Policy Corner Brief: NOVEMBER 2026

REIMBURSEMENT: A POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO LOST CONSERVATION FUNDING 

Article Contact: Jake Gould

Why It Matters: Across the Midwest, legislators are likely to introduce legislation that would provide free or discounted hunting or fishing licenses to certain individuals. While well-intended, legislation to offer free or discounted licenses has the potential to negatively impact state fish and wildlife agencies’ budgets. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been working with legislators across the country to find a solution to help offset the loss of funds from free and discounted licenses.  

• State fish and wildlife agencies rely on the sale of hunting and fishing licenses for their conservation efforts.  

• Offering free or discounted licenses often carries unforeseen consequences that can cause state fish and wildlife agencies to not receive their full allocation of critical conservation funds.  

• Reimbursing state fish and wildlife agencies from the state general fund is a legislative solution the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has been working on with legislators. 

As we look forward to the 2027 legislative session, CSF is working to get ahead of legislation that is likely to be introduced. One issue that is common across the country is legislation to provide free or discounted hunting or fishing licenses. The discounts these bills would provide not only cause the state fish and wildlife agency to miss out on funds from the sale of the licenses but also to miss out on significant federal funds that would not be realized through the respective Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Funds.   

During the 2026 legislative session, Kansas legislators looked to get ahead of the free and discounted licenses with the introduction of House Bill 2543 (HB 2543). This bill would have reimbursed the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for any free or discounted licenses.  CSF testified in support of and worked with legislators and Kansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus leaders to support HB 2543. The bill passed out of the House Committee on Appropriations but failed to make it onto the House floor for a hearing. While HB 2543 did not pass, positive progress was made, which will help with promoting these efforts during the 2027 session.  

Additionally, CSF is already working on promoting reimbursement for free and discounted licenses in Wisconsin. As previously reported, CSF participated in an event in Wisconsin discussing conservation funding challenges and lost revenue from free and discounted licenses. CSF promoted reimbursement as a solution to help offset rising fish and wildlife management costs.  

Kansas and Wisconsin are but two of the nearly 20 states in which CSF is encouraging legislators to take action on this issue. As the 2027 sessions gavel in, CSF will continue to work with legislators and state fish and wildlife agencies to ensure that critical conservation funds are protected. 

 

PENNSYLVANIA INTRODUCES LEGISLATION FOR VOTER REGISTRATION WITH THE PURCHASE OF HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES  

Article Contact: Kaleigh Leager

Why It Matters:  Sportsmen and women are a critically important voting demographic. However, an alarming percentage of us are not even registered to vote. Increased political participation is not only important for sportsmen and women’s issues, but for our democracy. Additionally, throughout the country, hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting are impacted by laws passed by elected officials who may not fully understand or appreciate our time-honored outdoor heritage. This is why it is critical for sportsmen and women to become more involved in the political process, starting with registering to vote.   

Highlights: 

• Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Greg Rothman introduced Senate Bill 1155 (SB 1155). This legislation aims to provide the opportunity for sportsmen and women to register to vote when they purchase a hunting and/or fishing license at a government agency or office, which is very similar to the motor voter law. 

• According to Sen. Rothman, over 30% of hunters in Pennsylvania are not registered to vote, which is a large number, as the Commonwealth ranks only second to Texas in the most hunting license sales in the entire United States.  

• As one of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s Top 10 Legislative Priorities, testimony was provided in support of this critically important piece of legislation.  

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993, better known as the “motor voter law”, required states to offer voter registration opportunities at their motor vehicle agencies (MVA/DMV). Similarly, SB 1155 will give citizens the opportunity to register to vote when purchasing a hunting or fishing license at a government agency or office. Because the documentation requirements for hunting and/or fishing licensure are the same as voter registration, providing this opportunity will improve government processes and create efficiencies for Pennsylvanians.  

To provide context to the impact that sportsmen and women have in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth is second to Texas in the sale of hunting licenses across the entire US. In 2025 alone, there were over 1 million hunting licenses sold in the state.,. Additionally, sportsmen and women generated more than $125 million dollars in conservation funding for the Commonwealth and spent more than $41 billion dollars on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting, which does not include spending on items such as trips and travel, or license fees that were necessary for their participation. This spending helped fuel the outdoor economy, which comprised 1.7% of Pennsylvania’s GDP that same year. As you can see, sportsmen and women play an impactful role across many areas of the Commonwealth.  

