DEER CAMP AND PHEASANT HUNTS: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN IN THE GREAT PLAINS

ARTICLE CONTACT: JAKE GOULD

Why It Matters: Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a mentor to introduce them to hunting and teach them everything they need to know. To help teach new hunters, many state fish and wildlife agencies offer classes or mentored hunting opportunities. These opportunities can lead to recruiting new hunters, who will be encouraged to continue participating in our time-honored traditions.

Highlights:

• Learn to Hunt opportunities provide new hunters with the chance to learn everything they need to know before they hit the fields or woods.
• South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (SDGFP) is offering a deer camp for first time youth hunters, where each youth hunter will be paired with an experienced guide.
• Nebraska Game and Parks (NGP) is offering a “Ladies Learn to Pheasant Hunt,” where the basics of pheasant hunting will be taught.

When it comes to going on your first hunt, there is plenty of information that a hunter needs to know before they hit the field. Unfortunately, not everyone who wants to hunt has the mentors to teach them the basics they need to know. State fish and wildlife agencies like SDGFP and NGP offer opportunities for first time hunters to learn the basics of hunting. These Learn to Hunt programs provide the first step that is needed to get new hunters engaged in our time-honored traditions. While this is an important first step to recruiting future generations of sportsmen and women, efforts to continue to keep new hunters engaged are needed to ensure they continue participating beyond the duration of the programs.

The deer camp offered by the South Dakota Game. Fish, and Parks Department will teach the best ammunition and firearm for deer hunting, firearm safety, sighting in a firearm, and field dressing. The Nebraska “Ladies Learn to Pheasant Hunt” will teach the new hunters firearm handling, upland bird cleaning, and meal preparation using the pheasants. Importantly, these programs also teach hunters to take safe and ethical shots, instilling confidence afield.

To find Learn to Hunt opportunities, please check your state’s fish and wildlife agencies website to see what is offered.

CSF SUPPORTS PRESCRIBED FIRE PROJECT ON THE DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST

ARTICLE CONTACT: JOHN CULCLASURE

Why It Matters: Prescribed fire is a cost-effective management tool that can be utilized at scale to improve wildlife habitat, increase vegetation diversity, and reduce fuel loads to lessen wildfire severity. Over time, fire suppression and reduced burning in fire-adapted communities on the Daniel Boone National Forest has allowed leaf litter to accumulate on the forest floor limiting oak and yellow pine regeneration and contributing to mesophication of the forest where species composition changes to shade-tolerant species, instead of oaks. Public support for increasing the use of prescribed is important to promoting oak regeneration and restoring forest health.

Highlights: 

• On August 15, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter in support of the Cumberland District Prescribed Fire project on the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky.
• The Cumberland District Prescribed Fire project would improve wildlife habitat and timber stand conditions on public lands important to sportsmen and women.
• CSF is a strong proponent of active forest management, including prescribed fire, to improve forest health and wildlife habitat and enhance opportunities for hunters and anglers.

White oak species, which are critical for both wildlife and the wood products and bourbon industries, are in decline across the Eastern United States. Increasing the use of prescribed fire, in conjunction with timber management practices that open the canopy, reduces competition and increases sunlight availability to support oak regeneration. The Cumberland District Prescribed Fire project would authorize the use of prescribed fire on more than 155,000 acres, which would help the U.S. Forest Service move the project area towards its desired future conditions, as set forth in the 2004 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Daniel Boone National Forest.

At the federal level, CSF supports the White Oak Resilience Act (H.R. 2405) and the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462 and H.R. 471), which would advance efforts to restore white oak species by supporting research and pilot programs to improve white oak regeneration. The White Oak Resilience Act recently reported out of the House Committee on Natural Resources, and CSF is optimistic that the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will markup the Fix Our Forests Act this fall.

CSF is excited to see the Cumberland District Prescribed Fire project be implemented over the coming years and is thankful that the U.S. Forest Service is committed to actively managing the Daniel Boone National Forest to benefit wildlife, local economies, and the sporting traditions of Kentuckians.

