CSF SWINGS FOR THE FENCES SCORING SESSION SWEEP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

ARTICLE CONTACT: FRED BIRD

Why It Matters: It is no secret that the sporting-conservation community has to play a lot of defense in the Northeast. You’ll typically find the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) working hard to defeat proposed legislation that has negative ramifications for conservation and the sporting community vs. and eking out a few pro-sportsmen victories when possible. During the 2025 New Hampshire legislative session, we saw a 58% to 42% split of anti vs. pro legislation in terms of the bills that were introduced.  This year however, with one remaining pro-sportsmen bill still awaiting Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signature to make things official, CSF has secured wins on both sides and will have successfully batted 1.000 on advancing all pro and defeating all negative policies in which we engaged.

Highlights

• HB 720 would have (if passed) prohibited the importation of bait fish from outside New Hampshire, threatening commonly used fishing methods and preferred bait for New Hampshire anglers. This bill was defeated.
• HB 211, which allows Airguns as a means of take and authorizes the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department to bring about an annual tag or institute a one-time stamp to account for conservation funding, as such platforms do not contribute directly to Pittman-Robertson, passed and was signed into law.
• A House Declaration celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingle-Johnson) was passed, recognizing the contributions of New Hampshires angling and boating community to conservation in the Granite State.
• HB 655 was passed and enrolled and now awaits the Governor’s signature, which will significantly increase financial penalties against poachers and those illegally in possession of certain wildlife species. It further increases license suspension for such take on individuals.

With the 2025 New Hampshire legislative session in the rear-view, CSF is happy to report the defeat of all the anti-sportsmen bills and the advancement of all of the pro-sportsmen proposals we engaged on.

Many of the bad bills were repeat offenders. Common themes included attacks on the New Hampshire Fish & Game (a now perennial issue in the state), attempts to institute multi-day waiting periods on firearms transfers, and attacks on science-based wildlife management, specifically related to the management of the anti’s favorite “victim”, the Eastern Coyote. Of note was the attempt to prohibit the importation of live bait from outside states into the state via HB 720. In short, it would have created barriers for less skilled and low-income anglers who would have had to change to artificial lures at greater expense and significant learning curves if they elected to continue in this popular Granite State pastime.

As for the pro-sportsmen policies:

As reported over the last two sessions, significant efforts went into Airgun legislation which was finally advanced setting up new opportunities for hunters for multiple species while also providing a mechanism for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to increase sportsmen-generated conservation funding. New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair, Rep. James Spillane sponsored the bill and drove it to final passage.

CSF also secured a House Declaration recognizing the 75^th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingle-Johnson) and the contributions of New Hampshire’s angling and boating community to conservation in the Granite State. New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Will Darby sponsored the Declaration and secured it in the House.

Finally, HB 655 awaits Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signature, but when officially law it will significantly increase financial penalties against poachers and those illegally in possession of certain wildlife species. It further increases license suspension for such take on individuals. This is long overdue and highlights the value of New Hampshire’s wildlife. Long have the penalties for poaching amounted to those for speeding or parking tickets with (essentially) slaps on the wrist concerning license suspension. Once again, Co-Chair Rep. James Spillane sponsored the bill and drove it to final passage along with Caucus Members in both chambers.

CSF thanks all the Caucus Members and Co-Chairs in the New Hampshire Legislature for their leadership in advancing pro-sporting legislation and thwarting anti-legislation. Planning starts now for proactive priority policy introduction as CSF looks forward to the 2026 legislative session.

States Involved: NH

HALFTIME REPORT – RECAPPING A BUSY FIRST HALF OF 2025 IN NORTH CAROLINA

ARTICLE CONTACT: CONNER BARKER

Why It Matters: Being a large coastal state, North Carolina offers a broad sampling of hunting, angling, trapping, and shooting sports activities. However, with broad opportunities comes broad responsibilities. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been hard at work in North Carolina this year engaging on a wide variety of sporting conservation issues sure to impact the sportsmen and women of North Carolina.

