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

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Episode 70 - Federal Wins for Anglers and Hunters Shaping 2026 Access Mar 24, 2026

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From red snapper seasons to wildfire policy, major decisions are shaping your days outdoors.

Momentum is building in Washington on issues that directly impact hunting, fishing, and access to public lands and waters. Early 2026 has already delivered meaningful progress for anglers, boaters, and sportsmen who rely on better data, smarter management, and expanded opportunity.

On the fisheries side, efforts to modernize mapping and access are moving closer to the finish line, giving saltwater and freshwater anglers clearer visibility into regulations, closures, and marine zones. At the same time, momentum is growing behind state-led fisheries management that could dramatically expand red snapper seasons in the South Atlantic, mirroring the success seen in the Gulf. It’s a shift toward better data collection and more days on the water.

There’s also renewed focus on shark depredation and offshore access, alongside updates to whale regulations that could introduce technology-driven solutions instead of blanket restrictions that limit offshore fishing.

On land, forest policy is taking center stage ahead of wildfire season. Key legislation aims to accelerate active forest management, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce catastrophic fire risk. From prescribed burns to habitat restoration, these efforts directly affect big game habitat, turkey hunting landscapes, and the long-term health of public lands.

This conversation breaks down what’s moving, what matters, and how it all connects back to your time in the field and on the water.

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Hunter Education in Schools Passes Tennessee Legislature Amid National Outdoor Policy Battles | TSV Roundup Week of March 16th, 2026 Mar 18, 2026

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A major win for hunters in Tennessee collides with rising policy fights over hunting, trapping, and outdoor traditions nationwide.

Momentum for hunting and fishing access continues across the country, but not without resistance. This week’s roundup breaks down the policy battles shaping the future of the outdoors, from hunter education in schools to constitutional protections for hunting and fishing.

Tennessee delivered a major victory for the hunting community as legislation allowing hunter education courses in public schools cleared the legislature and now awaits the governor’s signature. The proposal would allow students in grades 5 through 12 to complete their hunter safety education during school hours, earning academic credit while learning firearm safety, wildlife conservation, and responsible outdoor participation. For young hunters, it creates a new pathway into the field and strengthens the future of the hunting tradition.

Elsewhere, the fight proved tougher. A push to add the right to hunt and fish to the New Hampshire constitution fell just short in the state legislature after a close vote and a heated debate over wildlife policy and outdoor heritage. Despite the setback, the coalition behind the effort mobilized hunters, anglers, trappers, conservation groups, and unexpected allies across the state.

The episode also looks west, where Colorado’s proposed ban on the commercial sale of wildlife fur advanced despite strong opposition from conservation advocates who argue the move ignores science and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

From turkey hunting season kicking off in the South to legislative fights affecting hunters nationwide, this conversation explains what these policy developments mean for sportsmen and women in the field.

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TSV Roundup Week of March 9th, 2026 Mar 11, 2026

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A high-stakes fight over Sunday hunting reveals how policy decisions shape opportunity for hunters nationwide.

Access to the outdoors often hinges on legislation. In Maryland, the long-running debate over Sunday hunting is back in the spotlight, and the outcome could shape hunting opportunity for thousands of sportsmen.

Fred sits down with Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Kaleigh Leager to break down the latest effort to expand Sunday hunting access in Maryland. The current rules remain one of the most confusing regulatory frameworks in the country, varying county by county and species by species. The proposed legislation aims to expand hunting hours on Sundays while balancing competing interests from other outdoor user groups. The discussion also tackles opposition from segments of the waterfowl hunting community, misconceptions about migratory bird management, and how Atlantic Flyway regulations ensure sustainable waterfowl populations.

Beyond Maryland, the roundup covers key conservation policy developments affecting hunters and anglers across the country. Recreational anglers and boaters are invited to help shape improvements to the North Atlantic right whale vessel strike rule. In Tennessee, several bills supporting hunter education and wildlife funding are advancing through the legislature. Indiana moves closer to protecting shooting ranges from local zoning restrictions, while Utah closes out a legislative session that produced several wins for sportsmen. The episode also explores a controversial forestry proposal in Vermont that could limit active forest management on public lands.

For hunters and anglers who care about access, wildlife management, and the future of outdoor traditions, these policy conversations matter.

