LEGISLATION TO INCREASE POACHING PENALTIES AND FINES INTRODUCED IN TENNESSEE

ARTICLE CONTACT: CONNER BARKER

Why It Matters: Poaching – the illegal take of game – stands in the way of professional science-based wildlife management and remains among the greatest threats to the social acceptance of hunting. Proactive measures to increase penalties for those found guilty of poaching would disincentivize bad actors from interfering with science-based wildlife management and would protect our time-honored traditions.

Highlights:

• In 2024, Tennessee Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair Senator Paul Rose and Caucus member Representative Caleb Hemmer introduced House Bill 2141 and Senate Bill 1751 that would have increased poaching penalties and fines in the Volunteer State. Unfortunately, both bills failed to advance last year.
• Earlier this month, Caucus member Representative Caleb Hemmer and Senator Page Walley introduced House Bill 24 and Senate Bill 14 which would increase the penalty for removing a wild animal, wild fowl, or fish while trespassing from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor and increases various fines.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted comments supporting the proposed legislation in 2024 and will likewise be supporting the initiative this year.

As emotional driven attacks from the anti-hunting community have become more common over recent years, like in Colorado with Proposition 127, the need to promote our time-honored traditions in a positive light is paramount. Anti-hunting groups often attempt to create a false narrative that conflates legal hunting with poaching when trying to appeal to the non-hunting public to advance their agenda. The protection of our hunting heritage can come in many forms and one way is through the hunting community leading the charge to strengthen poaching fines and penalties.

House Bill 24 and Senate Bill 14 would increase the penalty for poaching from a Class C to a Class B misdemeanor in addition to increasing various fines. This would be a significant increase from several fine minimums currently in place under Tennessee law, some of which are as low as $25. To put this into perspective, a current Tennessee resident annual combination hunting and fishing license costs $33.

CSF would like to thank Representative Hemmer and Senator Walley for their leadership on a critical issue that impacts all of Tennessee’s sportsmen and women. CSF will continue to work closely with the Caucus and our many in-state and national partners on strengthening poacher penalties in the Volunteer State to protect our time-honored traditions.

States Involved: TN

CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION LAUNCHES FORESTRY ADVISORY COUNCIL

January 17, 2025 (Washington, DC) – This month, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) launched the CSF Forestry Advisory Council to bring together the forest industry and the hunting conservation community to work collaboratively to provide guidance to CSF to inform and advance policies that facilitate active forest management, support a robust forest industry, and improve wildlife habitat and access for sportsmen and women.

The establishment of the CSF Forestry Advisory Council, which will meet regularly throughout the year, builds on CSF’s recently expanded programmatic emphasis on forest policy which will significantly increase CSF’s capacity to engage on state and federal issues that impact both the forest industry and the sportsmen’s community. The CSF Forestry Advisory Council is comprised of organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting sportsmen’s access, wildlife conservation, and sustainable forest management.

“Hunters and foresters have a long history of working together on natural resource management issues dating back to the beginning of the conservation movement in the United States,” said CSF Director of Forest Policy John Culclasure. “The CSF Forestry Advisory Council builds on that tradition, and I’m excited to work with our partners in the forestry and sportsmen’s communities to move the needle on issues impacting our shared forest conservation policy priorities.”

CSF Forestry Advisory Council member organizations and individuals representing the organizations include:

• Craig Anderson, Director of Government Affairs, Forest Landowners Association;
• Ryan Bronson, Director of Government Affairs, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation;
• James Cummins, Immediate Past President, Boone and Crockett Club, and CSF Board of Directors;
• Brian Luoma, CSF Board of Directors, retired CEO and President of The Westervelt Company;
• Deon Nelson, Vice President of Government Relations, National Alliance of Forest Owners;
• Bill Imbergamo, Executive Director, Federal Forest Resource Coalition;
• James McKitrick, Director of Government Affairs, National Association of State Foresters; and
• Tom Spezze, National Director of Conservation Programs, National Wild Turkey Federation.

During the inaugural meeting, the CSF Forestry Advisory Council adopted its charter and by-laws, elected officers, and discussed issues and legislation that will inform CSF’s forest policy prioritization and engagement strategy. Brian Luoma was elected Chairman, and Deon Nelson was elected Vice Chairman.

