Working with the
US Congress
 

Working with  
State Legislators
 


Working with 
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May 14, 2015

 

Your Trusted Source for Federal and State Policy Updates and News Concerning Our Sportsmen's Heritage
ON CAPITOL HILL

 

Republican vs. Democrat Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Members Compete at Annual Congressional Shoot-Out

On May 12, 35 Members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) joined the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) and representatives from the sportsmen's community at Prince George's County Trap and Skeet Center in Glenn Dale, Maryland, for a friendly competition of shooting rounds of trap, skeet and sporting clays...

 

Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Management: Learn More

The National Marine Fisheries Service recently announced that the average recreational angler fishing the Gulf of Mexico for red snapper will only have ten days (and only one weekend) to do so in 2015, while the charter/for-hire industry will have 44 days and the commercial industry 365 days, which continues to highlight the need for a significant overhaul to the management of this iconic species. The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, in collaboration with partners from the sportfishing community, and federal and state legislators from the Gulf region, continue to work diligently to improve the management of Gulf of Mexico red snapper for recreational fishing. Click here to view the updated federal issue brief webpage for background information and a summary of recent events relative to the management of this important American fishery...

 

Governors Sportsmen's Caucus Co-Chairs Comment on Proposed BATFE Ammunition Ban

Recently, Governors Earl Ray Tomblin (D-WV) and Terry Branstad (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Governors Sportsmen's Caucus (GSC), issued a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), strongly supporting the agency's decision on March 10, to table a recent framework that would have banned one of the most commonly used rounds by recreational shooters... 

 

Three Southeastern Federal Fish Hatcheries Receive Permanent Funding

Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) Member Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently announced a permanent funding solution for three regional trout hatcheries in Tennessee and Georgia.  Previously only fully funded through 2016, Tennessee's Erwin National Fish Hatchery and Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, as well as Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery in Georgia will now permanently remain open at current funding levels...  

 

IN THE STATES

 

Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Reception

On April 29, the Maine Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus hosted a Sportsmen's Caucus Reception in Augusta, Maine at the Governor Hill Mansion. Over two dozen Maine legislators gathered with partners from the sportsmen's community to discuss the importance of hunting and angling to Maine's heritage, economy, and for the conservation of critical fish and wildlife habitat throughout the state...  

 

Maryland Reforms Waterfowl Baiting Law, Repeals "Strict Liability" Doctrine

Previously, Maryland law - unlike federal law - did not require criminal intent as a condition of violating the state's migratory bird baiting law. In Maryland, as in many states, baiting for deer is legal, while baiting for waterfowl is illegal. Under the previous law, individuals could have been charged with baiting for waterfowl simply because elsewhere on the property someone was baiting for deer, regardless of whether the waterfowl hunter was aware there was bait nearby... 

 

Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Hosts Spring Shoot, Wild Game Dinner, and Breakfast Briefing

The Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus kicked off the month of May with a blast by holding a spring shoot and wild game dinner at the Capitol Area Sportsmen's League on May 6. Over 30 Caucus members were joined at the range by representatives from nearly 20 sportsmen's groups, as well as staff members from the Governors Sportsmen's Caucus member Governor Rick Snyder's office and staff from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)...

CSF NEWS

CSF Seeking a Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator

CSF is seeking a Mid-Atlantic States Coordinator to co-manage the state sportsmen's caucus effort organized under the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses (NASC) and the Governors Sportsmen's Caucus (GSC) programs for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States...

Working with Congress, Governors and State Legislatures to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping.

 

For more information on the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation go to www.SportsmensLink.org or contact Sara Leonard at 202.543.6850 x 11 or email sara@sportsmenslink.org.