Highlights:

• House Bill 103 would have provided a statewide hunting, fishing, or trapping license exemption for members of recognized Native American tribes, potentially leading to a significant loss of conservation funding for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC).
• Senate Bill 220, a bill that would strengthen private property protections by requiring that individuals receive permission before accessing public trust waters from land; or before hunting, fishing, or trapping on private land that is not posted in accordance with current law, cleared the North Carolina Senate earlier this year.
• House Bill 442 would prohibit industrial shrimp trawling in any coastal fishing waters other than areas of the Atlantic Ocean located more than one-half mile from the shoreline, among other provisions.

In North Carolina, the first half of 2025 yielded some wins, marked progress on longstanding issues, and also left the sporting-conservation community with work to do in the latter half of 2025 and beyond.

First, as has been a trend in states around the country, legislation was introduced in North Carolina to exempt a large user group from the requirement of purchasing hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses. In this case, the bill pertained to recognized Native American tribes in North Carolina. This measure, if enacted, would have produced an approximate loss of $450,000 in license revenue and nearly $1.4 million in matching federal funds for the NCWRC. CSF submitted written testimony to the House Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs Committee, where the bill did not progress.

Next, an important first step was taken to strengthen private property protections in North Carolina, a state where over 80% of the land falls under private ownership. Many hunters and anglers in the Old North State rely on private property for access. Whether it is through written permission or conducted through a lease agreement, hunters and anglers rely on the generosity of private landowners in many cases. By strengthening private property protections, and in turn, combating trespassing, both sportsmen and private landowners will benefit. Senate Bill 220 passed the Senate on a 40-2 vote in April, where CSF provided testimony, and now awaits further legislative action from the House of Representatives.

Finally, North Carolina took a critical step to usher in much-needed fisheries reform just last month. House Bill 442 would have aligned North Carolina with every other Southeastern state in banning commercial shrimp trawling in its sounds and estuaries. It is well-understood that large scale industrial shrimp trawling in inland waters negatively impacts critical habitat that many fish species depend on, while also resulting in significant by-catch of juvenile fish species, many of which are species pursued by recreational anglers. Therefore, CSF again provided written testimony and issued an action alert in support of the legislation. House Bill 442 has been sent back to the House of Representatives where it currently awaits a concurrence vote on changes made by the Senate.

CSF also engaged on House Bill 382, which would establish an inaugural elk season in North Carolina. Additionally, CSF submitted comments to the Division of Marine Fisheries supporting a 50/50 allocation shift for southern flounder between commercial and recreational harvest.

While CSF is glad to report major progress being made, we will continue to work with the North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, the NCWRC, and our partners to advance priorities for North Carolina’s sportsmen and women.

States Involved: NC

PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF GAME COMMISSIONERS IMPLEMENT SUNDAY HUNTING, AFTER OVER A DECADE OF EFFORT BY CSF

ARTICLE CONTACT: KALEIGH LEAGER

Why It Matters: Sunday hunting bans are one of the last remaining examples of blue laws that were initially designed to encourage church attendance. At the time when these puritanical restrictions were enacted, other examples of activities illegal on Sundays included opening a store for business, drinking alcoholic beverages, and tilling your fields. Access is a major limiting factor hindering participation in hunting, and restrictions against hunting on Sunday provide a temporal-access barrier to those that work on the weekends and youth that attend school throughout the week and are often involved in extra-curricular activities on Saturdays. Now, thanks to the Board of Game Commissioners and the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), Sunday hunting is now implemented in the Commonwealth.

