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

Latest Episodes:

TSV Roundup Week of May 19th, 2025 May 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Sportsmen's Voice Roundup, Fred Bird and CSF Assistant Manager, Midwestern States Bob Matthews kick off with our lead story discussing a new bill in Michigan aimed at integrating hunter education into public schools. Fred and Bob dive into the importance of this initiative, why the hunter ed in schools legislation is a priority for the CSF, the role of hunters in wildlife management, and the need for increased public understanding of conservation funding. Then, Fred dives into the rest of the headlines affecting sportsmen and women in the US, including legislation targeting poachers, increased public access to lands, new fishing regulation updates, and more news to support outdoor traditions and communities.

Takeaways

The MAPOceans Act: The Act aims to clarify fishing regulations, where public access is crucial to outdoor activity.
Michigan Outdoor Education: New legislation in Michigan is expanding outdoor education opportunities in the Great Lake State.

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Episode 46 - Turkey Hunting, Conservation & Public Perception: A Conversation with Mark Damian Duda of Responsive Management May 15, 2025

Show notes

In this feature episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice, host Fred Bird sits down with Mark Damian Duda, founder and executive director of Responsive Management, to reflect on a recent New England turkey hunt the two shared and dive deep into the human dimensions of wildlife conservation. They explore the vital role that hunters play in conservation funding, the public’s changing attitudes toward hunting, and how research-based communication strategies can shift perceptions and build stronger public support. From demographic trends to the importance of wildlife councils, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of hunting and conservation in America. Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsman, a wildlife advocate, or simply curious about how legal, regulated hunting contributes to conservation, this conversation delivers valuable insight backed by decades of public opinion research.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Non-Hunter Perspectives: How have demographic shifts in the United States affected how people view the natural world and our place in it? Find out about Mark’s groundbreaking research.
Public Support Of Hunting: Has it declined? What steps can hunters and sportsmen and women take to recover the public perception of their lifestyle? Mark answers this and more.
Responsive Management’s Research: Mark dives into the power of Responsive Management’s research in shaping effective outreach strategies, how demographic shifts are reshaping the future of hunting, why positive messaging and respectful language (e.g. "legal, regulated hunting") resonate more with the public, and more.

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TSV Roundup Week of May 12th, 2025 May 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Sportsmen's Voice Roundup, Fred Bird and Chris Horton kick off with our lead story discussing the introduction of the Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act in the Senate and how this bipartisan bill stands to combat tax and conservation funding avoidance. They then tackle an update on the Rigs to Reef legislation, new legislation out of North Dakota's recent legislative session, enhancements to Alaska's Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Fix Our Forest Act aimed at wildfire risk reduction, and efforts to expand Sunday hunting opportunities in Connecticut.

Takeaways

The Sporting Goods Excise Tax Modernization Act: This legislation is crucial for conservation funding, by closing loopholes exploited by foreign manufacturers to get around the North American Model.
North Dakota Senate Bill 2137: This North Dakota bill, which has been passed and signed into law, prohibits NDGFD from enacting or implementing policies related to baiting or supplemental feeding for hunting big game animals on private property.
Alaska Big Game Service Board: Alaska's Big Game Commercial Services Board is being enhanced - look for more in a future episode with Marie Neumiller on that one!

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TSV Roundup Week of May 5th, 2025 May 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Sportsmen's Voice Roundup, Fred tackles it solo, covering all the news that’s fit to print concerning the outdoor community around the country including legislation aimed at enhancing access to public lands, paint balling bears in California (you read that right), voter registration initiatives for sportsmen in Michigan, advancements in muzzleloading technology in Louisiana, and an update to draconian knife legislation in Delaware.

Takeaways

The America The Beautiful Act: Our lead story from Taylor Schmitz relays how this key legislation aims to restore public land infrastructure.
California’s Bear Boom: California's bear population has grown due to hunting restrictions, while Fred covers some… interesting… ideas from anti-hunters on how to manage bears including throwing pinecones and shooting them with paintball guns.
Delaware Knife Law Update: CSF supports a fix to Delaware’s knife laws repealing the ban on so-called “switch blade” assisted opening knives, paving the way for another useful tool in sportsmen’s gear bag in the state.

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Episode 45 - Wyoming Wildlife at a Crossroads: Angi Bruce on Conservation, Hunting, and Public Lands May 01, 2025

Show notes

In this week’s feature episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast, host Fred Bird sits down with Angi Bruce, the first female director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, to talk about the evolving challenges and opportunities in wildlife management in the Cowboy State. From emerging legislation and the push for science-based policy to the tension between resident and non-resident hunters, Angi provides a candid look at how Wyoming balances conservation, tourism, and access to public lands. This episode unpacks the realities of conservation funding, the role of hunters in protecting wildlife, and why community engagement and bipartisan support are essential to the future of Wyoming’s outdoor heritage.

Key Takeaways:

Learn About Director Angie Bruce: Dive into Angi’s historic role as the first female director of Wyoming Game and Fish
The Push For Science-Based Management: Answering why wildlife management should be science-led, not politically driven
Wyoming Conservation Funding: Discover how hunting and fishing licenses fund 100% of the agency
Residents VS Non-Residents: Explore the growing anti-non-resident sentiment—and what’s behind it

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TSV Roundup Week of April 28th, 2025 Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Sportsmen's Voice roundup, Fred is joined by CSF’s Senior Coordinator of Southeastern States Conner Barker for this week’s lead story on the ongoing debate surrounding Sunday hunting restrictions in North Carolina. Conner and Fred dive into the historical context, recent legislative changes, and the implications of recent court rulings on the future of the policy, along with the impact of these restrictions on hunters and the broader conservation community. Fred then dives into all the rest of the key headlines affecting sportsmen and women around the country, including recent legislative changes affecting wildlife management in North Dakota, the ongoing scrutiny of lead ammunition in the Northeast, and the celebration of Sportsmen's Day in Colorado.

