SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN RECOGNIZED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND 44 GOVERNORS AS AMERICA’S TRUE CONSERVATIONISTS DURING NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY

September 30, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – On Saturday, September 28, the nation honored America’s 55 million sportsmen and women for their immense contributions to funding conservation and our nation’s economy and the active role they play in conserving America’s natural resources. Since being established by Congress in 1971 and first celebrated a year later, National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) has brought recognition to our time-honored traditions for over 50 years. NHFD occurs the fourth Saturday of September and seeks to not only acknowledge sportsmen and women, but also to encourage participation in sporting pursuits in a world increasingly withdrawn from the outdoors.

In celebration of NHFD, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) worked with the Executive Office of the President and Governors across the country, including the 30 members of the nonpartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), to formally recognize National Hunting and Fishing Day. To honor America’s sportsmen and women from coast to coast, 44 states issued gubernatorial proclamations in addition to President Joe Biden’s proclamation, which stated “Americans who hunt and fish have immense appreciation for our environment.  They know that when we take care of the natural world, we ensure that all generations to come will also have the opportunity to hunt, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors. Passing down this tradition is especially important to rural communities, where hunting and fishing are time-honored pastimes, and to Tribal Nations, where hunting and fishing remain central to their cultures and livelihoods.”

Reflecting on the importance of the day, CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane said, “For over 85 years, American sportsmen and women have been the backbone of conservation. The impact we make is nothing short of significant, and we will always answer the call to protect and promote America’s outdoor heritage, our incredible fish and wildlife resources, and the habitats in which they live.  National Hunting and Fishing Day is a well-deserved recognition of the immense conservation, economic, and cultural impacts sportsmen and women have on America.”

Sportsmen and women play a crucial role in providing the vast majority of conservation funding in the United States through the incredibly successful and world-renowned American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF). From the financial contributions of hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, trappers, and supportive industries, state fish and wildlife agencies have received over $78 billion in funding, which goes directly towards wildlife management efforts that benefit everyone, not just sportsmen and women. National Hunting & Fishing Day celebrates these contributions and seeks to increase awareness of and participation in our favorite outdoor pursuits, remaining the most prominent movement ever undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation.

NHFD also brought together sportsmen and women from across America to celebrate the rich tradition of hunting, sport shooting and fishing through organized local, state and national events aimed at introducing new audiences to the outdoors. Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, MO again served as the official home for National Hunting and Fishing Day along with Bass Pro Shops across the country hosting National Hunting and Fishing Day events.

For more information on National Hunting and Fishing Day, please visit NHFDay.org, and for a list of  the proclamations that were issued this year please visit National Hunting and Fishing Day – Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.

SPORTING DOG COMMUNITY UNITES TO OPPOSE ONEROUS COUNTY ORDINANCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA

ARTICLE CONTACT: CONNER BARKER

Why It Matters: In addition to catering to a dog’s basic needs, sporting dog owners maintain high standards when it comes to providing shelter, breeding, hunting, and participating in field trials, hunt tests, and shows with their four-legged companions. These aspects of responsible dog ownership are critical to maintaining hunters ability to hunt with dogs, one of our most storied traditions.  

Highlights

• On September 23, the Fairfield County Council voted on a county ordinance that would have required all hunting dog owners to pay a $50 fee to register their hunting dogs with the county. The same requirement was proposed for dogs that participate in shows and/or competitions.
• In addition, the proposed ordinance would permit the county to inspect “commercial breeding kennels” to ensure that breeders maintain standards and procedures promulgated by the well-known anti-hunting organization, the Humane Society of the United States.
• Other requirements in the ordinance included kennel restrictions and spay/neuter requirements with poorly defined exemptions and language that could classify a person that sells a single litter of puppies or charges a stud fee as a “commercial breeding kennel.”
• Following unified opposition from the sporting community, the Fairfield County Council voted unanimously to send the ordinance back to committee, where it can be amended.

With legislative attempts at the state level that would restrict hunters’ ability to hunt with dogs often failing in the Southeast, attempts at the local level, whether intentional or not, to restrict access for hunters that wish to utilize sporting dogs in their pursuits are common.  Maintaining awareness of actions at the local level that may impact your ability to enjoy our time-honored traditions is critical.