Highlights:

• The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners met on Monday, July 28^th to discuss the implication of Sunday hunting and to receive public testimony on the matter.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) strongly encouraged the implementation of Sunday hunting for all game species within the regulated seasons. CSF has been working to repeal Pennsylvania’s antiquated ban on Sunday hunting for almost 15 years, including submitting letters of support and sending an action alert, among other work educating policymakers, building public support, and coordinating with other sportsmen’s groups. Most recently, CSF submitted a letter of support to the Board of Game Commissioners for the full implementation of Sunday hunting within the regulated hunting seasons.
• The Board of Game Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a resolution encouraging the Executive Director of the PGC (Steve Smith) to implement his Executive Order powers to extend the seasons (allowing the implementation of Sunday hunting for the 2025/2026 deer and small game seasons).
• Additionally, all other game species will have Sunday hunting implemented for the 2025/2026 hunting seasons within their regulated seasons, except for migratory game birds (dictated by federal nexus and timelines that have already passed) and spring turkey season (biological sustainability concerns which will be reevaluated at the conclusion of their latest biological study in 2026).

As previously reported, , there were only three days where Sunday hunting of game species (for deer and bear) could occur. However, because of the enactment of HB 1431 (introduced by Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member, State Representative Mandy Steele) the remaining and longstanding restrictions on Sunday hunting within the state have been removed. HB 1431 allowsed the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners to fully oversee and manage game species, hunting seasons, and bag limits sevendays a week, rather than just six days a week.

For almost 15 years, CSF has been heavily and actively engaged in repealing the longstanding and antiquated prohibition on Sunday hunting such as oral and written testimony, meetings with legislators and the PGC, grassroots campaigns, working with the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen Caucus Co-Chairs and members, as well as submitting letters of support to the Governor’s Office. Now that Sunday hunting has been implemented by the Board of Game Commissioners and the PGC, CSF can continue to fight in other states who restrict access and opportunities for hunters in the North East region.

In the letter of support to the Board of Game Commissioner’s for Monday’s meeting, CSF noted that,  the resident sportsmen and women of Pennsylvania have asked for this change [Sunday hunting] for nearly two decades. Given that demand, CSF urges the Board to fully open all Sunday hunting opportunities which have been proven to not cause any increase in Law Enforcement concerns. As has been demonstrated in other states that have recently significantly expanded Sunday hunting opportunities, Sunday hunting does not negatively impact wildlife conservation efforts…”

CSF applauds the Board of Game Commissioners and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) for the implementation of Sunday hunting and looks forward to seeing more opportunities (full implementation for all game species) for hunters during the 2026/2027 hunting seasons.

SENATE CONFIRMS BRIAN NESVIK FOR FWS DIRECTOR

ARTICLE CONTACT: TAYLOR SCHMITZ

Why It Matters: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is one of the most important federal agencies for sportsmen and women. Mr. Brian Nesvik is an impressive leader, problem-solver, and is a passionate sportsman. His unique and notable experiences will better position FWS to meet the challenges facing fish and wildlife across the country and will help advance the interests of hunters and anglers.

Highlights:

• On Friday, August 1, the United States Senate confirmed Mr. Brian Nesvik to be the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has strongly supported the nomination of Nesvik to be FWS Director since it was first announced.
• CSF’s efforts to help ensure Nesvik was confirmed include leading a sporting-conservation community support letter as well as numerous action alerts to Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Members in the Senate.

Last week, Mr. Brian Nesvik was confirmed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote to serve as the next Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a critical position for sportsmen and women. Nesvik’s immense experience and leadership makes him uniquely qualified to lead FWS, and CSF is excited to work alongside him to deliver wins for conservation and sportsmen and women.

Nesvik brings a distinguished background to the helm at FWS, including roughly three decades in fish and wildlife management with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WYGFD). After graduating with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, Nesvik began his career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department as a game warden, and his nearly 30 years with WYGFD culminated in Nesvik serving as the Director of the agency from 2019 until his retirement. During his time with WYGFD, Nesvik demonstrated an impressive ability to manage and address some of the most complex challenges facing fish and wildlife, private landowners, businesses, and sportsmen and women. Beyond his career with WYGFD, Nesvik also retired from the Wyoming Army National Guard as a Brigadier General after 35 years of service, a rank that demonstrates his strong ability to lead and make sound decisions.

