The Sportsmen's Voice | Hunting, Fishing and Conservation Advocacy with Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

Sunday hunting restrictions are disappearing, but some states are still fighting to keep hunters out.

The fight over Sunday hunting continues across the East Coast, with North Carolina and South Carolina among the last states maintaining some restrictions on when hunters can take to the field. Connor Barker joins the conversation to break down where the issue stands, what recent federal action means for state wildlife agencies, and where hunters could see meaningful changes during upcoming legislative sessions.

The discussion examines President Trump’s executive order encouraging states to ex...

Colorado’s wildlife future is heading to the ballot, with hunting and fishing at stake.

Colorado has become a major battleground in the national debate over hunting, fishing, wildlife management, and the role of sportsmen in conservation.

Chris Dorsey and Brent Miller join Fred Bird to unpack Colorado’s proposed constitutional right to hunt and fish, the growing use of ballot initiatives to shape wildlife policy, and what the debate could mean for hunters and anglers beyond the state. They examine how ballot-box campaigns can bypass traditional legislative processes, why...

Hunters and anglers have a bigger seat at the table as federal conservation policy takes shape.

Federal hunting and conservation policy takes center stage as the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation continues its long-standing role representing hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and conservationists in Washington.

The episode leads with CSF Senior Vice President and COO Taylor Schmitz joining the newly established Federal Hunting and Conservation Advisory Council, giving the sporting conservation community a direct opportunity to help inform federal decisions affecting wildlife conservation, hunting, recreational shooting, and public access. The conversation al...

From red snapper seasons to wildfire policy, federal action is reshaping opportunities for sportsmen nationwide.

Federal policy is moving fast, and the decisions being made in Washington could have a direct impact on hunting, fishing, wildlife habitat, and access for sportsmen across the country.

Chris Horton, Alex Dove, and Kent Keene break down a packed third quarter for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, covering major developments in fisheries policy, conservation, working lands, and federal forest management. Horton details the progress of MAPOceans, the Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act, cormorant ma...

Two new federal executive orders could reshape how hunters and anglers access public lands and fisheries.

September brings hunting season, fall fishing, and a major week for federal sportsmen’s policy. The latest Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup breaks down two executive orders signed by President Trump September 17 covering recreational saltwater fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and access to federal lands.

CSF Senior Vice President and COO, Taylor Schmitz joins the conversation to explain what the orders actually direct federal agencies to do, where implementation could affect hunters and anglers, and what...

Hunter education is finding a new path into classrooms, opening doors for the next generation of hunters and conservationists.

The latest Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup arrives with hunting seasons opening across the country and a major hunter education development in New Hampshire. The state Board of Education has approved New Hampshire Fish and Game’s hunter education program through the Learn Everywhere initiative, allowing students in grades 9–12 to voluntarily enroll, earn school credit, and complete training that can prepare them for hunting licenses.

The move follows a multiyear effort to bri...

Colorado hunters and anglers face a pivotal vote that could shape wildlife management for generations.

The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup covers the latest conservation and hunting news from across the country, with this week’s conversation focused on Colorado’s proposed constitutional right to hunt and fish.

Marie Neumiller and Sofia Mollett join the show from Wyoming to discuss the effort, officially identified in the conversation as Amendment 83, and what Colorado voters need to understand before November. The discussion examines how the proposed amendment relates to Colorado Parks and Wildli...

What happens when ranchers, hunters, other conservationists, and rewilders fight over the future of the West?

Tom Opre returns to discuss The Real Yellowstone, a documentary examining the complicated relationship between ranching, wildlife, conservation, and the changing landscape of the American West. The film asks difficult questions about who manages wildlife, who benefits from it, and what happens when longtime rural communities collide with new ideas about rewilding and public lands.

The conversation digs into regenerative ranching and how carefully managed grazing can improve soil health, water retention, biodiversity, an...

NOAA’s latest recreational fishing numbers leave out billions, raising serious questions about fisheries management and allocation.

Recreational fishing is one of the most economically significant parts of America’s outdoors economy, but a major change in federal data collection could be understating its value. Chris Horton and economist Brad Gardner of the Coastal Conservation Association break down what happened and why anglers should pay attention.

Gardner, who previously worked at NOAA and helped build the economic models behind its fisheries reports, explains how the agency stopped producing state-level esti...

NOAA’s latest recreational fishing numbers leave out billions, raising serious questions about fisheries management and allocation.

Recreational fishing is one of the most economically significant parts of America’s outdoors economy, but a major change in federal data collection could be understating its value. Chris Horton and economist Brad Gentner of the Coastal Conservation Association break down what happened and why anglers should pay attention.