States Involved: KY

HUNTING HERITAGE PROTECTION ACTS IN THE NORTHEAST

ARTICLE CONTACT: CHRISTIAN RAGOSTA

Why It Matters: State wildlife agencies have a responsibility to protect access to public hunting lands and fishing access points, but not all states are mandated by statute. Hunting Heritage Protection Acts, or “No-Net-Loss,” ensure that, if public land used for hunting and fishing is ever sold or used for some other purpose, equal or better lands will be acquired to maintain the level of public access for hunters and anglers.

Highlights:

• Urbanization of populations means fewer individuals have access to private hunting property.
• Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have forms of “No-Net-Loss” policies in the Northeast.
• Currently, New York offers over four million acres of public land for hunting whereas Rhode Island has well under 100,000 acres, but both lack “No-Net-Loss” protections.
• Over the years, the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) has estimated fluctuating percentages that between 30 to 40 percent of hunters use public land, which varies significantly depending on what part of the country you are in.

In 2004, at the inaugural National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Annual Sportsman – Legislator Summit, “No-Net-Loss” was identified as a necessary policy for states to adopt. Due to this, sportsmen’s legislative caucuses in Tennessee and Virginia led some of the first legislatures to pass new “No-Net-Loss” policies by 2007. As recently as 2022 and 2023, Massachusetts and Connecticut passed protections for public land access. Connecticut Public Act No. 09-173 explicitly sets a minimum amount of public land accessible for hunting.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is working with legislators, the sportsmen caucuses, partners and state agencies in both New York and Rhode Island to mirror neighboring states’ efforts in protecting public access for hunters and anglers. Since 1971, Rhode Island has expressly been protecting freshwater and coastal wetlands “for the benefit of the public,” however public land used for hunting does not currently have the same protections for the public’s use. New York state, despite various efforts that attempt to protect lands and waters, requires a meaningful policy towards those protections with achievable goals.

Although both New York and Rhode Island have these specific programs for conservation, neither state specifically addresses protections of maintaining public land that is currently usable for the purpose of hunting and fishing. Sportsmen and women, who are the financial driving force of state wildlife agencies and their conservation efforts through the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), should be assured that the public lands protected by their efforts should be usable by them for the purpose of hunting and fishing in perpetuity.

“No-Net-Loss” sets an achievable goal for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM). Current initiatives set an incredibly high bar for state agencies without considering the resources needed and available for appropriate scientific wildlife and land management. New York and Rhode Island have an opportunity to work with CSF and other state partners in the coming 2026 legislative session to adopt a “No-Net-Loss” policy and protect public hunting lands and fishing waterways for sportsmen and women’s use.

FWS EXPANDS HUNTING AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS 11 STATES

ARTICLE CONTACT: TAYLOR SCHMITZ

Why it Matters: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) provides important hunting and fishing opportunities across the country. Despite the importance that FWS lands, particularly through the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS), play for sportsmen and women, there are often inconsistencies between state and federal regulations, as well as antiquated hunting and fishing regulations generally, that hinder sportsmen’s access. This effort marks an important step to further increase opportunities for sportsmen and women.

Highlights: 

• Last week, FWS announced the expansion of 42 new hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 87,000 acres across the NWRS and NFHS.
• This effort by FWS is representative of a commitment to sportsmen and women and marks an important step to bolster our nation’s sporting traditions.
• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) thanks FWS for their commitment to improving access for hunting and fishing across our public lands.

On August 27, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the expansion of new hunting and fishing opportunities across the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System, a decision that is welcome news for CSF.

The final rule announced last week opens or expands hunting and fishing across 16 different units within the National Wildlife Refuge System and one unit of the National Fish Hatchery System. Specifically, these expanded opportunities will occur within the following states: Alabama, California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington. Notably, the rule includes the opening of hunting at the Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge System, Grasslands Wildlife Management Area, and brand-new sport fishing opportunities at the North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation thanks FWS for their commitment to sportsmen and women by expanding access to public lands that serve as critical recreational areas for America’s sportsmen and women.

WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING?: CALIFORNIA BILL CARRIES POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR DOG BREEDERS, OWNERS

ARTICLE CONTACT: KENT KEENE

Why It Matters: Seemingly innocuous bills can sometimes carry significant unexpected consequences for law-abiding sportsmen and women. Currently, California Assembly Bill 519, which has moved through both chambers with wide support, is one such example that has some members of the sporting-conservation community concerned. On the surface, the bill reads as an anti-puppy mill effort, but concerns persist among those in the legal, regulated business of breeding sporting dogs.

Highlights:

• California Assembly Bill 519 has currently passed both chambers with unanimous support and only awaits concurrence in the Assembly before heading to the Governor’s Desk.
• As amended, AB 519 seeks to ban the brokering of dogs under one year of age, cats, and dogs.
• While recent amendments to the bill to extinguish some concerns shared by legal, regulated dog breeders, other concerns persist regarding the bill’s potential to inhibit the ability of breeders to assist in helping potential dog owners find a sporting dog that meets their needs.

Not every piece of legislation related to our sporting-conservation heritage is black and white. Some require a very nuanced, at times even skeptical, evaluation to determine the impact that legislation may have on opportunities for sportsmen and women. California Assembly Bill 519 represents a current example of such legislation. Seeking to end the practice of brokering the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits, this legislation would make it illegal for a third-party “broker” to facilitate the sale of puppies, cats, and rabbits in exchange for a profit. AB 519 is claimed to target the practices of puppy mills in the state of California.

Despite receiving unanimous support as the bill has progressed through both chambers, partners within the sporting-conservation community have raised serious concerns about the bill’s potential impact on otherwise legal, regulated dog breeders who supply many common sporting dogs to sportsmen and women. During a recent interview with colleagues at the California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA), Legislative Director Rick Travis presented an anecdote in which he, as a licensed breeder, does not have a litter of puppies available but introduces a client to a breeder who does. While he would not directly profit from this interaction, he could receive future connections that would result in him selling a dog based on this reference. Given the bill’s vague definitions, despite recent amendments, this is a concern amongst the often close-knit sporting dog breeder communities.

Other partners have also raised concerns about this legislation. However, the bill continues to progress through the legislative process having passed both chambers. At this time, the Assembly simply needs to concur with Senate amendments before the bill is finally passed and eligible to be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.

States Involved: CA

CSF RECOGNIZES RICHARD CHILDRESS WITH THE DINGELL‑YOUNG SPORTSMEN’S LEGACY AWARD FOR A LIFETIME OF CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP

(September 12, 2025) – Washington, D.C. – During the 36th Annual Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) Banquet & Auction, legendary NASCAR Hall-of-Famer, sportsman, lifelong conservationist, and immediate past Chairman of the CSF Board of Directors Richard Childress was honored with the Dingell‑Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award – CSF’s highest Award. The Award was presented to Richard Childress by last year’s Dingell-Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award Winner, Johnny Morris, who is the owner of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s and a longtime friend of Childress’.

The Dingell‑Young Award, named in honor of bipartisan conservation champions – Reps. John Dingell Sr. and Jr. and Debbie Dingell, and Rep. Don Young, recognizes extraordinary individuals who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to promoting conservation, protecting America’s incredible outdoor traditions, and advancing access and opportunity for sportsmen and women across the nation.

“Richard Childress completely embodies the spirit behind the Dingell‑Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award. His passion for the outdoors is matched only by his commitment to protecting it for future generations, and he has made an immense difference for sportsmen and women throughout the nation,” said Jeff Crane, President and CEO of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “Richard leads his life with purpose, integrity, and a deep respect for America’s sporting traditions, and I am just as proud to call him a friend as I am to see his contributions recognized through this Award.”