CSF appreciates the support of the CSF Forestry Advisory Council member organizations and their representatives and looks forward to working with them to advance policies that support active management on private working lands and public lands, state and federal, to support America’s hunting heritage.

SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS CO-CHAIR REINTRODUCES ONE OF CSF’S TOP PRIORITIES IN THE OLD DOMINION STATE

ARTICLE CONTACT: KALEIGH LEAGER

Why It Matters: Each year, legislators across the country 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 for conservation funding, Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Del. Buddy Fowler, has introduced House Bill 2523 (HB 2523).

Highlights:         

• The reimbursement to state fish and wildlife agencies for free and discounted licenses is a key priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).
• HB 2523 is currently awaiting a hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources.
• The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) receives approximately 77% of its funding from sportsmen and women generated dollars through the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF).

HB 2523 picks up on the good work of former Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Del. James Edmunds, who sponsored House Bill 2470 (HB 2470) in the last legislature. HB 2470 passed the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, but never received a vote in the House Committee on Appropriations. This legislation is necessary in preventing the further loss of sportsmen-generated dollars for conservation funding by requiring reimbursements to the state fish and wildlife agencies from the general funds for any free and discounted licenses. It is important to note that this legislation is not retroactive and would only apply to any free/discounted licenses passed after HB 2523’s effective date (July 1, 2025). CSF is working to introduce similar legislation in other states across the nation, including the nearby states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

State agencies are primarily funded by sportsmen and women generated dollars (license fees) along with federal match dollars through the Pittman-Robertson (PR) and Dingell-Johnson (DJ) Acts. The PR and DJ Acts are two American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF) cornerstones that authorize federal funding for state fish and wildlife agencies to manage and restore wildlife resources and their habitats. The distribution of these funds is formula-based and dependent on state size and the number of paid hunting and fishing license holders per state. This means that states who distribute free, and in some cases discounted licenses, are losing funds both from the initial revenue of license sales, as well as from funds that would be appropriated under PR and DJ.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation looks forward to continuing its work with the VA Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucuses to protect and promote sportsmen and women’s initiatives. Sportsmen and women are the boots-on-the-ground conservationists, and it is imperative that legislators continue to work on behalf of this vast constituency.

States Involved: VA

LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS HEATING UP ACROSS THE GREAT PLAINS

ARTICLE CONTACT: JAKE GOULD

Why It Matters: The 2025 legislative sessions are in full swing in the Great Plains as legislation pertaining to the sporting-conservation community continues to be introduced. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has already engaged on several of these bills as they’ve begun to make their way through the legislative process. 

Highlights:

• Iowa has introduced Houe File 21 (HF 21) and Senate File 7 (SF 7) which allows veterans to fish in Iowa without needing to purchase a fishing license, creating potential unintended challenges for the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF).
• North Dakota has introduced House Bill 1236 (HB 1236) that prohibits the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (GFD) from using funds from hunting and fishing licenses on anything related to the research and management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
• North Dakota also introduced Senate Bill 2168 (SB 2168) which would require hunters to have permission from neighboring landowners to hunt within 440 yards of an occupied building, structure, or storage structure, even if the structures are not located on the property they are hunting.

The 2025 legislative sessions across the great plains are in full swing and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has already engaged on several pieces of legislation pertaining to important sportsmen and women issues that have been introduced in Iowa and North Dakota.

Iowa has introduced House File 21 (HF 21) and Senate File 7 (SF 7) that would allow veterans to fish without purchasing a fishing license or needing any proof of a fishing license. While CSF appreciates opportunities to show support for those who have served our nation as members of the armed forces, there are considerations associated with waiving license requirements for certain groups. Specifically, HF 21 and SF 7 can cause negative impacts on the funding that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) relies on to carry out their conservation efforts that benefit all Iowans through the American System of Conservation Funding.  CSF submitted testimony to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee recommending that licenses, regardless of price, be required, as well as the addition of reimbursement for free and discounted licenses language to offset revenue loss and ensure that the DNR would continue to receive the critical funding they need to effectively carry out their conservation efforts.