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Greg Rothman for moving forward with this imperative piece of legislation. We look forward to working with the members of the Caucus and the legislature to encourage its passage.  

WORKING LANDS WORK FOR WILDLIFE. HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THEM? 

Article Contact: Kent Keene

Why It Matters: Opportunities to create, restore, and manage wildlife habitat are often driven by factors that extend well beyond support for conservation. In many cases, there are important financial drivers that we, as conservationists, must understand as we work to support the programs and practices designed to support wildlife and opportunities for sportsmen and women on working lands. This understanding is driving the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) growing advocacy in support of the working lands that benefit landowners, local communities, wildlife, and our opportunities outdoors. 

 Highlights: 

• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation remains dedicated to supporting several key pieces of legislation designed to promote active wildlife habitat management on our nation’s working lands. 

• Support for these programs comes with the understanding that land management decisions are driven by a variety of factors. For landowners, this includes financial considerations that impact their ability to keep their working lands and forests operational.  

• When Congress returns after the election, CSF will remain engaged in hopes of securing many of these priorities in 2026. 

With Congress in recess until after the midterm elections and a lame-duck session packed with must-pass legislation ahead, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation remains dedicated to supporting key priorities before Congress adjourns. Many of CSF’s outstanding priorities are tied to support for our nation’s working lands. From the Conservation and Forestry Titles of the Farm Bill to the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act and beyond, CSF’s dedication to supporting the programs, practices, and opportunities to implement active management in support of wildlife habitat in the face of growing pressures remains strong. 

Most sportsmen and women, through their participation in our time-honored outdoor traditions, develop some sort of conservation ethic, whether it is through ongoing support for the “user pays – public benefits” American System of Conservation Funding and North American Model of Wildlife Conservation or through more dedicated time as a volunteer with one of the many great organizations that help perform conservation practices on the ground. However, many of these opportunities, particularly on both public and private working lands and forces, are driven by a variety of factors that extend well beyond manpower. To put it simply, it is often a matter of money. 

For example, many active forest management practices designed to promote quality wildlife habitat are reliant on viable timber markets, particularly for small diameter trees. As timber stands grow shut, habitat quality for many species tends to suffer until thinning activities remove trees and restore sunlight on the forest floor, which allows understory plants to regenerate. While this may have started as a fortunate byproduct of timber practices designed to generate early returns on investments for the landowner while improving conditions for the remaining forest stand ahead of the final harvest, the wildlife benefits have become celebrated, directly linking many priority wildlife management efforts with working forests. Unfortunately, many markets for these small diameter trees have dried up. With that market shift, land managers have lost the financial incentive of harvesting these trees, leaving forests overstocked, shaded, and of little value to the landowner or to wildlife. In an agricultural system, commodity markets directly influence land decisions. As input costs continue to climb and market variability creates uncertainty, many landowners come face-to-face with growing development pressure and opt to sell. And once it’s gone, it is usually gone for good.  

While support for conservation is about more than just money, ensuring that wildlife have the habitats they need and that we continue to have places to hunt is not cheap. This is where the working lands priorities supported by CSF and partners can play an important role. Whether it is the Farm Bill’s Conservation Programs that allow landowners to diversify the practices on their properties in support of wildlife habitat and other ecosystem services in exchange for additional payments, the conservation easement programs like USFWS Wetland Easements, ACEP-WRE, or FCEP, or the ongoing efforts to enhance forestry markets, alleviate barriers to active forest management, and support additional practices such as prescribed fire, there are ways that we can keep our working lands working for both the communities and the wildlife that rely on them.

 

HUNTING SEASONS ARE HEATING UP IN DELAWARE HAVE YOU CHECKED THIS YEAR’S REGULATIONS?  

