Introduction Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) are four-digit identifiers used by payment networks to broadly categorize a merchant’s line of business (e.g., grocery, hardware, sporting goods). Recently, the creation and contemplated use of a firearm-specific MCC has raised concerns that financial institutions could flag, track, and/or halt lawful purchases by hunters and recreational shooters. To protect …
Introduction The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly “drones”) in wildlife and game-management contexts is growing rapidly. One emergent application is the recovery of wounded game – i.e., locating an animal that has been legally harvested or mortally wounded, but cannot be found easily via traditional tracking methods. Recently, several states have explored legislative …
Why It Matters: The 2025 West Virginia legislative session was a productive one with Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation engaging early and often on many issues of concern for West Virginia’s sporting community. During legislative sessions, policies that are formed in state’s capitols impact what we do on the water and afield and, fortunately for the sportsmen …
Why It Matters: West Virginia is home to some of the most stunning cold-water fisheries that are inhabited by many fish, including the state fish: the native brook trout. It is no secret that anglers and boaters are the primary funders of state level fisheries management (Sport Fish Restoration Act) and that is why Senate …
Angler Access Legislation Reintroduced in the Mountain State; Here is Why it’s Important Read More »
Why It Matters: Each year, legislators across the country and in West Virginia, introduce well-meaning legislation that provides free and discounted hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for certain qualified individuals/groups. However, these initiatives have the potential to have negative impacts on the state’s fish and wildlife agency’s budget. To prevent the loss of sportsmen-generated dollars …
Summary Over the past decade, several states have introduced regulations allowing these cartridges, which provide effective, safe hunting options in densely populated zones. Straight-walled cartridges are considered safer due to their lower velocity and reduced risk of over-penetration compared to traditional bottlenecked cartridges, making them ideal for areas with high population density. These cartridges also …
Why It Matters: It is no secret that the Mid-Atlantic region (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) plays an important role in our outdoor heritage. However, with the region also presents many challenges for sportsmen and women, conservation efforts generally. As 2024 ends, we can look back at the successes that are attributed to a strong …
Why It Matters: On September 23, 2023, sportsmen and women across the nation celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD). This year’s efforts from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) helped secure proclamations commemorating the day from 39 governors and the President of the United States. Governors from all 12 Southeastern region states signed NHFD proclamations …
Why It Matters: As deer seasons are opening across the Southeast, sportsmen and women should not rule out urban properties to hang a tree stand or set up a ground blind. Several states in the Southeast offer urban archery seasons which expand deer hunting opportunities and help to manage human/wildlife conflicts. Urban archery seasons are …
Urban Archery Seasons Provide Expanded Hunting Opportunities in the Southeast Read More »
Why It Matters: Hailing from a region of the Mountain State with a particularly strong sporting heritage, Delegate Dean will continue working to ensure that the sportsmen and women of West Virginia are well represented at the West Virginia Legislature. Delegate Dean continues the tradition of pro-sportsmen legislators stepping up to protect outdoor sporting traditions …
New Sportsmen’s Caucus Leader Added in West Virginia Read More »