Efforts to undermine the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s wildlife management authority continue with the introduction of House Bill 1236 (HB 1236). HB 1236 would prohibit GFD from using funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses on anything related to Chronic Wasting Disease. CSF submitted testimony to the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee highlighting the importance of the ASCF, and the benefits of GFD’s ability to use hunting and fishing license funds for CWD management. CSF also submitted testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in opposition to Senate Bill 2168 (SB 2168). This bill would change the current statute to require hunters to obtain permission to hunt within 440 yards of a structure, even if the structure is not located on the property they are hunting. SB 2168 would ultimately limit hunting access and would likewise curtail the ability of GFD from relying on hunters to assist with management objectives in suburban and exurban areas.

CSF will continue to monitor these bills, and similar issues, as they move through the legislative process.

States Involved: IA / ND

CSC MEMBERS INTRODUCE IMPORTANT CONSERVATION AND ACCESS BILLS

ARTICLE CONTACT: TAYLOR SCHMITZ

Why It Matters: Both the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act and the Keep Public Lands in Public Hands Act were priorities for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) in the 118^th Congress. Unfortunately, these bills did not become law before the 118^th Congress ended. With the 119^th Congress well underway, the introduction of these bills marks an important step forward in the legislative process to ultimately seeing these bills become law.

Highlights:

• Last week, Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) continued the pro-sporting momentum in Congress by introducing two important bills for sportsmen and women, which includes the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act and the Keep Public Lands in Public Hands Act.
• Led by CSC Member Rep. Zinke and Rep. Beyer, the bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act (H.R. 717), which CSF testified before the House Natural Resources Committee this past September in support of, would codify an important effort to conserve habitat for migratory wildlife across the country.
• The Keep Public Lands in Public Hands Act (H.R. 718), another bipartisan bill led by Rep. Zinke and CSC Member Rep. Vasquez, would establish more Congressional oversight over the disposal of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).

On Thursday, January 23, two important bills to bolster conservation and public lands were introduced by Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. Both of these bills were priorities for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in the 118^th Congress and will remain priorities in the 119^th Congress.

The first bill, the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act, is a critical step forward towards conserving and restoring habitat connectivity for our nation’s wildlife. This legislation seeks to codify the highly successful Secretarial Order 3362 that sought to conserve big game migration corridors and winter range across 11 western states; however, this legislation broadens this scope across the entire country  and all wildlife species that migrate or move as part of their annual cycle would be eligible for funding. Importantly, this legislation respects the rights of private landowners while providing these important stakeholders with voluntary options to expand conservation across their lands as they see fit.

The Keep Public Lands in Public Hands Act requires Congressional approval for the sale or transfer of publicly accessible lands that are greater than 300 acres and water accessible lands that are greater than five acres. Under current law, Congress does not need to provide oversight over the sale or transfer of parcels of FLPMA identified parcels regardless of size. This legislation establishes an important threshold to maintain public access for sportsmen and women while recognizing that smaller, less recreationally important lands are suitable for disposal. This legislation does not prevent or prohibit the transfer or sale of public lands nor does it undermine important land transaction programs that help increase access such as the Federal Lands Transaction Facilitation Act. Rather, this legislation establishes an important threshold to ensure that important recreational lands and water are scrutinized and approved by Congress before being sold or transferred.

CSF looks forward to working with the bill sponsors to see these priority pieces of legislation pass Congress and become law in the 119^th Congress.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR KEHOE JOINS THE GOVERNORS SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS

ARTICLE CONTACT: KENT KEENE

Why It Matters: Established in 2009, the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) is designed to improve communication between participating governors in an effort to support and enhance policies and regulations related to our time-honored outdoor traditions. Joining the GSC last week, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe brings a strong background as an outdoorsman and continues the Show-Me State’s legacy of leadership on issues facing sportsmen and women.

Highlights:

• Just a couple weeks after swearing in as the 58^th Governor of Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe has officially joined the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus.
• Governor Kehoe succeeds former GSC member Mike Parson after serving as Lieutenant Governor in Missouri since 2018.
• Home to some of the most varied and celebrated landscapes among sportsmen and women, as well as some of the most notable outdoor brands including Bass Pro Shops, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is proud to see Missouri’s leadership continue through Governor Kehoe’s GSC participation.

Last week, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe became the 23^rd active member of the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus. After assuming office as the Show-Me State’s 58^th Governor on January 13^th, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is honored that one of Governor Kehoe’s first moves in office was to join the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus.

