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

Fred Bird and Christian Ragosta are in studio this week to break down the latest wins and challenges in conservation policy and sportsmen’s rights, including celebrating major victories with the repeal of Sunday hunting restrictions in both Pennsylvania and Connecticut—a significant milestone for hunters seeking expanded access and opportunities in both, the Keystone State and Nutmeg State. Christ...

Quarter 2 Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation Policy Update – Federal Legislation, Fisheries Management & Public Lands   Narrative: In this Q2 federal policy roundup for hunters, anglers, and conservation advocates, we dive deep into the latest developments shaping the future of hunting, fishing, public lands, and forest management.   Hunting and Public Lands Policy with Taylor Schmitz First up, Di...

Fred Bird dives into a lead story about a critical fisheries reform bill in North Carolina with Senior Coordinator, Southeastern States Conner Barker. House Bill 442, which aims to prohibit industrial shrimp trawling in inshore waters, highlights the ecological impacts of shrimp trawling, including bycatch and habitat destruction. Fred and Conner emphasize the support from the recreational fishing...

Fred Bird and Taylor Schmitz discuss the current legislative landscape surrounding federal public lands, focusing on the Senate's push to sell off significant portions of these lands. They explore the implications of such actions on local communities, the importance of scrutiny in the legislative process, and the need for collaboration between stakeholders to address the challenges posed by federa...

In this episode, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of predator and wildlife management across the United States. From the reinstatement of black bear hunting in Louisiana to ongoing debates in Florida and Washington, we explore how science, legislation, and public perception shape the future of hunting, conservation, and land use. Join Fred and the crew as they examine the growing tensions...

The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup for this week kicks off with CSF’s Senior Director, Fisheries Policy Chris Horton for our lead story on the management of Atlantic red snapper. Chris provides insights into the recent changes in regulations, the importance of accurate data collection, and the potential for state management of fisheries. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by recreational...

The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup for this week kicks off with CSF’s Assistant Manager, Northeastern States Christian Ragost for our lead story regarding the imminent “assault” weapons ban in Rhode Island, the implications for law-abiding citizens - including criminalizing important safety accessories such as barrel shrouds (which prevent burns from contact with gun barrels), thumbholes in shotgun sto...

It’s a very special week that is near and dear to National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) President and CEO Joe Bartozzi, who joins Fred on the Sportsmen’s Voice podcast to talk about Project ChildSafe® and Gun Storage Check Week. Fred welcomes Joe Bartozzi to the show to emphasize the importance of firearm safety, secure storage, and the myriad of educational resources available to gun owners....

In this episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, CSF’s own Fred Bird breaks down the latest legislative battles and victories shaping hunting, fishing, and conservation policy across the U.S. From a controversial anti-conservation ballot initiative in Colorado to critical updates on North Carolina’s recreational flounder regulations, to spotlighting West Virginia’s productive legislative session...

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 ma...

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...

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 legislativ...

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,...

 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, Ang...

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...

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. Take...

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, re...

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 co...

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...

In this feature episode of The Sportsmen's Voice, Fred sits down with Steve Smith, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Game Commission, to discuss Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania and the years-long and ongoing push to pass landmark legislation to remove the remaining restrictions. Then, Fred is joined by CSF Vice President of Policy Brent Miller to dive deeper into the the complexities surrounding S...

In this week’s episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, Fred is joined by CSF’s Mid-Atlantic Assistant Manager, Kaleigh Leager to discuss Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s VETO of antigun legislation in the state. Kaleigh and Fred break down the implications of age restrictions on firearm purchases, the ongoing debate surrounding assault weapon legislation, and the importance of retaining young...

In this week’s episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, Fred is joined by CSF’s Mid-Atlantic Assistant Manager Kaleigh Leager to discuss the Maryland lead hunting ammunition ban. Kaleigh breaks down the legislative process, the scientific arguments surrounding lead ammunition, and the economic implications for hunters and conservation. Fred also covers recent legislative updates affecting fishing...

In this episode of The Sportsmen's Voice, Fred sits down with the federal policy team from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation for an in-depth Q1 review of the new administration and Congress. From groundbreaking legislation to exciting conservation wins, this jam-packed conversation is essential listening for sportsmen and women who care about the future of America’s outdoor heritage.   Key...

In this week’s episode of The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup, Fred explores the ongoing push in Maine to amend the state constitution to safeguard the right to hunt and fish, diving into the importance of community involvement, the challenges posed by declining hunter participation, and the significance of a unified sporting voice. Fred also covers Arkansas' recent conservation initiatives aimed at sup...

During this week's edition of the Sportsmen's Voice Roundup, Fred is joined by guest Christian Ragosta, CSF Assistant Manager, Northeast States, to discuss the New York Big Five Trophy Ban. They explore how this legislation could negatively impact African conservation efforts, local economies, and wildlife management. The team highlights the importance of hunting in funding anti-poaching initiativ...