner. Hunting within …
On February 22, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Bob McDonnell signed two pro-sportsmen angling bills into law. SB 1106, sponsored by Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr., authorizes the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to revoke a person’s fishing privileges (for up to 2 years) within the tidal waters if he or she …
Virginia –Two Pro-Sportsmen Angling Bills Signed into Law Read More »
2013 Sportsmen’s Economic Impact Report – Virginia
Virginia sportsmen and women could fill both Richmond International Raceway and Martinsville Speedway nearly 5 times (857,000 vs. 177,000). Every five years in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey on hunters and anglers, CSF produces a report on the economic impact hunters and anglers have on the economy. This information is vital in …
Summary Many sportsmen and women depend on federal lands managed by agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for access to activities like hunting, fishing and recreational shooting. As these agencies develop strategies to manage federal lands, it is critical for those who support these …
Summary “No-Net-Loss” of public lands has become increasingly important to ensure access to public lands and waterways for current and future generations of sportsmen and women. Sometimes referred to as “Hunting Heritage Protection Acts,” these policies limit the loss of access to hunting and fishing opportunity by establishing a minimum acreage of publicly- owned areas …
Introduction Sunday hunting bans are one of the last remaining examples of the puritanical blue laws that were initially designed to encourage church attendance. At the time when these restrictions were first put in place, other activities that were illegal on a Sunday included opening a store for business, drinking alcoholic beverages, and tilling your …
Introduction Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal, degenerative neurological disease occurring in farmed and free-ranging deer, elk, caribou, and moose. The disease was first recognized in 1967 as a clinical ‘wasting’ syndrome of unknown cause in captive mule deer in Colorado. CWD belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies …
Summary One important tool for protecting fish and wildlife habitat is a state-level tax credit for gifts of land for conservation or conservation easements. With a wide variety of implementation options, these programs can provide alternatives to development by providing landowners with financial incentives to conserve land. These lands benefit fish and wildlife populations and …
Summary In keeping with the present framework of the American System of Conservation Funding, a state-level sales tax on outdoor gear can provide an additional dedicated revenue source for agencies that manage both game and non-game species. Introduction Conservation funding in the United States is largely a “user pays – public benefits” structure in which …