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

From striped bass policy to black bear hunting, Fred Bird breaks down this week’s biggest wins for America’s sportsmen. New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte officially joins the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Caucus, continuing the state’s long tradition of leadership in defending hunting and angling heritage. Fred also spotlights CSF’s new Rocky Mountain States Coordinator, Nate Serlin, and his role worki...

Discover how mentorship, confidence, and camaraderie are redefining what it means to be a woman in hunting. Fred and a panel of women hunters reviews the inaugural women’s hunt organized by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, a groundbreaking event bringing together women from all walks of life to experience the outdoors in a supportive, mentorship-driven setting. Whether you’re a seasoned h...

How smart policy can secure additional investments from America’s original conservationists. The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup this week dives into one of the most important (and overlooked) aspects of wildlife conservation: how we fund it. Bob Matthews joins the show to break down Michigan Senate Bills 276 and 277, a pair of measures aimed at securing long-term conservation funding through smarter hu...

From pheasant season updates to Montana’s new habitat protections—this week’s roundup covers the biggest moves shaping America’s hunting and fishing future. This week on The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, the crew digs into the most important conservation and policy headlines impacting hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide. With Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joining the Sportsmen’s...

Discover how America’s top trapping school is shaping the next generation of wildlife managers and conservationists. Few people outside the trapping world understand just how much science, skill, and stewardship go into the craft. In this episode, Fred Bird and Charlie Masheck, FTA College Instructor and owner of Hoosier Trapping Supply, take listeners deep inside Trappers College, exploring how i...

From black bears to marine fisheries, this week’s stories reveal how science — and sportsmen and women — drive conservation.   In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, we dive deep into how hunters, anglers, and policymakers are shaping the future of wildlife conservation across the country. From black bear hunting seasons fueling conservation funding to new legislation safeguarding marin...

A new Massachusetts gun tax could reshape the future of the state’s hunting traditions and shooting sports.    In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, host Fred Bird sits down with Christian Ragosta to unpack an alarming legislative proposals in Massachusetts — a 4.75% excise tax on firearms and ammunition. On the surface, it’s framed as a public safety measure; but for hunters, recreati...

Discover how hunters and anglers are shaping conservation, mentoring youth, and protecting the future of the outdoors. National Hunting and Fishing Day isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s a call to action for every sportsman and woman who values wild places and outdoor traditions. In this special episode, Fred Bird sits down with Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, Scotty Lago, and Sam Soholt to explore w...

Celebrate hunting and fishing traditions while exploring the latest conservation victories and outdoor legislative battles.   Hunting and fishing aren’t just pastimes—they’re the backbone of conservation in America. In this episode of Sportsmen’s Voice, we dive into the significance of National Hunting and Fishing Day and the powerful reminder it brings about the role sportsmen play in wildlife ma...

From red snapper management to youth hunting traditions, discover how sportsmen shape America’s outdoor future. In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, we dive deep into the issues shaping hunting, fishing, and conservation across the country. From the South Atlantic red snapper fishery to Oregon’s restrictive wildlife laws, sportsmen and women face challenges that demand attention and a...

Discover how hunting, fishing, and conservation leadership shape policy at the upcoming NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit in Memphis.   In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice, host Fred Bird welcomes Representative Jesse Chism of Tennessee and Representative Scott Bounds of Mississippi to discuss the upcoming NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit in Memphis. Together, they highlight how state collabor...

Explore the latest conservation updates, hunting access battles, and why sportsmen remain America’s strongest conservationists.   This week on The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, we dig into the most important stories in the hunting, fishing, and conservation world. From recognizing the leaders driving wildlife conservation, to examining new legislative updates shaping hunting and fishing policy, we co...

Hunting, fishing, and outdoor access face new legislative battles—here’s what every sportsman should know.   In this episode, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation team breaks down the latest updates shaping hunting, fishing, and outdoor conservation policy at both the state and federal levels.   First, Taylor Schmitz dives into recent public lands legislation, explaining how new proposals coul...

Discover the latest hunting, fishing, and conservation updates shaping outdoor opportunities across the country. In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, we break down major updates in hunting, fishing, and conservation news that matter to every outdoorsman. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has expanded hunting and fishing access across 11 states, opening up new opportunities for sports...

Explore new hunting and fishing laws shaping access, conservation, and the future of outdoor sports. In this week’s Sportsmen’s Voice podcast roundup, we dive into the latest news impacting hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide. We cover a groundbreaking executive order designed to expand saltwater fishing access, along with Montana’s finalized 2025–2026 hunting and fishing regulati...

Discover how the Sport Fish Restoration Fund fuels fishing fisheries conservation across America. For 75 years, the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund has been the backbone of fishing and conservation in the U.S. This episode explores how the Fund works, why it matters, and what’s needed to ensure its future. Experts break down the mechanics of the fund—how excise taxes on fishing gear,...

From Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade to new pheasant camps in the Plains, Fred Bird breaks down your weekly outdoor news and the biggest stories in hunting, fishing, and conservation across the nation.  We kick off with Florida’s black bear hunt returning for the first time in 10 years. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to reinstate a highly regulated season wi...

From Florida’s black bear season decision to nationwide hunting regulation changes, here’s what every outdoorsman should know.   In this episode, we dive deep into today’s historic Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission vote on reinstating the black bear hunting season. Mark Lance joins us to explore the science-based wildlife management strategies behind the proposal, the surge in Florida’s bear po...

Can oil rigs actually improve marine habitats and fishing opportunities in the Gulf? The answer is an unequivocal “YES”, as this feature episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Podcast details.    Host Fred Bird is joined by CSF’s Chris Horton and Kevin Bruce from Arena Energy to discuss the Rigs to Reef program—a vital conservation initiative for saltwater anglers, commercial fishermen, and outdoor enth...

State-level conservation issues are heating up across the country as outdoor seasons approach. The Sportsmen’s Voice Host Fred Bird welcomes back CSF’s own Marie Neumiller to break down changing wolf management strategies in Idaho and Montana—including the use of ABC population modeling and legal challenges to trapping seasons due to grizzly bear protections. The conversation then turns to nationa...

New laws and regulations are reshaping the future of hunting, fishing, and outdoor access nationwide.   In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, we break down major legislative updates affecting hunters, anglers, and conservation advocates. Topics include Pennsylvania’s new Sunday hunting implementation for the 2025–2026 season, Nebraska’s decision to raise mountain lion harvest limits, a...

Discover how hunters, educators, and advocates are reshaping the future of hunting and conservation. In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice, host Fred Bird explores the R3 movement—Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation—and its critical role in the future of hunting, shooting sports, and wildlife conservation across the U.S. Fred first welcomes Taniya Bethke, a national voice for inclusive hun...

Ballot box biology, poaching crackdowns, and new hunting tech—here’s what’s shaping conservation policy. In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, Fred dives into the most important hunting and conservation news across the country. From stronger poaching penalties in New Hampshire to landmark private property rights legislation in North Carolina, sportsmen and women face major changes that...

Fred Bird and Kaleigh Leager, Assistant Manager, Mid-Atlantic States for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation cover this week’s conservation news, including the recent victories for Sunday Hunting in Pennsylvania which Kaleigh joins us for. The conversation highlights the importance of bipartisan support in conservation efforts, the role of key figures like Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro and bi...

Sunday hunting is officially expanding in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, marking a major victory for hunters, conservationists, and rural communities. In this episode, Fred is joined by representatives of each state’s fish and wildlife agency to break down the new legislation that opens up Sunday hunting opportunities, explore how it impacts hunter access, and discuss what it means for the future o...