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Episode 69 - IP 28 Threat Explained: Oregon Hunting, Fishing, and Farming at Risk Mar 06, 2026

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A radical ballot initiative could criminalize hunting, fishing, and farming across Oregon overnight.

A sweeping ballot proposal in Oregon is raising alarm across the hunting, fishing, and agricultural communities. Initiative Petition 28, known as IP 28, would remove long-standing legal exemptions within the state’s animal abuse statutes. Those exemptions currently protect lawful activities such as hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife management, livestock production, pest control, and veterinary research.

If the initiative reached the ballot and passed, those activities could be classified as criminal acts. Nearly a million hunters and anglers in Oregon would suddenly face legal risk for participating in traditional outdoor pursuits. The measure would also affect commercial fishing, cattle ranching, dairy production, and the everyday practices that support local food systems.

The conversation digs into how IP 28 is structured, why its supporters continue pushing the proposal despite long odds, and how the initiative fits into a broader national strategy targeting hunting and fishing traditions. There is also a close look at the economic and conservation impacts. Removing legal protections for wildlife management could disrupt the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and the funding system that supports habitat, game management, and fisheries science.

Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of what IP 28 actually proposes, how ballot initiatives move forward in Oregon, and why hunters, anglers, and conservationists across the country are paying attention.

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TSV Roundup Week of March 2nd, 2026 Mar 05, 2026

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A billion-dollar salmon fishery hangs in the balance as Pebble Mine resurfaces.

The long-running fight over the proposed Bristol Bay mine is back in the national spotlight, and hunters and anglers should be paying attention. At the center of the debate is the Pebble Mine, a massive open-pit mining project slated for the headwaters of the world’s largest wild sockeye salmon run.

For decades, Bristol Bay has been a cornerstone of Alaska salmon fishing, supporting a billion-dollar commercial fishery and world-class sport fishing for wild sockeye. It’s also vital habitat for trout fishing, bear hunting, and subsistence lifestyles that depend on intact salmon runs. The concern has always been simple: large-scale mining in the watershed could devastate spawning habitat and permanently damage one of the greatest fisheries on earth.

After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied a key permit in 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a rare veto in 2023 under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act. Now, the Department of Justice has reinforced that veto in court, defending the decision to block the mine as proposed.

For sportsmen and women who value sustainable fisheries, wild salmon conservation, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, this is a major moment. The outcome will shape how America balances resource development with the protection of critical hunting and fishing habitat for generations.

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TSV Roundup Week of February 22nd, 2026 Feb 25, 2026

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A sweeping ballot initiative could outlaw hunting, fishing, and wildlife management in Oregon.

Oregon’s IP 28 is more than another anti-hunting proposal. It is a direct attempt to eliminate exemptions within the state’s animal cruelty statutes, effectively banning hunting, angling, trapping, ranching practices, and even common wildlife management tools. If passed, the measure would restrict predator control, criminalize certain animal husbandry practices, and severely limit the ability of biologists to manage species through science-based conservation.

Supporters are nearing the signature threshold required to place the initiative on the 2026 ballot. If certified, Oregon voters will decide whether consumptive use of wildlife and livestock production remains legal under state law. That includes everything from elk hunting and bass fishing to pest control and prescribed wildlife management.

This conversation goes far beyond one state. Ballot box biology has reshaped wildlife policy before, and IP 28 could serve as a blueprint for similar efforts nationwide. Hunters, anglers, landowners, and conservation advocates need to understand what is at stake and why unified engagement matters.

This is a critical moment for the sporting community and the future of science-based wildlife conservation.

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Episode 68 - Sunday Hunting Victory in Pennsylvania: A Conservation Milestone Feb 19, 2026

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A decades-long fight ends, opening new opportunity for hunters across Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has officially expanded Sunday hunting, marking one of the most significant conservation policy wins in the Northeast. After years of stalled efforts and narrow defeats, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation along with the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Members, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and a broad coalition of conservation groups worked together to roll back long-standing restrictions and restore access for sportsmen and women.

Championed by Representatives Mandy Steele and Anita Kulik, and signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro, the legislation gives the Game Commission authority to fully incorporate Sundays into regulated hunting seasons. For working families balancing youth sports, church, and packed schedules, the added day means more time afield and on the waterways, and greater opportunity to mentor new hunters.

