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

Fred Bird | Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
  • 4.8 (28)
  • Wilderness
  • Biweekly

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. 15h ago

    Lead Ammo Restrictions Under Review: What Hunters Need to Know | TSV Roundup Week of November 2nd, 2026

    The science and regulations on lead ammunition deserve a closer look. A new Executive Order from President Donald Trump has opened the door to reconsidering current federal restrictions on lead ammunition and fishing tackle, raising important questions for hunters, anglers, and conservationists across the country. But what does the Order actually change, and what does it mean for sportsmen heading into hunting season? Alex Dove joins the Sportsmen's Voice to break down the Executive Order, explain which federal agencies are tasked with reviewing existing restrictions, and clarify why hunters should not mistake the announcement for an immediate repeal of current rules. The conversation explores the science behind lead exposure in wildlife, including the impact of lead ammunition on California condor populations. Alex also explains the role of voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs, highlighting Arizona's efforts to encourage hunters to use non-lead ammunition through rebate programs and education. Beyond the science, there's a practical discussion about affordability, ammunition availability, and the importance of keeping hunting accessible to the next generation. From federal wildlife refuges to public hunting opportunities, the decisions made in the coming months could have lasting implications for America's hunting and conservation traditions. Also covered: California marine protected area proposals, Delaware hunting regulation updates, expanded deer hunting equipment options in Michigan and Minnesota, and the growing importance of conservation literacy. 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

    Lead Ammo Restrictions Under Review: What Hunters Need to Know | TSV Roundup Week of November 2nd, 2026

  2. 6d ago

    Right to Hunt and Fish: How North Carolina’s Landmark Lawsuit Could Protect Sportsmen

    A landmark fisheries lawsuit could reshape conservation, protect recreational fishing, and strengthen sportsmen’s rights for generations. The right to hunt and fish is about more than access to the woods or water. It also raises a fundamental question: What happens when fish and wildlife populations are no longer managed well enough for the public to pursue them? Chris Horton of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation explains how Nebraska’s constitutional right to hunt and fish amendment helped preserve a state-managed mountain lion season, setting an important example for wildlife management and sportsmen’s rights. Then, CSF's Conner Barker and David Sneed, CEO of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina, break down a six-year legal battle over declining coastal fisheries and the state’s responsibility to manage public trust resources. At the center of the North Carolina lawsuit is a consequential distinction: the right to fish must mean more than simply being allowed to cast a line. The court’s 190-page ruling found overwhelming evidence of fisheries management failures and affirmed the state’s duty to protect public resources. With the state appealing the decision, the next phase could determine how those fisheries are restored and managed for future generations. The conversation also explores how constitutional right to hunt and fish amendments support science-based wildlife management, the role of hunters and anglers in conservation, and the implications for Colorado voters considering similar protections. From commercial fishing practices and coastal development to water quality and changing ocean temperatures, the discussion examines the challenges facing sustainable fisheries and why meaningful access matters. 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

    Right to Hunt and Fish: How North Carolina’s Landmark Lawsuit Could Protect Sportsmen

  3. Oct 28

    Right to Hunt and Fish: Colorado’s Amendment 83 Election Showdown | TSV Roundup Week of October 26th, 2026

    The future of hunting and fishing may hinge on one vote, and sportsmen have a lot to lose. With Election Day approaching, the Sportsmen’s Voice Roundup breaks down the conservation issues shaping the political landscape and the fight to protect America’s outdoor traditions. Fred welcomes Sophia Mollet from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation to discuss Colorado’s Amendment 83, a ballot measure that would establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish while recognizing hunting as a preferred wildlife management tool. Mollet explains what the amendment would and wouldn’t change, why Colorado Parks and Wildlife would retain its management authority, and how voters can separate the facts from misinformation. With a crowded ballot and a 55% approval threshold, the conversation highlights why hunter and angler participation matters well beyond opening day. The discussion also explores the broader implications for wildlife conservation nationwide. Colorado’s vote could influence similar efforts in other states, making voter education and turnout critical for the future of hunting access and science-based wildlife management. Beyond Colorado, the roundup covers the Massachusetts campaign against Question 9 and Chapter 135, Rigs-to-Reefs conservation efforts, water management infrastructure supporting waterfowl hunting, Tennessee’s new deer recovery rules involving drones, and pheasant season across the Great Plains. Plus, get an update on the upcoming NASC Summit and resources available through the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. 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

    Right to Hunt and Fish: Colorado’s Amendment 83 Election Showdown | TSV Roundup Week of October 26th, 2026

  4. Oct 22

    Working Lands, Wildlife Conservation, and the Future of Hunting Access | TSV Roundup Week of October 19th, 2026