Gentner, who previously worked at NOAA and helped build the economic models behind its fisheries reports, explains how the agency stopped producing state-level esti...

Hunting access, conservation funding, and the right to hunt and fish are all facing major battles nationwide.

The sportsmen’s policy landscape is moving fast, with more than 100 state-level policy wins already secured this year and hundreds more issues still in play. Brent Miller, Vice President of Policy at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, breaks down the biggest victories, ongoing fights, and emerging threats facing hunters and anglers across the United States.

The conversation covers major progress on Sunday hunting in the Northeast, including expanded opportunities in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Mary...

More public access is opening up this fall, but hunters and anglers need to know where.

The Department of the Interior has finalized the largest expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service history, creating nearly 1,500 new opportunities across 111 national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries in 32 states. More than 92 million acres, representing over 95% of the National Wildlife Refuge System, are now available for hunting.

The Sportsman’s Voice Roundup breaks down what this expanded access means for hunters, anglers, and anyone looking for ne...

Several major fishing priorities are closer to becoming law than most sportsmen realize right now.

Congress is on August recess, but the work continues behind the scenes on legislation affecting hunters, anglers, fisheries, and conservation funding. Chris Horton, Senior Director of Fisheries Policy for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, breaks down several sportsmen’s priorities that could reach the finish line before the end of the congressional session.

The SHARKED Act is one of the biggest opportunities for marine recreational anglers. With shark depredation making it increasingly difficult to land...

Modern trapping is growing fast as sportsmen and women rediscover one of wildlife conservation's most effective tools.

Trapping is experiencing an unexpected resurgence across America, and the reasons go far beyond fur. Jason Wisniewski, President of the Fur Takers of America, joins Fred Bird to discuss why trapper participation has more than doubled in recent years, what is driving new interest among turkey hunters, landowners, and backyard homesteaders, and why modern trapping remains one of the most valuable wildlife management tools available.

The conversation explores how predator management supports...

Big policy battles today could reshape tomorrow's hunting traditions, access, and fair chase ethics.

The dog days of summer haven't slowed conservation policy, and this week's roundup covers the legislation and debates every hunter should have on their radar. California enters the final month of its legislative session with several proposals that could directly affect firearm ownership, archery hunting, and active forest management. Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation's Kaylee Mortensen breaks down proposed firearm safety certificate requirements, legislation restoring concealed carry rights for archery deer hunters, and a bill that could limit forest management practices on...

Conservation victories prove organized sportsmen can still shape wildlife policy before lasting damage is done.

For hunters, trappers, and conservation advocates, policy battles don't stop when the hunting season ends. This week,The Sportsmen's Voice Roundup breaks down two major victories that could have lasting impacts on wildlife management across the West.

First, Oregon's controversial IP28, a ballot initiative that sought to ban hunting, trapping, fishing, and livestock management, officially failed to qualify for the November ballot after falling short on valid signatures. While it's a significant win for t...

Conservation succeeds when wildlife has real value to the people living alongside it every day.

Robbie Kroger returns from three weeks across South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia with firsthand insight into the challenges shaping African wildlife conservation. The conversation breaks down how trophy hunting bans, import restrictions, and international politics affect habitat, rural communities, and the future of Africa's most iconic species.

Rather than focusing on emotion or headlines, Robbie explains why sustainable use remains one of the most effective conservation tools available. Listeners hear how countries like...

Healthy forests begin with better management before the next wildfire threatens wildlife, habitat, and communities.

Wildfire smoke stretched across much of North America this summer, but the conversation goes far beyond poor air quality. Forest management, wildlife habitat, and the future of public lands all depend on the decisions being made today.

Fred Bird sits down with CSF Senior Manager of Western States and Agriculture Policy Kent Keene to explain why the Fix Our Forests Act has become one of the most important conservation policy discussions in the country...

Hunters and anglers just received major recognition that could shape public land access for generations.

The latest conservation news roundup dives into one of the biggest policy developments for America's sporting community. The Trump administration has released its first progress report on the Make America Beautiful Again Commission, outlining a broad conservation agenda focused on expanding hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and outdoor recreation opportunities across federal lands.

Learn what the report means for public land hunters, anglers, and conservation advocates, including new policies that establish hunting and fishing as...

America's conservation legacy depends on today's decisions about public lands, wildlife, and outdoor access.

America's unmatched system of wildlife conservation didn't happen by accident. It was built by hunters, anglers, and generations of leaders willing to invest in the future of our public lands. Congressman Ryan Zinke joins the conversation to examine where that legacy stands today and what it will take to protect it for the next century.

The discussion explores the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Pittman-Robertson funding, Dingell-Johnson, and why sportsmen continue to carry the...