Missouri has a strong legacy of leadership relative to sportsmen and women and the conservation of the state’s fish and wildlife resources. In addition to the successful American System of Conservation Funding, Missouri boasts a widely supported Conservation Sales Tax that generated more than $140 million in a single year to support fish and wildlife conservation efforts. Missouri has also recently taken great steps to increase opportunities for hunters through the creation of the state’s successful bear and elk hunting seasons. Finally, Missouri is the proud home of many important outdoor brands, including Bass Pro Shops, which outfit sportsmen and women around the world.

“I am proud to continue Missouri’s legacy with the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus,” said Governor Kehoe. “Our state is home to some of the best outdoor opportunities in the nation. From world class deer and turkey hunting to our renowned trout parks, to the recent return of elk and bear hunting opportunities, there is something in Missouri for every sportsman and woman. I look forward to working with CSF to ensure Missouri remains a national leader in outdoor recreation and conservation efforts for the generations to come.”

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation thanks Governor Kehoe for joining the GSC, and we look forward to working with the governor and all GSC members to protect and enhance hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and trapping across the country.

For more information about the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, click here.

States Involved: MO

ANNUAL ATTACK ON NEW HAMPSHIRE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION RETURNS

ARTICLE CONTACT: FRED BIRD

Why It Matters: On January 8, 2025, New Hampshire House Bill (HB) 202, was introduced to the House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources, in what has become an annual attack on the make-up and authority of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission. Unlike past legislation, HB 202 seeks a more simplistic route: completely strip the Commission of its authority and relegate it to an advisory body only, ceding that authority to the Executive Director alone, a political appointee.  Established with the dedicated purpose of protecting and conserving wildlife, game commissions have been staffed by experts in the field throughout their existence. Such experts’ ability to make responsible and effective decisions regarding wildlife management has become contested through non-sportsmen and women pushing for representation on game commissions, or in the case of HB 202, strip the Commission of its authority completely.

Highlights:

• On January 8, 2025, New Hampshire House Bill 202, was introduced to the House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources.
• The proposed legislation seeks to take away the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission’s current regulatory authority and make it advisory only.
• This bill changes the duties of the Commission, and remits their current authority to the Executive Director, a politically appointed position.

The annual assault on the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department’s Commission – a body that has been the stewards of the fish, wildlife, and marine resources for the state of New Hampshire for well over 150- years – has now returned in recently introduced House Bill 202.

On January 8, 2025, New Hampshire House Bill 202, was introduced to the House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine Resources. Unlike past legislation, this year’s bill seeks a more simplistic route: completely strip the Commission of its authority and relegate it to an advisory body only.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission serves as a check and balance to politically appointed leadership via the Governor’s office and maintains rule setting based on the best, and most current science available, not political winds for a given administration. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission has demonstrated an over 150-year track record of success. From the recovery of species such as the wild turkey and whitetail deer, to an abundance of the once threatened bobcat, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission has been at the forefront of critical wildlife management and thoughtful decision making. Having a single politically appointed position be the final arborator of rule and season setting threatens science-based wildlife management for not just the sportsmen and women of the Granite State, but all of New Hampshire’s residents and the scores of non-residents that travel to New Hampshire each year, in part due to the abundant wildlife and pristine habitats the Commission has successfully managed to date.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) looks forward to working with the New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to staunchly oppose this misguided legislation, and remains committed to thwarting efforts to subvert the mission and success of the New Hampshire Fish & Game Commission.

States Involved: NH

CSF WELCOMES CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS LEADERSHIP OF THE 119TH CONGRESS

January 28, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is pleased to announce the bipartisan leadership for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) during the 119^th Congress. As leaders of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, the Co and Vice Chairs in the Senate and House will be tasked with leading the charge in the CSC’s mission to protect and advance the time-honored traditions of hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting.

During the 119^th Congress, the leadership in the Senate will be Co-Chairs Sen. John Boozman (AR) and Sen. Angus King Jr. (ME) and Vice-Chairs Sen. Roger Marshall (KS) and Sen. Gary Peters (MI). In the House, Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA) will serve as Co-Chairs, while Rep. August Pfluger (TX) and Rep. Troy Carter (LA) will serve as Vice-Chairs.

Founded in 1989, the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus has grown into one of the largest and most effective caucuses in the US Congress with more than 200 members representing almost all 50 states. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation works directly with the CSC by providing advice, support and information on behalf of the sportsmen’s community to CSC members. This unparalleled relationship gives CSF a unique niche on Capitol Hill that is unmatched by any other sportsmen’s organization.