The issues described in the above section all have one common theme: they would create additional barriers to responsible sporting dog ownership and, ultimately, restrict access to those who wish to hunt with their four-legged companions. While this is not an outright hunting ban, onerous restrictions like registering sporting dogs with local government, subjecting small kennel operations to unnecessary inspections, and instituting unclear kennel restrictions and spay/neuter requirements only create confusion among the hunting community. By adding unnecessary regulations at the local level, hunters may not wish to participate in our time-honored traditions for fear of breaking the law, ultimately leading to a decline in hunter participation.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation  (CSF) worked closely with the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, our partners at the American Kennel Club, and other in-state partners to oppose the measure proposed by the Fairfield County Council. CSF will continue to advocate for responsible sporting dog ownership, which is at the center of hunters’ ability to go afield with our four-legged companions.

States Involved: SC

BLM SET TO CLOSE 1.3 MILLION ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND TO RECREATIONAL SHOOTING

ARTICLE CONTACT: TAYLOR SCHMITZ

Why It Matters: Recreational shooting is a longstanding and highly popular activity on our federal public lands. For many sportsmen and women, including target shooters, public lands are the only venue that they can participate in our time-honored outdoor traditions. Furthermore, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) intent to close the entire 1.3 million acres of the Bears National Monument in Southeast Utah appears to run counter to the “Open Unless Closed” language in the 2019 Dingell Act, which requires that when federal agencies need to close public land to hunting, fishing, or shooting, the closure is the smallest duration and footprint possible.

Highlights:

• Last week, the Bureau of Land Management announced the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bears Ears National Monument Management. As part of the updated plan, the BLM will prohibit recreational shooting within the entire 1.3-million-acre monument.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is very concerned with the direction the BLM is taking to prohibit recreational shooting, a highly popular activity, within the Bears Ears National Monument.
• Earlier this year, CSF and others submitted comments to the BLM to establish a balance between protecting culturally and historically important sites with recreational shooting, but these comments appear to have had little effect on the outcome of the Bears Ears Management Plan.

The Bureau of Land Management is set to close 1.3 million acres of previously accessible and open land for recreational shooting within the Bears Ears National Monument.

The 2019 John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act created a criteria that was long sought after by CSF that established guidance for the closure of federal public lands for hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. Specifically, the Dingell Act requires that federal agencies “designate the smallest area for the least amount of time that is required for public safety, administration, or compliance with applicable laws.” Unfortunately, a monument wide prohibition on recreational shooting within the Final EIS does not follow the requirements set forth in the Dingell Act to close federal public lands. Additionally, CSF is concerned that the closure comes on the heels of a significant reduction of recreational shooting within the Sonoran Desert National Monument, which closed nearly 99% of the nearly of the 485,691 acre monument.

CSF welcomes an opportunity to work with the BLM to have a meaningful discussion about opportunities to protect culturally and historically important sites within the Bears Ears Monument while adhering to the Dingell Act language and avoiding an arbitrary ban on target shooting within the monument.

PROTECTING HUNTING AND FISHING AT THE BALLOT BOX IN FLORIDA

ARTICLE CONTACT: MARK LANCE

Why It Matters: Passage of Amendment 2, the proposed right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife  constitutional amendment in Florida, on November 5 would not only ensure the protection of our shared, time-honored traditions of hunting and fishing  from unnecessary limitations or outright bans, but also the continuation of conservation funding through the American System of Conservation Funding. This funding, which was over $90 million in 2023 in Florida, benefits not only game species and the opportunities they provide for sportsmen and women, but also non-game species and the public at large.

Highlights:

• Amendment 2, which was introduced in the legislature as House Joint Resolution 1157 and championed by Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Representative Lauren Melo, placed the right to hunt and fish constitutional amendment on the ballot for Florida voters to consider on Election Day.
• With the support of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and many other in-state and national conservation partners, HJR 1157 passed the House of Representatives 116-0 and then passed the Senate 39-1 during the 2023 legislative session, highlighting its strong, bipartisan support.
• Amendment 2 needs 60% of the vote to officially amend the Constitution of the State of Florida to include the right to hunt and fish.
• If Amendment 2 is passed, Florida would become the 24^th state to adopt a right to hunt and fish constitutional amendment, joining all other Southern states.

Amendment 2’s language reads: “SECTION 28.  Fishing, hunting, and the taking of fish and wildlife. —Fishing, hunting, and the taking of fish and wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, shall be preserved forever as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. This section does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV.”

Anti-sportsmen organizations continually lead efforts to persuade the public to believe that hunting, fishing, and harvesting wildlife are a privilege, subject to emotionally driven public sentiments to alter policies and regulations, rather than science-based facts. Amendment 2 is a proactive measure to ensure that the sporting traditions of Floridians are protected for generations to come. It does not limit the power of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), such as the power to set season dates and bag limits, nor does it impact private property rights or legalize methods of take that are currently illegal. Hunters and anglers will still be required to purchase hunting and fishing licenses.

