The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) joins the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and other partners at the 2012 SHOT Show to announce the start of a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), one of the most significant and successful partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in U.S. history.

“State fish and wildlife agencies are struggling to address new and emerging conservation issues while retaining core traditional programs.  Many are finding they are unable to do so adequately, and they fear loss of relevancy to society unless they are able to transform into organizations that meet changing public needs and interests. 

The House Appropriations Committee passed a fiscal year 2012 (FY12) Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill on July 12 that included substantial cuts to agency spending and key conservation programs, as well as policy riders impacting natural resource related issues, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.

A proposal by Congressmen John Campbell (R-CA) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to prohibit necessary and legal practices used to effectively manage wildlife and predator species was overwhelmingly defeated today in the House of Representatives.

Members of Congress are determined to reduce the federal debt with some of our nation’s most essential and effective fisheries management and conservation programs bearing the brunt of their budget-cutting efforts.

Cuts proposed by the House of Representatives would slash funding for a range of policies affecting fish and game management, hunting and angling access and public- and private-lands administration.

The mid-term elections of November 2 coupled with retirements of long-term U.S. House of Representatives and Senate members will bring a very different look to the next Congress, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. 

Safari Club International (SCI) and Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) are proud to announce that Dr. William E. Moritz is the new Executive Director for the worldwide organization. Dr. Moritz will begin as the Executive Director of SCI and SCIF on Oct. 1, 2010.

On August 23, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and four other organizations to ban all lead in fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This includes sinkers, jigs, weighted fly line, and components that contain lead such as brass and ballast in a wide variety of lures, including spinners, stick baits and more.  It is important that industry members send comments now! Let your voice be heard!

A recent poll conducted by a well known research firm indicates that access to hunting land is an important issue to many sportsmen and that restriction on private land in particular is having a negative impact on the amount of time spent in the field.