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

Fred Bird | Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
  • 4.8 (28)
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Fred Bird hosts The Sportsmen's Voice, a podcast from the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation dedicated to conservation, hunting, and fishing advocacy. Join us as we explore key issues in hunting, fishing, outdoor access, gun rights and wildlife management. CSF exists to inform, influence and defend policies that protect and promote our outdoor traditions. Listen in as Fred delivers the most important news and explores the most pressing topics in the hunting, fishing, gun rights and outdoor heritage spaces.

  1. 3d ago

    Colorado’s Right to Hunt and Fish Debate: What Sportsmen Need to Know with Chris Dorsey

    Colorado’s wildlife future is heading to the ballot, with hunting and fishing at stake. Colorado has become a major battleground in the national debate over hunting, fishing, wildlife management, and the role of sportsmen in conservation. Chris Dorsey and Brent Miller join Fred Bird to unpack Colorado’s proposed constitutional right to hunt and fish, the growing use of ballot initiatives to shape wildlife policy, and what the debate could mean for hunters and anglers beyond the state. They examine how ballot-box campaigns can bypass traditional legislative processes, why the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation remains central to the conversation, and how hunting and fishing contribute to habitat, wildlife, and rural economies. The conversation also explores a challenge facing the outdoor community: reaching people who do not hunt or fish. Dorsey discusses lessons from previous wildlife campaigns, the power of emotion and storytelling, and why conservation messaging needs to connect with audiences far beyond traditional sportsmen. From mountain lion management and elk hunting to fishing, public lands, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation, the discussion looks at how conservation stories can reach the mainstream. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of the policy debate, the arguments surrounding constitutional protections for hunting and fishing, and the broader conservation infrastructure funded and supported by America’s hunters and anglers. Follow The Sportsmen's Voice for more weekly conversations on hunting, fishing, conservation, and outdoor policy. Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: ⁠www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Colorado’s Right to Hunt and Fish Debate: What Sportsmen Need to Know with Chris Dorsey

  2. 4d ago

    Federal Hunting Council Gains New Sportsmen Representation Across America | TSV Roundup Week of September 28th, 2026

    Hunters and anglers have a bigger seat at the table as federal conservation policy takes shape. Federal hunting and conservation policy takes center stage as the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation continues its long-standing role representing hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and conservationists in Washington. The episode leads with CSF Senior Vice President and COO Taylor Schmitz joining the newly established Federal Hunting and Conservation Advisory Council, giving the sporting conservation community a direct opportunity to help inform federal decisions affecting wildlife conservation, hunting, recreational shooting, and public access. The conversation also examines why consistent representation matters as federal agencies shape the future of America’s outdoor traditions. The latest conservation news also covers National Hunting and Fishing Day 2026, including 45 gubernatorial proclamations as well as a legislative Resolution from New York and a legislative Citation from the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, recognizing the economic and conservation contributions of sportsmen and women. Other updates include progress on South Atlantic red snapper management, collaborative fisheries policy work along the Columbia River, and legislation addressing cormorant impacts on fisheries and fish stocking programs. There is also a look at conservation funding beyond traditional license fees and federal Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson funding, along with fall fishing opportunities across the Great Plains. The episode closes with a look ahead to Colorado’s constitutional right to hunt and fish and the upcoming election coverage surrounding the measure. Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and conservation policy 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Federal Hunting Council Gains New Sportsmen Representation Across America | TSV Roundup Week of September 28th, 2026

