State: WV

Why It Matters: By reducing barriers limiting prescribed burning on private property in a state that is more than 83% privately owned, Senate Bill 886 will have a significant impact on wildlife habitat in West Virginia. Whether burning to reduce wildfire risk or to enhance habitat diversity, popular game species, including wild turkey, White-tailed deer, and black bear, as well as nongame species that […]

Why It Matters: Each year, legislatures and state fish and wildlife agencies make changes to states’ hunting rules and regulations. This is why it is vital that you check your state’s hunting regulations prior to going afield to ensure you are not violating the law and potentially finding yourself with a citation from a game…

Why It Matters: It is no secret that the Mid-Atlantic region (DE, MD, PA, VA, WV) can be challenging when it comes to protecting and promoting our sporting heritage. IIn 2025 the region saw just about an equal number of pro-sportsmen’s bills (15.6%) and anti-sportsmen’s bills (16.8%).  The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation continues to work with…

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…

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…

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 often…

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…

Opportunities to expand angling access throughout the country have become increasingly limited in recent years due to increases in private ownership along waterways and attendant riparian rights limiting new access construction. State authorities often have the opportunity to expand fresh water angling access through the establishment of access points when state highway transportation departments are…