A landmark court victory could reshape firearm policy across the country.

For hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters, constitutional rights don't end at the trailhead or the parking lot. A major U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Hawaii's so-called "vampire rule" could have lasting implications for sportsmen nationwide.

Kaylee Mortensen joins the conversation to explain how Hawaii's law restricted lawful firearm carry on private property open to the public and why the Court found those restrictions unconstitutional. More importantly, you'll hear what this ruling could mean for hunters traveling...

The future of hunting and fishing depends on decisions being made today.

What does conservation leadership look like for the next 250 years of America?

In this special Hunt Fish 250 conversation, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shops Executive Vice President J.P. Morris share a deeply personal discussion about outdoor heritage, conservation leadership, and passing hunting and fishing traditions to future generations.

From stories about growing up in the Ozarks when wild turkeys and whitetail deer were scarce to raising a new generation of...

Conservation battles are reshaping hunting's future, and every sportsman and woman has a stake in the outcome.

Colorado's latest effort to ban the sale of wild fur products highlights a growing challenge facing hunters, trappers, anglers, and everyone who values science-based wildlife management. Conservation policy doesn't stop with one species or one state. The decisions being made today have lasting implications for trapping, predator and furbearer management, habitat conservation, and the future of America's outdoor traditions.

This conversation explores why regulated trapping remains a critical conservation tool, how the No...

The bird almost disappeared forever. The recovery changed American conservation history.

Throughout the entirety of America's conservation history, sportsmen and women have helped shape the future of America's fish and wildlife. Few examples illustrate that legacy better than the wild turkey.

In this special Hunt Fish 250 conversation, legendary conservation leader Rob Keck joins Fred Bird to explore one of the greatest wildlife recovery stories ever told. From remnant turkey populations surviving in isolated pockets of the country to the nationwide restoration efforts that returned wild turkeys to nearly every su...

A decades-long hunting battle nears victory as conservation wins stack nationwide.

Momentum is building for hunters, anglers, and conservation advocates across the country.

This week’s Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup covers a major development in Massachusetts, where Sunday hunting legislation is closer to becoming law than ever before. After key provisions were stripped from the Governor’s budget proposal earlier this year, lawmakers revived and unanimously advanced measures that would expand hunting opportunities, increase access for working hunters, allow broader crossbow use during archery season, and modernize outdated setback requir...

A radical ballot measure is gaining momentum, and hunters nationwide should pay attention.

Conservation policy battles are heating up across the country, but one proposal in Oregon continues to demand national attention. This week’s Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup examines the latest developments surrounding Oregon’s IP 28 ballot initiative, a measure that could dramatically impact hunting, fishing, wildlife management, and the future of sportsmen-led conservation.

CSF’s Marie Neumiller joins the show to break down where the petition process currently stands, why signature verification remains a critical hurdle, and what hun...

Inside the policy fights quietly shaping hunting access, fisheries management, and public land conservation nationwide.

For 250 years, America’s hunters and anglers have shaped the country’s conservation legacy. In this conversation, leaders from the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation break down the modern legislative victories protecting public access, healthy wildlife populations, and the future of hunting and fishing traditions nationwide.

CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane and Senior Vice President Taylor Schmitz unpack landmark wins like the Great American Outdoors Act, expanded red snapper seasons, right-to-hunt-and-fish constitutional protections, and the grow...

A major win for sportsmen and women arrives as critical access and conservation fights continue.

The conservation landscape never stays quiet for long. This week’s Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup covers a major milestone for sportsmen and women nationwide as North Carolina Governor Josh Stein becomes the 29th member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, strengthening bipartisan support for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation at the highest levels of state government.

CSF’s Conner Barker joins the show to explain why gubernatorial engagement matters and how direct relationships with governors c...

New technology could reshape whale conservation while opening opportunities for anglers nationwide.

As summer kicks into gear, this week’s Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup covers major developments affecting hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists across the country.

Chris Horton, Senior Director of Fisheries Policy at the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, joins the conversation to break down a significant federal review of North Atlantic Right Whale vessel speed regulations. Learn why recreational anglers and offshore boaters have been engaged in this debate for years, how emerging marine technology could improve whale conservation effor...

America’s wildlife comeback story began with hunters recognizing conservation before the rest of the nation.

America’s conservation system didn’t begin in Washington. It started with hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen recognizing that wildlife populations and wild places were disappearing across the continent.

In this conversation, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation launches the Hunt Fish 250 campaign with a deep dive into the origins of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the public trust doctrine, and the sporting traditions that shaped the nation itself. Simon Roosevelt and James Cummins...

Historic access wins and conservation funding advances are reshaping the future of America’s hunting and fishing opportunities.

