From California’s new firearm restrictions to reef fish recovery and deer disease alerts—this week’s roundup covers it all.

Host Fred Bird breaks down the latest hunting, fishing, and conservation headlines shaping the outdoor community. Broadcasting from deer camp in New Hampshire, Fred covers California’s controversial Assembly Bill 1127, what many are calling a backdoor striker-fired handgun ban, and how it could jeopardize both firearm access and conservation funding nationwide.

Then, in better news for anglers, the Gulf Council has voted to permanently implement Descend Act measures. Fred explains how descending devices and venting tools are helping to reduce barotrauma in deep-water reef fish, leading to healthier fisheries and more sustainable recreational fishing opportunities across the Gulf of Mexico.

Rounding out the episode, Fred shares important updates on the menhaden harvest buffer rollback in Louisiana and CWD testing reminders across the Great Plains. Hunters will learn where testing is available, what new regulations to watch, and how staying informed helps protect deer herds for future seasons.

Whether you’re tracking policy, chasing rutting whitetails, or tuning up your reef rig, this is your inside look at the week in conservation and outdoor legislation.

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

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 working with the Legislative Sportsmen's Caucuses in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

On the fisheries front, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission decides to maintain striped bass regulations, averting unnecessary closures for thousands of saltwater anglers. Down south, Florida’s outdoor community celebrates major conservation wins, from saving the Rodman Reservoir bass fishery to reinstating a science-based black bear hunt.

Fred also covers how the U.S. Senate voted to uphold science-based wildlife management, defeating an anti-hunting proposal targeting owl conservation, and explains why access without habitat is meaningless for hunters and trappers nationwide.

If you care about how policy affects the woods, waters, and wildlife you love, this is your weekly must-listen briefing from the front lines of conservation.

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

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 hunter or curious about getting started, this conversation offers a rare look at how female-led hunting programs are changing the landscape of outdoor sports.

Hear firsthand stories of women stepping behind the trigger for the first time, overcoming the intimidation of a male-dominated space, and finding empowerment through shared experiences in the field. The discussion unpacks everything from big game hunting fundamentals to the emotional side of the chase reminding listeners that the heart of hunting is connection: with the land, with wildlife, and with one another.

You’ll also learn how these initiatives are building confidence, fostering lifelong friendships, and driving wildlife conservation through education and advocacy. The guests reveal why programs like this are vital for the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and how mentorship remains the key to keeping our hunting heritage alive.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations from leaders shaping the future of the outdoors.

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

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 hunting license and tag fee structures. Matthews explains how these bills would both generate additional conservation funding and modernize the state’s reimbursement framework, ensuring the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) can continue managing wildlife, habitats, and public lands effectively.

From license reforms to senior discounts, the conversation pulls back the curtain on how small policy details can make or break conservation success. Then, Fred shifts the focus to the Southeast, where outdated Sunday hunting restrictions still keep thousands of outdoorsmen out of the woods and cost critical dollars for habitat work. Together, the team unpacks the tension between access, tradition, and modern conservation funding, challenging listeners to rethink who really pays to protect the outdoors we all enjoy.

Whether you hunt, fish, or just care about wild places, this episode offers a candid look at the policies shaping our shared future outdoors.

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

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 Caucus, the growing momentum behind legislative support for outdoor traditions takes center stage.

You’ll get the latest on recreational fishing policy updates that could affect how and where you cast next season, plus new insights into pheasant hunting opportunities and access across the Midwest. The conversation also breaks down key actions from the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, including wildlife disease management strategies, drought mitigation efforts, and how conservation easements are being used to protect both habitat and public hunting access.

Listeners will walk away with a stronger understanding of how legislation, conservation groups, and state agencies are shaping the future of waterfowl hunting, big game management, and fisheries conservation. It’s a boots-on-the-ground look at how policy decisions ripple across the fields, forests, and waterways that define the American outdoors.

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

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 its curriculum, mentorship programs, and field instruction prepare students to become leaders in wildlife conservation and furbearer management. From understanding coyote population dynamics to learning diverse trapping techniques from expert instructors, this isn’t just about setting traps—it’s about managing ecosystems responsibly.

But first, Fred sits down with Cristina Jones, business executive for Fur Takers of America and assistant director of Trappers College. She shares how the college’s partnership with Purdue University brings credibility and structure to the nation’s premier trapping education program. Together, they unpack how professionalism and public outreach are reshaping the image of trappers in conservation policy circles and how mentorship plays a vital role in carrying the heritage of trapping forward.

If you’ve ever wanted an insider’s look at the balance between fieldcraft, education, and advocacy in the outdoors, this episode delivers it straight from the source.

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

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 marine fisheries habitat, this episode unpacks how science-based management is the foundation of America’s outdoor legacy.

You’ll hear how Missouri is inviting public input on deer management strategies, why drought is challenging furbearers and trappers in New England, and how game managers in Hawaii are using data-driven solutions utilizing hunters to restore ecosystem balance. 

Whether you’re a seasoned outdoorsman or a newcomer passionate about conserving wildlife and wild places, this episode delivers a grounded look at the policies, programs, and people securing the future of hunting, fishing, and wildlife management in America.

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

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, recreational shooters, and other sportsmen and women who funds conservation through gear and license purchases, the implications run much deeper.

Fred and Christian break down how this proposed tax would unfairly target law-abiding gun owners while sidestepping the real issues driving firearm crime. They explore the ripple effects this kind of legislation could have on conservation funding — the very lifeblood of our hunting and fishing traditions. Listeners will learn how sportsmen’s dollars already sustain wildlife management, habitat restoration, and access programs that benefit everyone who enjoys the outdoors.

This is more than a policy debate — it’s a call to protect the values that define America’s outdoor heritage.

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

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 why hunters, anglers, and conservationists must carry the torch forward.

From elk hunting tips and waterfowl hunting mentorship to bass fishing strategies and habitat awareness, the discussion highlights how time-tested knowledge can be passed down to the next generation. The guests share personal stories about their own paths into hunting and fishing, the challenges of changing perceptions in communities outside the outdoors, and the responsibility we all have in wildlife management.

Listeners will learn why mentorship is the most powerful tool for recruiting new hunters, how social media can amplify conservation messages, and why bipartisan support is critical for protecting public lands. The conversation also touches on the cultural value of hunting and fishing traditions, the mental health benefits of time outdoors, and the role of license purchases in funding conservation.

This is an insider’s conversation for anyone who wants to be part of protecting—and passing on—the lifestyle of hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventure.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations that celebrate conservation and tradition.

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

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 management. You’ll hear why state proclamations and bipartisan support matter more than ever for protecting our sporting heritage.

We break down Michigan’s critical hunting license restructuring and what it means for the future of conservation funding. From there, we highlight the leadership of CSF’s Senior Vice President, Taylor Schmitz and his recognition for advancing pro-sportsman policies, giving listeners an inside look at how strong advocacy shapes the outdoor world.

The discussion also previews the upcoming 22nd Annual NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit, a gathering where the future of hunting and fishing legislation takes center stage. And if you’re dreaming about big game, don’t miss our look at expanding elk hunting opportunities in Alaska, proof that smart wildlife management benefits both hunters and ecosystems.

Whether you’re a seasoned waterfowl hunter, an elk enthusiast, or a weekend angler, this episode equips you with the knowledge and context to stay informed, stay engaged, and keep our outdoor traditions alive.

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