State: WI

Why It Matters: Across the Midwest, legislators are likely to introduce legislation that would provide free or discounted hunting or fishing licenses to certain individuals. While well-intended, legislation to offer free or discounted licenses has the potential to negatively impact state fish and wildlife agencies’ budgets. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been working with […]

Why It Matters: While legislators are back in their districts knocking on doors, it is important for sporting conservation stakeholders to ensure that they are ready to advocate for sound hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting policy once the gavel falls in 2027.  Highlights:  Last week, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation joined sporting conservation partners just outside […]

Why It Matters: Although sportsmen and women have long carried the banner as the primary funders of conservation, supplemental revenue streams are needed in nearly every state to meet fish and wildlife management needs. Without alternative funding sources that complement the long-standing leadership of sportsmen and women, conservation programs, and associated outdoor opportunities, are likely to suffer.  Highlights:  Throughout the country, conversations in the halls […]

Why It Matters: Although sportsmen and women are the backbone of conservation funding through their license and sporting gear purchases, states offer brief, limited opportunities to fish without purchasing a license in an effort to grow the base of anglers.  Highlights:  With summer officially upon us, almost all of the statehouses in the Great Lakes region have emptied their chambers of legislators while nearby […]

Why It Matters: Although sportsmen and women typically use camouflage to remain stealthy while afield, it has the opposite effect when worn in a state capitol building and quickly communicates an important message amongst the suits that typically occupy the halls of government. By coordinating an advocacy day like last week’s event in Wisconsin, hunters, anglers, and trappers…

Why It Matters: Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has long provided land acquisition and habitat management opportunities that benefit sportsmen and women through increased public access and improved habitat conditions. With the program set to expire in 2026 and no funding included in the current state budget, this legislation is critical to avoid a lapse in…

Why It Matters: Although hunters are at home in the field or woods, they must still be aware of what happens in the halls of their state government. Changes and updates to hunting laws and regulations can impact the pursuit of sportsmen and women’s favorite species, and hunters must stay on top of those changes…

Why It Matters: Legislatures that meet year-round still have outstanding opportunities to enact policies that benefit sportsmen and women. In Wisconsin, reauthorizing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund would continue to provide hunters and anglers with access to the State’s storied fish and wildlife resources, while creating a new hunting season for sandhill cranes would help farmers…

Why It Matters: To properly conserve natural resources and provide quality hunting and fishing opportunities, state fish and wildlife agencies are charged with a long list of responsibilities. Growing operational costs necessitate adjustments to the revenue that is generated through the American System of Conservation Funding and its complements to ensure that our time-honored outdoor…

Why It Matters: Across the country, hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers shoulder the responsibility of funding state fish and wildlife agencies through the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). However, due to constantly increasing staffing and programmatic costs, supplemental funding sources outside of the traditional ASCF model are critical to these agencies’ ability to…