INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
October 21, 2025
Washington, D.C.
Congress
The House is in Session this week
The Senate is in Session this week
WHAT WE’RE READING
Arkansas: Mountain lion killed in Hot Spring County vehicle collision
Tennessee: Deer baiting rules in Tennessee spark debate: Hunters, landowners asked to weigh in
Wisconsin: Wolf harvest regulations will soon take effect as wolves face potential delisting
Montana: FWP is in the wolf management hot seat
California: AB 1319 creates “Provisional Candidate” protections for species facing reduced federal ESA safeguards
Colorado: Pronghorn hunting proposed in North Fruita Desert
United States: Corner crossing remains legal across much of the West after Supreme Court rejects appeal
United States: Senator Mike Lee revives push to shift Forest Service to Interior
United States: Interior Department reveals plans to lay off more than 2,000 employees
International: IUCN World Conservation Congress concluded in Abu Dhabi
Opinion: I used to be an anti-hunter. Now I take my daughter hunting with me
Opinion: Declaration deceptions or the art of grandiloquence while Rome burns
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1. SCI’s Motion to Intervene in Florida Bear Case Approved
Last week, a Florida trial court granted SCI’s motion to intervene in a suit challenging the recently approved black bear hunt. Although Bear Warriors United objected, the court found that SCI had the necessary interest to represent its members who have entered the bear hunt lottery and seek to support Florida’s management of black bears through regulated hunting. The plaintiff informed the court that it will seek to enjoin the bear hunt. SCI and the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission will be ready to defend the Commission’s science-based decision. The opening of the hunt aligns Florida (the state with the second-highest number of human-bear conflicts) with every other state with a sizable black bear population and relies on hunting to manage black bear population and range expansion. The only state that does not rely on hunting is Connecticut – the state with the highest number of human-bear conflicts. Stay tuned for more as the case progresses!
2. SCI Files Brief to Supreme Court on Alaska Subsistence Case
Last week, SCI filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the State of Alaska’s petition for Supreme Court review. SCI’s brief defends state authority to manage fish and wildlife in Alaska and explains how the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision upsets the balance of federal-state relations and allows the Federal Subsistence Board to repeatedly shut down hunting and fishing opportunities without sufficient justification. The State of Alaska’s petition was also supported by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, among others. SCI looks forward to the Supreme Court granting review in this case.
3. New Bowhunting Rules in Benelux
A set of new rules has been introduced by the Minister’s Council of Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) regarding bowhunting. The aim of the new regional rules is to harmonize and authorize types of arrows allowed for hunting big and small game across these countries.
In Wallonia, Belgium, bowhunting was already permitted. This new regulation now serves as a common legal basis for the Benelux region. It also harmonizes the local rules and establishes the types of arrows to be used in these countries, with the aim of reducing the debates on lethality and security of bowhunting. Read more here from the European Bowhunting Federation.
4. SCI Pakistan Chapter Hosts Humanitarian Event
SCI celebrates an initiative that demonstrates how sustainable hunting can drive community support and humanitarian action. The SCI Pakistan Chapter, led by Mr. Ali Shah, with the support of the SCI Iberian Chapter, successfully held its first Medical and Relief Camp at the Town Municipal Administration’s office in the Kallar Kahar region of Pakistan, under the patronage of Chairman Syed Samsan Ali Shah Bohkari. More than 1,100 patients received free consultations and medication; 400 pairs of eyeglasses were distributed; and 400 food packs, along with clothing, meals, and funding assistance were distributed to families in need. Special thanks to all partners involved: The Customs Healthcare Society – Dr. Asif Jah; CBC Kallar Kahar – Malik Mukhtar Haider; Punjab Wildlife Department; and TMO ex-Chairman Kallar Kahar. And a heartfelt thanks to Waqar Afzal Rana for the warm hospitality and to all the volunteers who made this event possible.
5. Trump Admin Rescinds Most Restrictions on Traveling Hunters
Just before the government shutdown, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security published a Final Rule regarding US travelers taking firearms abroad. The Final Rule rescinds restrictions that were implemented in an “Interim Final Rule” published in May 2024. The Final Rule deals with an exception to permitting requirements applicable to individuals traveling abroad with firearms for personal use (i.e., hunting and sport shooting). It rescinds prohibitions on traveling to certain countries with firearms pursuant to this exception but leaves in place a three-firearm limit per hunter. Read SCI’s release for more information.
6. Happening on the Hill
The federal government has been shut down for three weeks, as the Senate failed to pass the Democrat-introduced continuing resolution or the House-passed continuing resolution. SCI continues to advocate for passage of the House CR, a clean funding bill that will quickly re-open critical services for hunters and wildlife management. On Tuesday, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a legislative markup on several bills, including S.1462, the Fix Our Forests Act, and reported this bill favorably out of the Committee. The Fix Our Forests Act, introduced in the Senate by SCI Legislator of the Year Senator John Curtis (UT), makes broad reforms to forest management by expanding access to public lands, supporting science-based wildlife management, fostering greater collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, and limiting frivolous lawsuits that prevent effective and timely management. SCI strongly supports this legislation and thanks the committee for advancing the bill so that it may be considered by the full Senate. Watch the full hearing HERE.
7. Hunters’ Embassy™ Happenings
Join us for a Hunters’ Embassy™ Lunch and Learn tomorrow at 12:00 PM! SCI’s Regina Lennox will be joined by Ryan Bronson of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for a presentation on abuses and misuses of the Equal Access to Justice Act and how it is damaging wildlife management around the country. If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please contact Nick Uberti at nuberti@scifirstforhunters.org.
8. Around the States
Wisconsin: Act now to help save the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Project! SCI strongly encourages all Wisconsin residents to contact their elected officials in support of the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Project which has helped to protect Wisconsin’s rich sporting heritage for nearly four decades through the acquisition of accessible public land. If you are a Wisconsin resident, make your voice heard by clicking here.
Massachusetts: SCI CEO Laird Hamberlin submitted a letter of opposition to House Bill 3082 / Senate Bill 1652, an act establishing an excise tax on guns and ammunition. SCI strongly opposes placing an additional excise tax of 4.75% (on top of the existing 6.25%) on the retail sale of all firearms and ammunition sales in the state. These bills inappropriately place the entire burden of funding crime-victim support services, gun violence prevention, lawful gun use, and enhancement of school safety programs on a single segment of Massachusetts’ law-abiding public. Read the letter here.
9. Women Go Hunting
It was day two of the Arizona Juniors Hunt for Coues deer and my 11-year-old daughter Adley was determined to harvest her first deer. It was cloudy all day and had just started to rain, something we are not used to while hunting in southern Arizona. We had almost called it quits for the day, but we made one more stop to glass one more hill.
Thank goodness we did because we spotted a buck. He was a small fork-horn, and Adley was all in and ready to make a move. But after a short hike and getting her all set up in the scope, we spotted this monster of a Coues whitetail and quickly changed our plan. After her nerves settled, she made a great 550-yard shot using a Bergara 6.5PRC and watched her buck drop! Needless to say, we have a lifelong hunter now. She can’t wait to get out again!
10. Picture of the Week
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!
