State: WA

Why It Matters: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Budget and Policy Advisory Group (BPAG) plays a critical role in shaping sustainable wildlife management and funding strategies. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) continued representation through Assistant Manager, Northwestern States Marie Neumiller’s reappointment ensures that the sportsmen’s voice remains central to these discussions. This…

Why It Matters: Anti-hunting groups have been seeking a restructuring of representation on Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission), which over the years has shifted Washington’s wildlife management away from the science-based, sportsmen-funded model that supports conservation, instead favoring a preservation-based “precautionary” model. Over time, this has eroded the public’s role in rulemaking, reduced hunting…

Why It Matters: Washington’s outdoor heritage relies heavily on the contributions of trappers, anglers, and hunters who utilize natural resources responsibly to support wildlife management and local economies. House Bill 1775, which seeks to prohibit activities related to the production and manufacturing of fur products, poses potential and significant challenges to these time-honored traditions. As…

Why It Matters: During the 2023 legislative session, the Washington Legislature commissioned a $300,000 study to review the governance, climate adaptability, and the mandate of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The results of that study have led some legislators to consider sweeping revisions to the WDFW governance structure. One of the seven…

Why It Matters: As the Washington State 2025 legislative session nears, we are anticipating that several anti-gun bills will be revisited. Previous sponsors of Washington House Bill 1902 have demonstrated public support for renewing a “permit to purchase” bill that failed in 2024. Bills like this place unnecessary burdens on local police departments, legal hunters…

Why It Matters: Chronic Wasting Disease is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that impacts members of the cervid family including deer, elk, caribou, and moose. This highly transmissible neurological disease is always fatal to infected animals, complicating wildlife management. While there is currently no evidence of CWD passing from deer to humans the CDC does…

Why It Matters: State fish and wildlife agencies throughout our country are tasked with the difficult job of balancing recreation with conservation and wildlife management. Extra work goes into special hunts and the raffle permit systems. The carefully planned 2024-2025 special hunt season in Washington State was thrown into chaos after a software error was…

Why It Matters: This past week, the fish and game Commissions for both Montana and Washington State reviewed their mountain lion quotas and hunting seasons. Montana took an ecosystem approach and aimed for harvests that were sustainable for both mountain lions and ungulates while maintaining hunting opportunities. Washington focused solely on mountain lion populations with…

Why It Matters: Many sportsmen and sportswomen head to the outdoors to get away from their phones and technology, so it can be easy to forget that technology has many benefits for, as well as impacts on, conservation efforts. From GIS mapping systems that will help improve sagebrush habitat, to debates over hunting and fishing…

Why It Matters: As population studies wrap-up, commissions convene, and court decisions are announced, management and regulatory conversations begin anew. While wolves are only one species among thousands, the decisions being made with wolf management have ripple effects throughout wildlife conservation as well as hunting and trapping opportunities. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is working…

Why It Matters: Despite existing security and reporting requirements on Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders, a bill is making its way through Washington State that would add onerous restrictions on firearms businesses. During recent testimony, licensed firearms dealers warned that these proposed restrictions will put them out of business. Should FFL locations begin closing as…