The vast majority of states throughout the nation offer an online component of the hunter’s safety course, which provides potential hunters a way to receive their hunter safety certification at their own pace. By offering new hunters an easy and efficient way to gain hunter safety certification, more people will have the opportunity to begin…
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…
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…
Why It Matters: Signed into law by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Jim Justice, legislation to allow additional game species to be tracked with dogs when mortally wounded and legislation to authorize the use of a new muzzleloader product furthers ethical hunting practices and increases hunting opportunities for the Mountain State’s sportsmen and women who…
Recent advances in technology, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s), which can assist in the tracking and taking of game, have posed an ethical debate within the hunting community. Legislators and sportsmen should be mindful of Fair Chase issues and, on a state-by-state basis, determine if legislation is warranted to ensure hunting is practiced ethically…
Why It Matters: States have recognized the importance of providing positive outdoor recreation experiences for youth. It is no secret that hunter numbers are declining across the board so taking kids hunting and doing whatever possible to provide them with positive experiences only serves to benefit recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts as well as provide…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On February 12, West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair Senator Bill Hamilton introduced legislation that would allow raffles to be conducted online. With the limitations on in-person gatherings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, hunting and fishing conservation nonprofit organizations across the country have been unable to host…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Recently, the bicameral and bipartisan West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) announced the addition of two new Co-Chairs of the Caucus, Senator Bill Hamilton and Delegate Eric Householder. “I’m excited to help lead the West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and look forward to working with the DNR, the…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director Many pro-sportsmen’s bills were signed into law during West Virginia’s 2020 legislative session. Very few anti-sportsmen’s bills were filed this session, and none were signed into law. Working alongside conservation partners and the state fish and wildlife agency, the bicameral and bipartisan West Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus), which is…
Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Assistant Director On March 7, two important bills for sportsmen and women in the Mountain State completed legislative action and are eligible for the Governor’s signature. House Bill 4514 would authorize the use of leashed dogs for tracking mortally wounded deer or bear. The hunter must accompany the dog handler, and…
Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On October 26-27, the 13th Annual Governor’s One Shot Whitetail Hunt was held at the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke. Hosted by Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Jim Justice, the event is an annual fundraiser that benefits the Hunters Helping the Hungry program in West Virginia. The West Virginia…