    The future of hunting depends on working lands, sound wildlife management, and sportsmen willing to make their voices heard. Healthy forests, productive farmland, and accessible wildlife habitat do not happen by accident. This week on The Sportsmen’s Voice, we examine how the economics of working lands shape conservation outcomes, from timber markets and agricultural pressures to habitat restoration and private land development. Drawing on Kent Keen’s reporting for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), the discussion explores why thinning forests, prescribed fire, conservation easements, and Farm Bill programs matter to hunters and anglers. When small-diameter timber markets disappear or property taxes push landowners to sell, the consequences extend beyond the property line. Wildlife habitat suffers, outdoor recreation opportunities shrink, and once-open landscapes can be lost to development for good. The conversation also covers California’s proposed Bobcat Conservation and Management Plan and its public comment period, New Jersey’s regulated black bear hunt, record youth deer harvests in Illinois, and the role of sportsmen-driven conservation in reaching audiences beyond the hunting community. With elections approaching, there is a clear message for hunters, anglers, and conservation advocates: wildlife policy depends on public engagement, informed voting, and sustained support for science-based management. Learn how conservation funding, responsible land management, and legislative advocacy work together to protect wildlife populations, preserve hunting opportunities, and keep working lands productive for generations to come. 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

    Working Lands, Wildlife Conservation, and the Future of Hunting Access | TSV Roundup Week of October 19th, 2026

  5. Oct 14

    Sportsmen Voter Registration: Pennsylvania Hunting and Fishing License Legislation | TSV Roundup Week of October 12th, 2026

    Your hunting and fishing rights are shaped at the ballot box, but too few sportsmen show up to vote. Conservation policy doesn't stop at the water's edge or the end of deer season. Decisions made in state legislatures and at the ballot box shape the future of hunting, fishing, and access to the outdoors. This week, The Sportsmen's Voice examines a Pennsylvania proposal designed to make sportsmen's voices harder to overlook. Kaleigh Leager joins the show to discuss legislation introduced by Pennsylvania Senator Greg Rothman that would allow eligible residents to register to vote when purchasing a hunting or fishing license. Modeled after the Motor Voter Act, the proposal aims to remove a common barrier to civic participation and give hunters and anglers another opportunity to engage in decisions affecting their outdoor traditions. The conversation explores the numbers behind the initiative, including estimates that roughly 30% of eligible Pennsylvania hunters are not registered to vote. With sportsmen's issues ranging from wildlife management and conservation funding to hunting access and legislative protections, the discussion highlights why participation matters beyond the field and the stream. Leager also explains how the voluntary registration process would work and why the proposal is part of a broader, nonpartisan effort to strengthen sportsmen's engagement in public policy. Beyond Pennsylvania, this week's conservation news includes federal support for venison donation programs, potential solutions to lost conservation funding, recognition for Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation leadership, and three pro-sportsmen bills advancing in California. 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

    Sportsmen Voter Registration: Pennsylvania Hunting and Fishing License Legislation | TSV Roundup Week of October 12th, 2026

  6. Oct 7

    Sunday Hunting Opportunities are Improving Across the East Coast | TSV Roundup Week of October 5th, 2026

    Sunday hunting restrictions are disappearing, but some states are still fighting to keep hunters out. The fight over Sunday hunting continues across the East Coast, with North Carolina and South Carolina among the last states maintaining some restrictions on when hunters can take to the field. Connor Barker joins the conversation to break down where the issue stands, what recent federal action means for state wildlife agencies, and where hunters could see meaningful changes during upcoming legislative sessions. The discussion examines President Trump’s executive order encouraging states to expand Sunday hunting opportunities on state and federal lands, along with the practical challenges of turning that directive into actual hunting access. Barker explains the specific restrictions still affecting North Carolina hunters, including the Sunday firearm ban from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while outlining opportunities for expanding Sunday hunting on South Carolina game lands. Waterfowl hunting presents another complicated piece of the debate. The conversation digs into the misconception surrounding compensatory hunting days and why opening Sundays does not necessarily mean extending the overall season. Beyond Sunday hunting, the show also covers new investments in big game habitat, wildfire emissions legislation, moose hunting in New Hampshire, changing trapping regulations in Colorado, and expanded hunting and trapping access on Michigan public land. For hunters and anglers following conservation policy, the message is clear: access, opportunity, and wildlife management decisions made today will shape the seasons of tomorrow. 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

    Sunday Hunting Opportunities are Improving Across the East Coast | TSV Roundup Week of October 5th, 2026

  7. Oct 1

    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

  8. Sep 30

    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
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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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