Article Contact: Kaleigh Leager

Why It Matters: Each year, legislatures and state fish and wildlife agencies make changes to state hunting rules and regulations. This is why it is vital that you check your state’s hunting regulations prior to going afield to ensure you are not violating the law and potentially finding yourself with a citation from a game warden. Changes, such as those that occurred this year in Delaware, can often be overlooked and/or forgotten about but could have the potential for a substantial consequence.  

Highlights: 

• Be sure to check out Delaware’s updated regulations here. 

• Throughout the year, fish and wildlife agencies across the country undergo review and revision of hunting, fishing, and trapping regulations and statutes. While significant changes are usually well publicized and have the attention of media outlets, it is important to check for any updates prior to going afield. 

• Delaware provides us with the perfect example of significant updates to hunting regulations following a court ruling that changed who can and cannot hunt unsupervised under the age of 21.    

State fish and wildlife agencies propose hunting regulation changes to things such as season dates, bag limits, public lands, methods of take, supplemental feeding and baiting, the use of attractants, and more. Like anyone, hunters can make the mistake of getting comfortable with their home state’s regulations because they may have been a certain way for decades. That’s why it is critical to review the regulations annually prior to going afield. Additionally, it may be of benefit to follow your state’s fish and wildlife agency on social media platforms to keep up to date on any changes they may post on their page.  

A great example of significant changes that occurred to hunting regulations this year comes out of Delaware. Legislation was signed into law this past August by Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Matt Meyer that allows 16- and 17-year-olds the ability to hunt with a BB gun, projectile weapon, and/or a firearm without the direct supervision of someone 21 years or older, provided they have permission of a parent or guardian, have completed a hunter education course, and hold a valid Delaware hunting license. For target practice, the same requirements apply, except that they are not required to hold a valid Delaware hunting license as they are not hunting.  

However, 18- to 20-year-olds are once again required to have direct supervision when hunting with a firearm. In 2022, the Delaware General Assembly passed legislation prohibiting anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing, owning, or possessing certain firearms. However, it included an exception for firearm possession while hunting for individuals ages 18 to 20 if those individuals were under direct supervision. In 2025, the Delaware Superior Court ruled that this legislation was unconstitutional, temporarily allowing 18- to 20-year-olds the ability to hunt with a firearm without direct supervision. In September of this year, the Delaware Supreme Court overturned the Superior Court’s ruling, placing the possession restrictions back in place for 18- to 20-year-olds. As a result of these two competing policies, it is now legal for a 16- and 17-year-old to hunt without direct supervision with a firearm in certain contexts, but it is illegal for an 18-, 19-,  or 20-year-old to do the same.  

Moving forward, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to work with legislators and state fish and wildlife agencies to provide ample access and opportunity for sportsmen and women of all ages while using the most up-to-date and available science when it comes to making hunting rules and regulations.

  

CSF WELCOMES RENEWED FOCUS ON REFUGE CONSERVATION AND SPORTING ACCESS

(November 6, 2026) – Washington, D.C. – The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) extends our appreciation to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Brian Nesvik for advancing Secretarial Order 3455, Making America’s National Wildlife Refuges Great Again, and Rooted in Purpose, a comprehensive report on the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Secretarial Order and report are critical steps forward in restoring the National Wildlife Refuge System to its foundational conservation mission and the specific purposes for which individual refuges were established, an effort that is long supported by CSF.

The Refuge System is unique among federal public lands because wildlife and habitat conservation are central to its mission, and each refuge’s specific founding purpose(s) guide its management, which in many cases is for the conservation of migratory birds, particularly waterfowl.

Over recent decades, the Refuge System has increasingly taken a top-down approach and shifted attention away from its primary wildlife management purposes toward other considerations. The report found that headquarters and regional staffing increased while refuge operations lost capacity, leaving individual refuges without sufficient support for basic management and biological work. The Order and report seek to address this imbalance and realign management with the purposes for which each refuge was established.