Beyond access, the impact stretches into wildlife management and agriculture. Expanded hunting days can help address crop damage from high deer populations, reduce deer-vehicle collisions, and support long-term conservation funding through license sales. Early reports from wardens indicate strong participation and heartfelt appreciation from families finally able to hunt together on Sundays.

This milestone also sets a precedent for regional states like Maine and Massachusetts, where full prohibitions remain. Pennsylvania’s success proves that bipartisan collaboration, strong data, and a unified conservation community can deliver meaningful change for the outdoors.

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TSV Roundup Week of February 16th, 2026 Feb 18, 2026

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Longer red snapper seasons could transform South Atlantic fishing opportunities this year.

Momentum is building for South Atlantic red snapper anglers from Florida to North Carolina. After years of frustrating two-day federal seasons, state-led data collection reforms may finally open the door to significantly expanded access. Florida is requesting a 39-day season, while Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are pursuing up to 62 days through exempted fishing permits and mandatory reporting programs.

The shift mirrors the Gulf of Mexico’s success, where state management and improved recreational fishing data expanded red snapper seasons from just three days to more than 100 days in some states. At the heart of the debate is how catch, release mortality, and discard estimates are calculated in offshore fisheries management. Better, angler-driven reporting could convert estimated dead discards into real harvest opportunity while maintaining sustainable biomass levels.

Beyond saltwater fishing policy, this week covers right to hunt and fish protections in New Hampshire, license reimbursement reform in Mississippi, drone-assisted deer recovery legislation in Iowa and South Dakota, and prescribed fire projects in Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest. From White-tailed deer management and elk recovery to forest habitat restoration and conservation funding, these battles shape the future of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors nationwide.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations.

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

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Episode 67 - Hunter Education in Schools and the Future of Hunting Heritage Feb 12, 2026

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The fight for hunting heritage is happening in classrooms and state capitols.

The future of hunting, fishing, and America’s outdoor traditions depends on more than recruitment. It hinges on smart conservation policy, access to quality land, and educating the next generation about their role on the landscape.

Leaders from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation break down proactive legislation shaping the sporting future across the Midwest and West. From hunter education in schools to bipartisan firearm safety efforts, they explain how states like Michigan and Arkansas are building pathways for youth exposure to hunting, conservation funding, and responsible firearm ownership.

The conversation goes deeper than recruitment. You’ll hear why the American System of Conservation Funding must be taught alongside physical science, how wildlife councils in Colorado and Michigan are reshaping public perception of hunters, and why access programs in Wisconsin are critical for maintaining quality hunting and fishing opportunities.

This is an insider look at how state legislators, fish and wildlife agencies, and sportsmen’s groups are protecting access, strengthening conservation funding, and defending private property rights. If you care about waterfowl hunting, deer management, public land access, or the long-term future of our outdoor heritage, this conversation matters.

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TSV Roundup Week of February 9th, 2026 Feb 11, 2026

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Wildlife policy battles are reshaping hunting access, conservation funding, and forest management nationwide.

Fred breaks down the most consequential conservation news impacting hunters, anglers, and the broader outdoors community. From prestigious recognition in the hunting world to legislative fights that could redefine wildlife management, this conversation goes beyond headlines and into what it means for boots-on-the-ground sportsmen.

Jeff Crane’s receipt of the Peter H. Capstick Hunting Heritage Award underscores the power of strong leadership in conservation. But while individual achievements are worth celebrating, policy decisions in states like Indiana, Maryland, and Arizona could have lasting effects on waterfowl hunting, big game seasons, veteran hunting access, and the science-based management model that has long defined North American wildlife conservation.

We examine the controversy over lead ammunition restrictions in Maryland and what it means for hunter participation, economic accessibility, and Second Amendment-adjacent debates. We also unpack how changes to natural resources commissions can disrupt science-driven wildlife policy, and why bipartisan conservation legislation remains essential to protecting hunting and fishing traditions.

Finally, we explore proactive forest management and wildfire mitigation critical issues for elk hunting habitat, whitetail range, and public land access.

If you care about the future of hunting, fishing, and conservation policy, this episode delivers the context you need to stay informed and engaged.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations.

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

Follow The Sportsmen’s Voice wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/1705085498

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