CSF congratulates Nesvik on this well-deserved position and looks forward to working with him in his new capacity.

BILLS PROMOTING SPORTING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY AWAIT LEGISLATORS IN WISCONSIN

ARTICLE CONTACT: BOB MATTHEWS

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 and dinner tables alike.

Highlights:

• With fall approaching, legislators in Wisconsin will be returning to Madison next month to round out the 2025 legislative year, with two pairs of important sporting bills awaiting them.
• One pair of bills would reauthorize an important fund that has acquired land for hunting and fishing in the State for nearly four decades.
• Another pair of bills would authorize a hunting season for sandhill cranes.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will actively work with legislators to advance and secure passage of these critical bills that expand opportunities for sportsmen and women.

While most state legislatures around the country adjourned in the early days of summer, those legislatures that meet year-round still have important work to accomplish when they return from their respective summer breaks – and Wisconsin is no exception. For sportsmen and women in the Badger State, there are two pairs of bills that CSF and the Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus will be looking to help cross the finish line:

AB 315/SB 316: Reauthorizing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund (Fund) has created hunting, fishing, and trapping opportunities through land acquisition for Wisconsinites since 1989, but its coffers have been progressively eroded with each legislative reauthorization. Safeguarding the Fund, which is widely supported by the public, is a no-net-loss mechanism that is essential for protecting public land pursuits. Although this year’s reauthorization shifts the Fund’s primary focus from acquisition to conserving habitat and bolstering infrastructure on lands that the State has already acquired through the program, it retains acquisition capability.

AB 117/SB 112: Authorizing Sandhill Crane Hunting Season

Following the 2024 passage of a CSF-supported Wisconsin Legislative Council Study on population management options for sandhill cranes, legislation was introduced in both chambers during the 2025 session that would allow for a season. Sandhill cranes are responsible for significant crop depredation in the State and, given that hunting is the preferred wildlife management tool, the prospective season would alleviate agricultural conflict, generate revenue for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through license sales, and put a delicious game bird, dubbed the “ribeye of the sky,” onto the plates of Wisconsin sportsmen and women.

With a return to Madison on the horizon, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation will continue to express support to Wisconsin legislators about the importance of creating and maintaining opportunities for folks in the Badger State to participate in our time-honored outdoor traditions.

States Involved: WI

DELAWARE GOVERNOR MATT MEYER JOINS THE GOVERNORS SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS

ARTICLE CONTACT: KALEIGH LEAGER

Why It Matters: One of the last lines of defense against attempts to undermine our time-honored outdoor traditions is located on a Governor’s desk. This is why the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) is a critical component of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) three-pronged approach to our mission. By joining the GSC, Governor Matt Meyer demonstrates his dedication to the First State’s sportsmen and women.   

Highlights:

• In late July, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer officially became the 27^th active member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus.
• As part of the GSC, Governor Meyer is now a member of a bipartisan network designed to further protect and advance our time-honored outdoor traditions.
• Since 2009, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has worked with GSC members as a final line of defense in support of our rights as hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooting sports participants.

In July, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer became the 27^th active member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus. Created in 2009 as a final line of defense at the state level, the GSC is a bipartisan network of governors who share information across state and party lines in support of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s mission to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping.

GSC members also work closely with the respective state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses organized through the bipartisan National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC). Together, these two programs represent an unprecedented network of pro-sportsmen elected officials. While many of CSF’s policy victories are won through close coordination with NASC-member caucuses, the GSC has historically played a pivotal role in pushing pro-sportsmen and women’s policy across the finish line while stopping anti policies at their final hurdle.

Governor Meyer continues Delaware’s representation on the GSC, following former Delaware Governor John Carney. Governor Meyer recognizes the important role that sportsmen and women play in conservation and the state and local economies. CSF is excited to work alongside Governor Meyer and his team behalf of the First State’s sportsmen and women.

States Involved: DE