“The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus is truly the sportsmen’s ally in Washington D.C., working to protect and promote our country’s unique conservation legacy,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “The CSC has a proven track record of delivering incredible results for America’s sportsmen and women, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the year ahead. I would like to thank the present and past leadership of the CSC for their unwavering dedication to the sporting-conservation community. In a time like this, it matters more than ever.”

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation would also like to recognize the leaders of the 118^th Congress for their commitment to America’s original conservationists – sportsmen and women. During the 118^th Congress, Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) and Sen. John Boozman (AR) served as Co-Chairs and Sen. Angus King (ME) and Sen. Roger Marshall (KS) served as Vice-Chairs. In the House, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR) served as Co-Chairs, while Rep. Jared Golden (ME) and Rep. Garret Graves (LA) served as Vice-Chairs.

During the 118^th Congress, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus secured a number of victories including the enactment of:

• The Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, ensuring that certain federal funds remain available for hunter education, archery in schools, wilderness programs, and many other critical student enrichment programs;
• The Duck Stamp Modernization Act, allowing hunters to have an electronic duck stamp on their smartphone for the entirety of the hunting season;
• The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, a bipartisan effort to reduce burdensome roadblocks to restoring mine sites that can pollute streams;
• The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan bill to bolster fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation, and to protect access for anglers across the nation;
• The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, the most comprehensive public lands package to pass Congress since 2019.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is looking forward to working with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus leadership in the 119^th Congress to continue to make a difference for sportsmen and women across the country.

For more information about the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus click here.

CSF PRIORITY HUNTING ACCESS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN SOUTH CAROLINA

ARTICLE CONTACT: CONNER BARKER

Why It Matters: As Americans realize the lure of living in a coastal state, like South Carolina, that provides seemingly limitless opportunities for outdoor recreation, it is critical to keep public access front of mind both now and into the future. South Carolina, like many other states on the East Coast, has been faced with rapid population growth, in part, thanks to the many outdoor opportunities that the state has to offer. Proactive policies that limit the loss of publicly available hunting and fishing access are critical to conserving opportunities for the Palmetto State’s sportsmen and women.

Highlights:

• On January 30, South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council member Representative Bobby Cox and Caucus Co-Chair Representative Heather Bauer introduced House Bill 3872, which would limit the loss of hunting access by establishing a minimum acreage of publicly owned areas open to South Carolina’s sportsmen and women.
• Commonly referred to as “Hunting Heritage Protection Acts,” these policies establish a baseline of publicly owned areas open to hunting in the state.
• House Bill 3872 has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs where it awaits consideration.

While this is a new concept to South Carolina, the “No Net Loss” of publicly owned areas open to hunting is not new to the sporting-conservation scene. Other southeastern states like Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi were among the first states to take a proactive approach to conserving public hunting and fishing access for future generations. Further, after originally enacting No Net Loss legislation in 2005, Georgia even updated their No Net Loss baseline to protect an additional 200,000 acres in 2022.

House Bill 3872 applies to lands owned by the state of South Carolina in which the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) holds management authority, privately owned lands that are leased or managed by the SCDNR, and those lands managed by the State Forestry Commission that are enrolled in the SCDNR’s Wildlife Management Area Program. Additional details of House Bill 3872 include:

• SCDNR managed lands must be open to access used for hunting, except as limited by the SCDNR for reasons of fish and wildlife management or otherwise limited by statute outside the authority of the SCDNR;
• Land management decisions made by the SCDNR, or decisions made by private owners to close land managed by the SCDNR, that results in the net loss of acreage available for hunting opportunities on managed lands that exist as of January 1, 2026 requires that the SCDNR expeditiously find replacement acreage to compensate for closures of any existing hunting land; and
• By July first of each year, the SCDNR must submit a written report to the Senate Fish, Game, and Forestry Committee and the House Agricultural, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee describing the acreage managed by the SCDNR that was closed to hunting during the previous fiscal year and the reasons for the closure as well as the acreage that was opened to compensate for these closures.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) thanks Representatives Bauer and Cox for their leadership on this critical issue impacting South Carolina’s sportsmen and women. CSF looks forward to working closely alongside the Caucus and our many partners to protect public hunting access for generations to come.