CSF encourages our readers from Florida to support Amendment 2 and to get out and vote on November 5. We also applaud the continued efforts of the Florida Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, our partners, the FWC, and the greater sportsmen’s community for supporting this important initiative.

Planning to be afield or on the water on election day? Click here to find materials for early or absentee voting to make sure your voice rings loud at the polls in support of hunting, fishing, and professional fish and wildlife management.

States Involved: FL

KEY PUBLIC LAND ACQUISITION FUND FACES REAUTHORIZATION IN WISCONSIN

ARTICLE CONTACT: BOB MATTHEWS

Why It Matters: The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, which grants authority to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to acquire public land, is up for reauthorization and will be a focal point of the Badger State’s upcoming legislative session. Access to public lands and waters that are open to hunting and fishing is critical for the continued enjoyment of our time-honored outdoor traditions.

Highlights:

• The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund was established in 1989 and is an extremely popular program amongst Wisconsin voters.
• Lands acquired with these funds must be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping.
• Increased opportunities for sportsmen and women to access public woods and waters is important to both Wisconsin’s storied sporting heritage and conservation efforts.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to work with legislators in Wisconsin to ensure that the Knowles-Nelson Fund is reauthorized and continues to provide Wisconsinites with opportunities afield.

CSF recently joined partners in Madison, Wisconsin to conduct meetings with members of the Wisconsin Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to express the importance of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the opportunities that it affords hunters and anglers in the Badger State. About 14% of Wisconsin is comprised of public land that is open to hunting, placing it at 18^th among all 50 states. Access to hunting grounds and fishing holes is paramount to the continued pursuit of game species, especially in Wisconsin, where outdoor traditions are particularly engrained in the state’s identity.

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, a mechanism for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to acquire public lands that must be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping has provided Wisconsinites with a dedicated funding source to enjoy their natural resources. However, the program has faced significant cuts since 2010 – falling from $86 million per year authorized in the 2007-2008 State Budget to only $33.25 million per year today. Following a recent State Supreme Court decision that changed legislative oversight capabilities, the Knowles-Nelson will not only need to be reauthorized in the upcoming session, but its structure will need to be modified as well – making it susceptible to fundamental changes, further funding cuts, and even threatening its continuation.

CSF will continue to communicate to legislators the importance of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the benefits that it provides Wisconsin’s hunters and anglers, but it is critical that sportsmen and women in the State leverage their voices to encourage their elected officials to reauthorize it, as well.

AMERICAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PARTNERS RELEASE CONSERVATION POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SEVENTH EDITION OF WILDLIFE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

The American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) – comprised of the nation’s top 52 sporting-conservation organizations that represent America’s hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists – released Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII (W-21). This comprehensive publication focuses on solutions to conserve wildlife and their habitats across the nation, bolstering public access, and protecting our outdoor traditions. The recommendations in W-21 will aid policymakers in the next Administration and the next two Congresses in making decisions on sporting-conservation issues and practices that are vital to current and future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen and other conservationists.

“I am proud to have worked alongside the members of AWCP to develop a thoughtful and comprehensive set of priorities that are contained in W-21. AWCP is a unique and collective force, and it is through our coordination, communication, and vision that the priorities in W-21 will be recognized,” said Taylor Schmitz, AWCP Chairman and Director of Federal Relations for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “While this document is intended for the next two Congresses and Presidential Administration, there are numerous W-21 priorities that can be delivered on in 2024, and we look forward to making that a reality”

Every four years since AWCP was first convened in 2000, the partners have put forth their collective priorities in Wildlife for the 21st Century, which serves as the roadmap for AWCP’s vision for wildlife and sportsmen and sportswomen. Although the 52 partner organizations of AWCP may have diverse primary missions, the recommendations contained in W-21 Volume VII represent a consensus amongst the AWCP organizations and shared commitment to advancing and promoting pro sporting-conservation priorities.

“Our partners that make up AWCP should be proud of their ability to coalesce around a shared set of policy priorities which, should they be adopted, would produce real and meaningful benefits for hunters, habitat, and wildlife across the United States. It is a comprehensive suite of recommendations that can serve as a blueprint for conservation and hunting policy in the future,” said John Devney, AWCP Vice-Chair and Chief Policy Officer for Delta Waterfowl.