  3. Sep 24

    Major Fisheries Wins and Wildfire Policy Updates for Sportsmen

    From red snapper seasons to wildfire policy, federal action is reshaping opportunities for sportsmen nationwide. Federal policy is moving fast, and the decisions being made in Washington could have a direct impact on hunting, fishing, wildlife habitat, and access for sportsmen across the country. Chris Horton, Alex Dove, and Kent Keene break down a packed third quarter for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, covering major developments in fisheries policy, conservation, working lands, and federal forest management. Horton details the progress of MAPOceans, the Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act, cormorant management, salmon predation, and a new executive order focused on recreational saltwater fishing, fisheries data, habitat, and electronic reporting. The conversation also covers the South Atlantic red snapper season and new state-led data collection efforts that could influence future fisheries management. Dove explains where the Farm Bill stands, along with wildlife corridors, elk habitat, gray wolf management, and the challenges facing bipartisan legislation with a shrinking legislative calendar. Keene takes a deep dive into wildfire policy, prescribed fire, active forest management, timber markets, biofuel production, and efforts to prevent federal fire suppression costs from undermining long-term wildlife habitat work. For hunters, anglers, and anyone invested in healthy public lands and waters, this is an inside look at the policies shaping the seasons and opportunities ahead. Follow The Sportsmen's Voice for more weekly conversations on hunting, fishing, conservation, and outdoor policy. Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: ⁠www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Major Fisheries Wins and Wildfire Policy Updates for Sportsmen

  4. Sep 23

    Executive Orders Reshape Hunting and Fishing Access Nationwide | TSV Roundup Week of September 21st, 2026

    Two new federal executive orders could reshape how hunters and anglers access public lands and fisheries. September brings hunting season, fall fishing, and a major week for federal sportsmen’s policy. The latest Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup breaks down two executive orders signed by President Trump September 17 covering recreational saltwater fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and access to federal lands. CSF Senior Vice President and COO, Taylor Schmitz joins the conversation to explain what the orders actually direct federal agencies to do, where implementation could affect hunters and anglers, and what still needs to happen before those changes reach the field. On the fishing side, the discussion covers modernizing recreational catch data, improving fisheries management, artificial habitat and rigs-to-reefs, vessel speed regulations, and efforts involving species such as red snapper and grouper. For hunters, the conversation examines potential changes involving federal land access, migratory bird hunting, traditional lead ammunition and fishing tackle, wildlife management, hunter recruitment, and wild game donation programs. The discussion also tackles an important question for sportsmen: how durable are executive orders when administrations change, and what role could Congress play in making policy changes permanent? Whether you are chasing whitetails this fall, planning a saltwater trip, or following the federal policies that shape hunting and fishing opportunities, this roundup puts the latest developments into practical context. Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and conservation policy 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Executive Orders Reshape Hunting and Fishing Access Nationwide | TSV Roundup Week of September 21st, 2026

  5. Sep 16

    Hunter Education Heads to New Hampshire High Schools Through Learn Everywhere | TSV Roundup Week of September 14th, 2026

    Hunter education is finding a new path into classrooms, opening doors for the next generation of hunters and conservationists. The latest Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup arrives with hunting seasons opening across the country and a major hunter education development in New Hampshire. The state Board of Education has approved New Hampshire Fish and Game’s hunter education program through the Learn Everywhere initiative, allowing students in grades 9–12 to voluntarily enroll, earn school credit, and complete training that can prepare them for hunting licenses. The move follows a multiyear effort to bring hunter education into schools through legislation. While the original bill did not pass, sportsmen’s groups and legislative partners found another route to reach students without requiring schools to offer the program. The approach preserves local flexibility while making an established, vetted curriculum more accessible to young people. The conversation also covers a California update involving concealed carry and archery hunters, President Trump’s executive order directing a review of federal gray wolf protections, and recent activities from legislative sportsmen’s caucuses in Wisconsin and Tennessee. There’s also a closer look at how free and discounted hunting licenses can affect state wildlife agency funding and federal matching dollars, plus reminders about the upcoming Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Summit and field opportunities in Oklahoma City. Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and conservation policy 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Hunter Education Heads to New Hampshire High Schools Through Learn Everywhere | TSV Roundup Week of September 14th, 2026

  6. Sep 9

    Colorado’s Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment Takes Center Stage | TSV Roundup Week of September 7th, 2026