States Involved: SC

CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS IN MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS INTRODUCE BILLS TO ALLOW HUNTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

ARTICLE CONTACT: BOB MATTHEWS

Why It Matters: Hunters are the backbone of conservation and to continue carrying that banner, new sportsmen and women must be exposed to the woods and fields. However, as fewer folks dress themselves in camouflage and orange, there are fewer to pass on our time-honored outdoor traditions to new generations. Allowing schools to instruct safe firearm handling practices and safe hunting practices is an opportunity to fill that void and spark a lifelong passion.

Highlights:

• In Michigan, Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jon Bumstead authored Michigan Senate Bill 58, and in Illinois, Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Neil Anderson introduced Illinois Senate Bill 1210.
• Both of these bills would allow schools in their respective states to offer firearm safety courses, including instruction on hunter safety.
• Implementing hunter education in schools is a state-level policy priority of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), which will support the passage of these bills and others like them throughout the country.

Michigan Senate Bill 58 is a reintroduction of legislation that passed the Senate 32-1 in late 2024 and had significant bipartisan support in the House. Introduced by Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jon Bumstead and co-sponsored by fellow Co-Chair Senator John Cherry, the legislation would mandate that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources collaborate with the Michigan Department of Education to adopt and make available to schools a model program of firearm safety instruction. The course would both count as an elective credit and qualify as the classroom portion of Michigan’s hunter education requirement.

Illinois Senate Bill 1210, introduced by Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Neil Anderson, would allow school districts to offer an elective firearm safety course to 9^th through 12^th graders and may include hunter safety instruction. Like the Michigan bill, firearms would not be brought into the classroom.

The courses established by these bills would instruct students on proper firearm handling, safety, storage, and maintenance, while exposing students to hunting and the numerous benefits that it provides to conservation and society at large. However, it is also worth noting that both bills simply require the development of the curriculum, allowing school districts to make their own decisions about offering such courses. Introducing younger generations to hunting, especially those that may not have friends and family members equipped to do so, is paramount to protecting and advancing hunting, and therefore, wildlife conservation. CSF is proud to support the passage of these bills and will work to do so at each stage of the legislative process.

States Involved: IL / MI

CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW GOVERNORS SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS CHAIR

February 10, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) formally announced today that Montana Governor Greg Gianforte will be serving as the 2025 Chair of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), one of three caucuses under the CSF umbrella.

As a long-time sportsman, Governor Gianforte has proven to be a staunch supporter of the sporting-conservation community, even joining the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus in his first month into becoming the Governor of Montana. As a member of the GSC, Governor Gianforte was a keynote speaker at the 19th Annual National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Sportsman-Legislator Summit in Bozeman, Montana and has issued proclamations for National Hunting and Fishing Day, recognizing Montana’s vast population of hunters and anglers for their contributions to conservation, the economy, and Montana’s cultural fabric. Before becoming Governor, Governor Gianforte also served as the U.S. Representative for Montana’s at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2020. During his time in Congress, Governor Gianforte was a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) and supported several key pieces of public land access legislation including the Great American Outdoors Act.

“It’s an honor to serve as chair of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus,” said Governor Gianforte.“As we’ve demonstrated in Montana, governors have an important responsibility to protect our way of life. I look forward to working with fellow governors across the nation to protect the traditions of sportsmen and women from unnecessary federal overreach.”

In 2009, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation formed the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus to shape policy that benefits scientific wildlife management efforts and ensure continued access and opportunities for sportsmen and women across the country. The GSC is in place to improve and facilitate strong communication between governors and their respective state legislative sportsmen’s caucuses in the NASC network to work collaboratively to advance sportsmen’s interests and sound, science-based fish and wildlife management. As of the beginning of February, the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus consists of 23 governors, representing diverse regions of the United States.

“The Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus can often stand as the final wall against legislation that could harm the sporting-conservation community and, in a time where the anti-sporting community continues to pick at our outdoor pursuits, having a strong network of pro-sportsman elected officials has never been more important,” said CSF Vice President, Policy Brent Miller. “We thank Governor Gianforte for agreeing to serve as the Chair of the GSC and look forward to working closely with him and all members of the GSC to ensure the continuation of America’s proud sporting-conservation heritage into the future.”

Governor Gianforte also recently joined CSF’s The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast from the floor of SHOT show in Nevada to discuss our hunting and fishing heritage, the sporting issues states are fighting for, and much more. To listen, click here.

For more information about the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, click here.