The specific recommendations made by the AWCP are featured in nine distinct sections of the report. Each recommendation includes detailed descriptions of the issues and action items to address the issues. These recommendations encourage collaboration and cooperation between federal agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and private landowners and support the implementation of sound, science-based conservation efforts.

• Recommendation 1: Funding for Conservation – Protect and secure permanent and dedicated conservation funding
• Recommendation 2: Access – Enhance access for hunters, shooters, and other outdoor recreationists
• Recommendation 3: Wildlife Migration – Institutionalize and support wildlife migration corridors and seasonal habitats
• Recommendation 4: Energy Development – Ensure wildlife and habitat goals are integrated into planning, development, and operations of all energy sources and impacts are mitigated
• Recommendation 5: Private Land Conservation – Incentivize private landowners to conserve wildlife and habitat and provide access for hunting
• Recommendation 6: Active Management of Federal Lands – Increase active management of federal lands and reduce litigation through collaboration
• Recommendation 7: Species Conservation – Achieve greater results from an improved Endangered Species Act
• Recommendation 8: Wildlife Health – Support and assist state fish and wildlife agencies in addressing wildlife health challenges
• Recommendation 9: Climate Change -Sharpen climate policy focus on habitat conservation, restoration, and carbon solutions

Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII is the culmination of more than a year of work by the AWCP and will define the sporting community’s priorities for the next four years. The recommendations act as a blueprint for decision makers to lead policy changes that will make a meaningful difference to ensure our country’s unique outdoor heritage remains and thrives for years to come.

While the focus of W-21 is the incoming Administration and new Congress, several of the priorities are still being considered in the current Congress. Wrapping up some of these issues in the 118^th Congress will open the opportunity to achieve even more of the recommendations in the coming years.

You can find a copy of Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume 7 here.

WHY ARE RIGHT TO HUNT AND FISH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IMPORTANT?

ARTICLE CONTACT: MARK LANCE

Why It Matters:  With election day right around the corner (November 5), anticipation is building for Americans to get out and exercise their right to vote. This year’s election is especially important for sportsmen and women, as voters will be presented with the opportunity to protect our time-honored traditions at the ballot box. Aside from all the folks running for political office, there are also measures on the ballot that pertain to amendments to state constitutions, such as Amendment Two in Florida that would establish the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife (RTHF). If Floridians vote favorably on Amendment Two, Florida will become the 24^th state to establish an RTHF, which begs the question: why is it important to constitutionally protect the right to hunt and fish?

Highlights:

• RTHF constitutional amendments protect the rights of sportsmen and women in perpetuity, which preempts local legislation or regulation that frustrates comprehensive, statewide wildlife management.
• RTHF further codifies that wildlife are held in the public trust which is a key component of the North American Model of Wildlife Management – the most successful wildlife management model in the world.
• RTHF recognizes that hunting and fishing, utilizing the best available science to determine harvestable surpluses, are the preferred means of managing wildlife, rather than unproven, and emotion-driven means of governance that anti-hunting groups push.
• RTHF further highlights the importance of hunting and fishing as it pertains to generating funding for conservation through the “user pays – public benefits” structure of the American System of Conservation Funding.

Of the 23 states that currently have a constitutional RTHF, many of those are states where someone would never believe that hunting and fishing could not be threatened as they make up the cultural fabric of communities across the state. However, the sporting community often sees attempts to unnecessarily limit hunting and fishing opportunities – take Colorado for example (which does not have a constitutional RTHF) where Proposition 127 is on the ballot this year and could prohibit the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats despite science that backs the harvest of these animals through regulated hunting.  Many states, such as Florida, offer statutory protections for hunting and fishing, but as we all know, statute can easily be changed after one legislative session. That is where having constitutional protection comes into play as it is much harder to change the constitution than it is to change statute as it oftentimes requires a vote amongst the general populace rather than only navigating the legislature.

As much as the anti-hunting, environmentalist movement would have you believe, RTHF constitutional amendments do not provide people with the opportunity to go on a free-for-all and disregard seasons, bag limits, and private property rights. Rules and regulations that are already on the books are not affected, and the state’s respective fish and wildlife agency maintains the authority to operate as normal – utilizing science-based data to make informed management decisions to the betterment of fish and wildlife populations.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is looking ahead at getting Florida RTHF across the final hurdle and will continue to stand at the forefront of RTHF efforts, alongside our partners, to ensure that our time-honored traditions are protected for generations to come.

States Involved: FL