    Colorado hunters and anglers face a pivotal vote that could shape wildlife management for generations. The Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup covers the latest conservation and hunting news from across the country, with this week’s conversation focused on Colorado’s proposed constitutional right to hunt and fish. Marie Neumiller and Sofia Mollett join the show from Wyoming to discuss the effort, officially identified in the conversation as Amendment 83, and what Colorado voters need to understand before November. The discussion examines how the proposed amendment relates to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the role of the Parks and Wildlife Commission, and the state’s existing system for setting seasons, regulations, bag limits, and other wildlife management rules. Colorado Parks and Wildlife currently relies on its commission to establish regulations governing hunting, fishing, and wildlife management. The conversation also explores the broader conservation model supported by hunting and fishing, including license and permit revenue, excise taxes, public access, habitat conservation, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Beyond Colorado, the roundup covers expanded federal hunting and fishing access, black bear management in Florida, turkey dogs, dove season, angling depredation issues, and upcoming sportsmen’s events and conservation opportunities. For hunters, anglers, and anyone invested in wildlife policy, this conversation offers useful context on how conservation, outdoor recreation, and wildlife management intersect. Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and conservation policy 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Colorado’s Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment Takes Center Stage | TSV Roundup Week of September 7th, 2026

  7. Sep 3

    The Real Yellowstone: Ranching, Wildlife, Hunting, and Conservation

    What happens when ranchers, hunters, other conservationists, and rewilders fight over the future of the West? Tom Opre returns to discuss The Real Yellowstone, a documentary examining the complicated relationship between ranching, wildlife, conservation, and the changing landscape of the American West. The film asks difficult questions about who manages wildlife, who benefits from it, and what happens when longtime rural communities collide with new ideas about rewilding and public lands. The conversation digs into regenerative ranching and how carefully managed grazing can improve soil health, water retention, biodiversity, and even wildfire resilience. Opre also explains how elk herds can create significant economic pressure on ranchers while highlighting models that allow wildlife to provide value back to the people stewarding the land. For hunters and anglers, the discussion goes beyond the usual arguments about hunting and conservation. Opre makes the case that hunting, fishing, agriculture, and rural communities are all connected to the broader conservation system, from habitat and clean drinking water to funding for wildlife management. The conversation also explores the growing disconnect between urban populations and rural America, the politics surrounding hunting and trapping, the future of public access, and why sportsmen may need to get better at telling conservation's story. Follow The Sportsmen's Voice for more weekly conversations on hunting, fishing, conservation, and outdoor policy. Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: ⁠www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Real Yellowstone: Ranching, Wildlife, Hunting, and Conservation

  8. Sep 2

    Recreational Fishing’s Missing Billions: The Data Behind Gulf Allocation | TSV Roundup Week of August 31st, 2026

    NOAA’s latest recreational fishing numbers leave out billions, raising serious questions about fisheries management and allocation. Recreational fishing is one of the most economically significant parts of America’s outdoors economy, but a major change in federal data collection could be understating its value. Chris Horton and economist Brad Gardner of the Coastal Conservation Association break down what happened and why anglers should pay attention. Gardner, who previously worked at NOAA and helped build the economic models behind its fisheries reports, explains how the agency stopped producing state-level estimates for durable goods such as boats, fishing rods, trucks, and other equipment. Those purchases account for roughly two-thirds of the economic impact associated with recreational fishing. Without them, recent comparisons between recreational and commercial fishing present an incomplete picture. The stakes are particularly high in the Gulf of Mexico, where a new red snapper stock assessment is expected to trigger another fight over allocation between commercial and recreational anglers, followed by decisions involving federal charter, private anglers, and individual states. Economic data can play an important role in those decisions, making accurate numbers critical. Horton and Gardner discuss where the missing information could come from, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service participation estimates, state fishing license data, and a potential independent review of NOAA’s recreational fisheries economics program. Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing, and conservation policy 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Recreational Fishing’s Missing Billions: The Data Behind Gulf Allocation | TSV Roundup Week of August 31st, 2026
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About

Fred Bird hosts The Sportsmen's Voice, a podcast from the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation dedicated to conservation, hunting, and fishing advocacy. Join us as we explore key issues in hunting, fishing, outdoor access, gun rights and wildlife management. CSF exists to inform, influence and defend policies that protect and promote our outdoor traditions. Listen in as Fred delivers the most important news and explores the most pressing topics in the hunting, fishing, gun rights and outdoor heritage spaces.

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