To be eligible for the Dingell-Young Award, an individual must demonstrate leadership and long-standing dedication to advancing two or more of the following areas: national conservation policy; the role of sportsmen and women in conservation; expanding public access to hunting, fishing and/or recreational shooting; increasing the engagement of youth and underrepresented communities in sporting pursuits; and promoting our outdoor heritage in the policy arena.

Richard Childress has made a profound and lasting impact on conservation through his unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife, conserving habitats, and promoting America’s outdoor heritage. As a lifelong outdoorsman, Childress has leveraged his success in NASCAR and business to champion conservation causes, and has supported key initiatives that benefit wildlife research, habitat restoration, and public access to hunting and fishing. Childress also previously served as Chairman of CSF’s Board of Directors, where he worked closely with and provided constant support and guidance to CSF leadership and staff in their work towards protecting and advancing America’s outdoor heritage.

“It’s an incredible honor to receive this Award that bears the names of some of the most dedicated champions of conservation our country has ever known. The outdoors has always been part of who I am – whether it’s hunting, fishing, or simply being a steward of the land,” said Childress. “I’m deeply grateful to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, to Johnny Morris for presenting this Award, and to the many conservation leaders who’ve inspired me along the way. This recognition isn’t just about me, it’s about ensuring future generations can enjoy the same freedoms, access, and connection to the outdoors that we’ve been blessed with. I’ll continue doing everything I can to carry that legacy forward.”

In attendance for the Award ceremony were Members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, leaders from the outdoor industry, and other conservation organizations, all of whom have been touched by Childress’ contributions in one way or another.

CSF applauds Childress for his unwavering dedication to America’s sportsmen and women, and we are honored to celebrate his remarkable contributions to the sporting-conservation community with the Dingell‑Young Sportsmen’s Legacy Award.

CONSERVATION ON CAPITOL HILL: CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION HOSTS 36TH ANNUAL BANQUET

(September 11, 2025) – Washington, D.C. – Last night, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted its 36th Annual Banquet & Auction, honoring the bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) and its continued commitment to protecting America’s sporting traditions and conservation heritage.

For decades, CSF’s Annual Banquet and Auction has provided an unmatched opportunity for industry leaders and conservation partners to unite with the very policymakers that are championing hunting, angling, trapping, and recreational shooting issues on Capitol Hill. The Banquet welcomed Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, including bipartisan CSC Leaders: Senator Angus King Jr. (ME), Representative Bruce Westerman (AR), Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA), Representative August Pfluger (TX), and Representative Troy Carter (LA). Also in attendance at the Banquet were special guests: Johnny Morris (Bass Pro Shops), Richard Childress (Richard Childress Racing), and Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor.

With over 225 Members representing both the House and Senate, the CSC remains one of the most influential bipartisan caucuses in Congress. Throughout 2025, the CSC has continued to drive forward pro-conservation, pro-sportsmen legislation, resulting in the wins such as the House passage of the MAPWaters Act, the SHARKED Act, the Fix Our Forests Act, and much more. Their efforts reflect a steadfast commitment to America’s 55 million sportsmen and women who depend on sound conservation policy to continue to do what they are passionate about.

“Now in its 36th year, the Annual Banquet has grown into far more than a celebration – it’s the single largest gathering of pro-sportsmen legislators and conservation leaders on Capitol Hill,” said CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane. “This event serves as a critical touchpoint for building relationships, reflecting on policy wins, and aligning our goals for the future. We are truly grateful to the partners and sponsors that help make this event happen.”

CSF extends deep appreciation to our Mission Partners and the Sponsors who made the 36th Annual Banquet a success. Title Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Outdoor Sportsman Group, Richard Childress Racing, and the Wild Sheep Foundation. Host Sponsors: Dallas Safari Club, Double Eagle, Ducks Unlimited, Grab A Gun, GunBroker, Hornady Manufacturing Company, International Order of T. Roosevelt, Izaak Walton League of America – Cypress Chapter, MVP Robotics, Safari Club International, Scheels, Shimano, Silencer Central, Silencer Shop, The Kinetic Group and Valero.