Secretarial Order 3455 reinforces this framework by directing FWS to strengthen on-the-ground stewardship and compatible public access. Its direction to restore active habitat management is particularly important because productive habitat supports healthy wildlife populations and quality hunting and fishing opportunities. Among other actions, the Order directs FWS to:

• Restore active habitat management. Ensure refuge managers have access to appropriate tools, including prescribed fire, grazing, active forest management, and water management, to improve habitat and maintain healthy wildlife populations.
• Expand compatible hunting and fishing access. Prioritize and facilitate wildlife-dependent recreation consistent with applicable law and individual refuge purposes, supporting opportunities for sportsmen and women.
• Direct resources toward field operations. Prioritize staffing, maintenance, and infrastructure that support refuge conservation while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, helping managers maintain habitat and public access.
• Strengthen state and conservation partnerships. Improve coordination with state fish and wildlife agencies and other partners whose expertise and participation support effective refuge management.

“The National Wildlife Refuge System is unique amongst our federal lands because wildlife and habitat conservation guide its management, with each refuge’s founding purposes at the forefront,” said Taylor Schmitz, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “CSF thanks Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik for their leadership in strengthening that foundation and supporting the habitat and access that America’s sportsmen and women depend on.”

The accompanying Rooted in Purpose report builds on the CSF-supported refuge review and offers recommendations to advance these priorities. Particularly important is its recommendation to reallocate headquarters and regional positions to refuge operations, restoring capacity to manage habitat, maintain facilities, and support public access. Other recommendations include regional hunting and fishing coordinators, a national sportsman’s access coordinator, and improved alignment with state hunting and fishing regulations where appropriate.

The Order requires FWS to submit an implementation plan within 90 days. CSF looks forward to working with the Administration and conservation partners to translate these priorities into lasting benefits for wildlife and sportsmen and women.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF STATE-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT FOR SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN

Article Contact: Mark Lance

Why It Matters: While federal policy often receives significant attention, especially in an election year, many of the decisions that directly affect America’s hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers on a daily basis are made at the state level. State legislatures and state fish and wildlife commissions make decisions that directly influence the opportunities available to sportsmen and women. Understanding the importance of state-level policy and remaining engaged in the legislative and regulatory process is essential to protecting these opportunities for current and future generations. 

Highlights:

• State legislatures and fish and wildlife commissions play a significant role in shaping hunting, fishing, and wildlife management policies within their respective states. The decisions made by these bodies directly impact every aspect of the outdoor activities that we participate in – not only in the South, but across the country. 

• In the wake of another election season, it’s more important than ever for sportsmen and women to engage with newly elected officials and communicate their support for our shared outdoor traditions. 

• The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) works alongside bipartisan legislative Sportsmen’s caucuses, members of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, state agencies, and conservation partners to advance state policies that protect and promote hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, trapping, and science-based wildlife management. 

Some of the most consequential decisions affecting sportsmen and women happen much closer to home than many realize. While federal policy often captures the headlines, state legislatures and natural resource agencies play an equally important role in determining the future of America’s hunting, fishing, and trapping opportunities. 

Wildlife management is inherently local. Every state faces unique conservation challenges shaped by its wildlife populations, habitat, landownership patterns, and traditions. State wildlife agencies develop and implement management strategies that account for these differences, while many state legislatures establish the statutory framework and funding mechanisms that support those efforts. From setting seasons and bag limits to managing access, these decisions directly influence the opportunities available to hunters and anglers. 

State policy also plays a significant role in conservation funding. Hunting and fishing license fees, dedicated conservation funding programs, and other state-level funding mechanisms support wildlife management, habitat restoration, research, and public access in the states. Policymakers must balance the need for sustainable conservation funding with the importance of keeping hunting and fishing affordable and accessible to future generations. Beyond wildlife management and funding, state legislatures routinely consider proposals that can expand or restrict opportunities. Sunday hunting restrictions, firearm restrictions, public access, and license fee increases are just a few examples of issues that originate in state capitols that CSF has engaged on over the years. These decisions can have lasting consequences. 

This is why sportsmen and women must have a voice in the policymaking process. Building relationships with elected officials, participating in public comment opportunities, and staying informed about proposed legislation and regulations are all important ways to ensure our way of life is protected. 

Ultimately, the future of America’s sporting traditions will be shaped not only by decisions made in Washington, D.C., but also by policymakers in state capitals across the country. Conservation happens at the state level, and protecting our sporting traditions requires sportsmen and women to have a seat at the table. CSF is at that table, and we encourage you to pull up a chair next to us.