The biggest hunting and fishing access expansion in U.S. history just landed, and the implications for sportsmen across the country are massive. This week’s Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup breaks down the Department of the Interior’s proposal to expand more than 1,400 hunting and angling opportunities across National Wildlife Refuges in 32 states. Listeners get a ground-level look at what expanded public land access means for waterfowl hunting, turkey hunting, freshwater fishing, and long-term wildlife management.

Georgia students could soon earn school credit while learning hunting safety and wildlife conservation.

Georgia just took a major step toward strengthening the future of hunting, shooting sports, and wildlife conservation. This week’s conversation breaks down the successful push to bring hunter education into Georgia schools after a two-year legislative effort backed by the sportsmen’s community, state lawmakers, and conservation advocates.

Fred sits down with Conner Barker to unpack how the bill moved through the Georgia legislature, why Governor Brian Kemp’s signature matters for hunters and angler...

Colorado sportsmen are fighting to protect hunting traditions before activists permanently reshape wildlife management.

Colorado has become ground zero in the national battle over hunting, fishing, trapping, and science-based wildlife management. In this conversation, Dan Gates of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management and Luke Hilgemann of the International Order of T. Roosevelt break down the growing push for a constitutional right to hunt and fish amendment in Colorado and why sportsmen across the country should be paying attention.

The discussion dives deep into the aftermath of Proposition 127, mounting pressure...

New firearm restrictions and hunting access proposals could reshape California’s outdoor future for sportsmen.

California takes center stage this week as lawmakers debate firearm restrictions, hunting access, and new opportunities for young outdoorsmen facing life-threatening illnesses. The conversation digs into Senate Bill 948, a controversial proposal requiring extensive firearm training for purchases and transfers while potentially creating major hurdles for hunters and gun owners relocating to the state. The discussion also explores concerns over implementation costs, instructor shortages, and how the legislation could affect lawful firearm ownership in California.

On...

Major legislation, access wins, and looming bans collide as hunters fight for the future.

Momentum is building in Washington as a long-awaited Farm Bill clears the House, bringing real implications for wildlife habitat, public access, and the future of hunting and fishing across the country. This report breaks down what the updated legislation means for sportsmen and women, from the Conservation Reserve Program to expanded opportunities through Voluntary Public Access - Habitat Incentive Program funding (VPA-HIP). If you care about private land access, habitat management, and the future of deer hunting, waterfowl hunting, and...

What if the gobbler you chased isn’t what you think it is?

Turkey hunters pride themselves on knowing the bird, but new science is challenging long-held assumptions about wild turkey populations. This conversation dives deep into the Wild Turkey DNA Project and what it’s uncovering about subspecies, hybridization, and the future of turkey hunting across North America.

As traveling turkey hunting continues to rise, so does pressure on birds and the landscapes they inhabit. But the bigger story lies beneath the feathers. Decades of trap-and-transfer restoration efforts mixe...

A new federal council could reshape hunting access, public lands, and conservation priorities nationwide.

An incredibly positive development is taking shape in Washington that could directly impact hunting access, public land opportunities, and the future of conservation funding. The newly announced Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council creates a direct line between the sporting community and top decision-makers within the Department of the Interior and USDA.

This conversation breaks down what that actually means for hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters on the ground. From expanding access to...

Wildlife corridors are one of the most important, and misunderstood, current initiatives in wildlife conservation. 

From elk hunting in the Rockies to White-tailed movement in the Northeast, these migration routes and habitat connections directly influence herd health, hunting opportunity, and long-term wildlife management. With over 30 years of expertise in wildlife conservation and management as well as authoring Secretarial Order: 3362, Casey Stemler unpacks the corridors issues and brings the policy into sharp focus.

This conversation breaks down how big game species like elk, mule deer, and pronghorn rely on seasonal movement ac...

A major Texas rule change could reshape muzzleloader seasons and bring new hunters into the fold.

Turkey season may be stealing the spotlight, but a major regulatory shift in Texas is making waves across the hunting community. This conversation breaks down the recent update to muzzleloader regulations that now allows modern Firestick-style platforms for deer hunting, a move that aligns Texas with the majority of states already embracing this technology.

You’ll hear how this change impacts muzzleloader hunting, from improved safety and easier unloading in the field to mo...

Critical conservation funding and access battles heat up as major policy wins stack nationwide.

Momentum continues to build for sportsmen and women across the country as key conservation policies, hunting access protections, and fisheries funding measures move forward. From suppressor legislation in Kansas to public land trapping victories in Colorado, this week’s roundup highlights how state and federal decisions are shaping the future of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

At the center of the conversation is the reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, one of...