Takeaways

North Carolina Sunday Hunting: North Carolina has restrictive Sunday hunting laws dating back over a century, and has recently seen legislative and rule making changes opening up Sunday hunting on private lands and 51 game lands.
North Dakota Wildlife Agency Authority: CSF believes wildlife management should remain with state agencies for effective conservation; unfortunately recent legislation has now stripped some management authority from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Lead Ammo In The Northeast: CSF opposes statutory bans on using lead ammunition that would have unintended and negative impacts on conservation funding, to the detriment of habitat and wildlife conservation efforts.

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TSV Roundup Week of April 21st, 2025 Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Sportsmen's Voice podcast, Fred covers critical state-level legislative developments that could shape the future of hunting, fishing, and conservation across the country. With updates from Arkansas, Washington, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and South Carolina, this episode gives sportsmen and women around the country the insights they need to stay informed and engaged.

Takeaways

Arkansas: Tune in for updates on how a successful legislative session brings several pro-sportsmen bills across the finish line, reinforcing hunting and fishing rights.
Washington: Recent appointments to the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission aim to restore balance and ensure better representation of sportsmen’s interests.
Massachusetts: A controversial new bill could restrict hunting and fishing in designated old-growth forest reserves, potentially setting a dangerous precedent for public land access.
Sustainable Management: The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation remains the foundation for effective, science-based practices.

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Episode 44 - Smarter Fishing: How Georgia’s House Bill 443 Could Transform Recreational Fishery Management Apr 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast, host Fred Bird is joined once again by Senior Director of Fisheries Policy Chris Horton to break down House Bill 443—a game-changing piece of legislation aimed at improving recreational fishing data collection in Georgia.

They dive into why federal fishery management systems are falling short, and how state-led efforts can lead to more accurate, real-time data, longer fishing seasons, and better policy decisions for anglers. The conversation covers everything from slot limits and discard mortality to the impact of artificial reefs and post-release mortality rates. If you care about sustainable fishing, angler rights, and better fishing seasons, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

House Bill 443: This bill introduces a saltwater fishing license fee to fund improved data collection.
All About Data: Federal data collection methods lack the real-time accuracy needed for today’s fishery management, while state-level management allows for localized, angler-driven decisions.
Accurate angler reporting = longer, better fishing seasons. Poor estimates of fish harvested, as well as those that are released, can cut seasons short.
Total mortality: Total mortality includes released fish – a percentage of which are expected to die. High release rates and slot limits can increase discard mortality.

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TSV Roundup Week of April 14th, 2025 Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Sportsmen's Voice podcast, Fred Bird and CSF’s Assistant Manager for the Southwestern States Barry Snell, discuss two Arizona bills aimed at protecting Second Amendment rights, prohibiting Merchant Category Coding and Firearms Preemption. The conversation then shifts to the controversial hounding petition in Arizona. The two exploring the implications of and the potential consequences of banning hound hunting, highlighting the importance of community engagement in wildlife management and the challenges posed by urban perspectives on rural wildlife issues. Fred then covers the rest of the news around the nation important to sportsmen, including the management of coyote populations in Michigan, the significance of public access to waterways in West Virginia, the need for effective forest management to prevent wildfires, and the establishment of collegiate coalitions to engage youth in conservation efforts.

Takeaways

Pro Gun Legislation Advancing In Arizona: Arizona is advancing firearm legislation to protect Second Amendment rights, where merchant category codes could infringe on financial privacy for all consumers and civil penalties for government officials may deter restrictive local gun laws.
Hound Hunting Ban Petition Circulating In Arizona: The hounding petition in Arizona seeks to ban all hound hunting. Meanwhile, a similar California ban on hounding has led to increased wildlife-human conflicts.
Michigan Coyotes: Michigan is looking at a year-round season for coyote hunting after the Commission voted to shorten the season last year, excluding Mid-April through Mid-July. Coyote hunting and management is crucial for ecological balance in Michigan and beyond.
Public Access To Public Waterways: Public access to waterways is essential for conservation funding as a lynchpin for many recreational activities.

Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter

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TSV Roundup Week of April 7th, 2025 Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

In this week’s episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, Fred covers all the news fit to print about the world of hunting, fishing and shooting policy including the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fishing Restoration Act, a deep dive into the American System of Conservation Funding, and recent legislative developments in Maine, Oregon, Minnesota, and Georgia, along with emphasizing the importance of self-funding conservation programs and the role of sportsmen and women in wildlife management.

Takeaways

Sport Fish Restoration Act: This important Act has been crucial for aquatic resource conservation for 75 years.
Firearm Transfer Waiting Period In Maine: CSF is working hard on repealing a 72-hour waiting period for firearm transfers.
Crossbows In Minnesota: Crossbows are being fully included in Minnesota's archery season, in a big win for accessibility for hunters.

Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter

Sign up for FREE legislative tracking through CSF’s Tracking the Capitols tool: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/tracking-the-capitols/

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