INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
October 14, 2025
Washington, D.C.
Congress
The House is in Recess this week
The Senate is in Session this week
WHAT WE’RE READING
California: The mute swan population has ‘exploded’; California signs bill allowing hunting of invasive species
California: Catalina Island proposes professional hunting to eliminate deer population
Tennessee: Outdoor leaders urge Tennessee to rethink how it pays for wildlife conservation
New Jersey: Black bear hunt returns to New Jersey this October. What to know for 2025
Florida: Anti-hunters drew at least 23 percent of Florida’s black bear tags, according to one local activist
Michigan: Michigan’s hunters set a record for donations of harvested venison to food banks
Oklahoma: Oklahoma, tribes at odds over hunting and fishing license requirements
Montana: Montana lawmakers sue over wolf hunting regulations
United States: Congress throws 166 million acres of BLM into limbo by upending decades of local compromise
United States: The Trump Administration just greenlit the Ambler Road Project, overturning years of input from outdoorsmen
Mozambique: Reviving this African game reserve meant catching and transporting hundreds of wild animals
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WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
SCI’s Hunter Information Services – What Everyone Should Know – American Outdoor News
1. Engaging Leaders Down on the Bayou
Last week, Western State & Local Liaison Keely Hopkins met with agency leaders from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to discuss policy issues and to hear updates on the state’s black bear program. SCI played an instrumental role in the opening of the first black bear season in Louisiana since the 1980s, including defending the delisting in federal court twice, advocating for legislative and regulatory season setting, and educating hunters on sustainable use conservation through hunting for that species. Hopkins also attended the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation’s annual fundraiser, A Wild Night, that raises critical funding for the Foundation’s research and education programs and habitat conservation.
2. New Proposal Would Eliminate Catalina Mule Deer Population
The Catalina Island Conservancy has submitted a new permit application to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to allow the Conservancy to eradicate mule deer on Catalina Island. This continues the Conservancy’s efforts to wipe out deer, which SCI and other organizations have so far successfully opposed. The renewed tactic is to use snipers from the ground since SCI and partners were able to stop the aerial slaughter originally proposed. In response, the Conservancy has manipulated the situation on the island by making it expensive and difficult to hunt and then suggesting that hunters are unable to control the population adequately.
Just this year, the Conservancy was able to get the Fish and Game Commission to ban anyone that is not one of the 4,000 residents from hunting on the island. The Commission, the Department, and Conservancy leadership also ignored SCI’s efforts to constructively engage on managing the deer herd and provide youth opportunities on the island. Both actions are completely contrary to the mission of managing public resources for all Californians.
SCI is actively opposed to the eradication and will keep members updated on the status of this latest proposal. If you are a California resident, make your voice heard and oppose the eradication through SCI’s Hunter Advocacy Action Center here.
3. New Study Reveals Economic Benefits of Hunting in Europe
The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) recently held an event in the European Parliament to highlight a landmark academic study showing that hunting, sport shooting, and related sectors contribute €180 billion annually to Europe’s economy and support more than 1.12 million jobs across 30 countries, including all EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The study, “The socio-economic impact of hunting, sports shooting, and the related sectors in Europe,” concluded that the hunting sector, together with its related services, supply chains and induced effects, generates an annual value representing an average of 0.99% of Europe’s GDP . For more information about the study, read FACE’s press release.
SCI congratulates FACE for hosting the event and looks forward to utilizing the study to demonstrate the positive economic impacts of hunting and shooting sports.
4. SCI Submits Comment on PECE Information Collection
Last week, SCI submitted a comment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding an information collection on the Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (PECE). The PECE allows the Service to consider the potential benefits of recently adopted or implemented conservation efforts when making listing decisions to potentially avoid listing. The PECE applies only to domestic conservation efforts. However, it was implemented under authority of Section 4(b) of the Endangered Species Act, which requires the Service to “tak[e] into account those efforts, if any, being made by any State or foreign nation … to protect such species, whether by predator control, protection of habitat and food supply, or other conservation practices.” SCI’s comment requests that the Service incorporate consideration of foreign conservation efforts into the PECE. SCI hopes that the Service might consider reviewing and updating the policy to better implement Section 4(b).
5. Happening on the Hill
The federal government shutdown continues with Republicans and Democrats unable to reach a deal to fund government operations. SCI encourages the Senate to pass the clean Continuing Resolution that the House has passed to quickly re-open services critical to hunting access and wildlife management.
6. Hunters’ Embassy™ Happenings
Join SCI for a Hunters’ Embassy™ Lunch and Learn! On Wednesday, October 22nd, SCI’s Regina Lennox will be joined by Ryan Bronson of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for a presentation on how abuses and misuses of the Equal Access to Justice Act have been harmful to wildlife management. If you are interested in attending, please contact Nick Uberti at nuberti@scifirstforhunters.org.
7. Around the States
Arizona: SCI’s Keely Hopkins attended the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association’s annual Roundup Dinner on October 11th in Black Canyon City. The dinner drew conservation leaders such as Arizona Game and Fish Commissioners, agency staff, state legislators and members of the public to raise funding for the Association’s firearm education programs.
Pictured Above L-R: State Representative Selina Bliss, NRA-ILA Grassroots Coordinator Clay Kimberling, SCI State and Local Liaison Keely Hopkins, State Senator Frank Carroll.
Colorado: SCI signed on to a Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project coalition letter to Governor Polis and key agency leadership to encourage increased transparency and public engagement in Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy. Read the letter here.
8. Women Go Hunting
I have been casually shooting a bow for about a year now, and back in July my husband surprised me for my birthday with a serious upgrade compared to what I had before.
As I got better and found more confidence in my shooting, I started to believe that I could actually do it. I kind of had to since the other part of my little “surprise” was a South Texas deer hunt he booked for me in late October. I think he secretly planned it that way.
Then I got an invitation for a ranch weekend and a “girls hunt.” The boys were doing the guiding, the cooking, and all the other stuff. We ladies were there to hunt, and I was super excited.
To read more of Amy’s story, click here.
9. Picture of the Week
After spending a week above the Arctic Circle, SCI’s Litigation Associate Madie Demaske harvested this spectacular Muskox.
Hunting Heals is a humanitarian project offered by Four Corners SCI. We’re dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities by offering them transformative hunting experiences. CLICK TO LEARN MORE!
