INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
December 9, 2025
Washington, D.C.
Congress
The House is in Session this week
The Senate is in Session this week
WHAT WE’RE READING
California: Top California wildlife official departs for environmental group
Tennessee: TN Fish & Wildlife Commission approves new deer hunting regulations
Montana: Montana reduces non-resident deer hunting licenses
Massachusetts: Ready for ballot, conservation advocates hope for win in Legislature
Colorado: Colorado Parks and Wildlife director resigned instead of termination
Missouri: Why has Missouri succeeded in wild pig control?
Idaho: Idaho is eliminating OTC deer and elk tags for nonresidents and moving to a draw system
United States: Center for Biological Diversity to sue Fish and Wildlife over gray wolf recovery plan
United States: Feds will quickly impose some changes in how ESA operates
United States: Trump admin aims to boost ATV access in national forests
Africa: Hunters bag a win with loosened rules on bontebok trade (subscription required)
Canada: New restrictions placed on hunting, farming ‘incredibly destructive’ wild boars in Alberta
Estonia: Environment Agency proposes higher wolf hunting quota
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1. CITES Decisions Will Have Little Impact on SCIeam
The 20th CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP) concluded on Friday, December 5 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. As with most CITES meetings, the outcomes provided a mixed bag of results, with some notable positive decisions:
– Bontebok was delisted from CITES in recognition of the species’ remarkable recovery thanks entirely to sustainable use hunting in South Africa.
– A proposal to list striped hyena on Appendix I—the most restrictive status—was rejected.
Other outcomes were unfavorable to sustainable use:
– Dorcas gazelle was added to Appendix II.
– Southern Africa’s proposal to remove southern giraffe from CITES was rejected.
– Namibia’s proposals to sell elephant ivory and rhino horn were rejected.
– Canada and the U.S.’s proposal to move peregrine falcon from Appendix I to Appendix II was rejected.
– The Parties rejected efforts to give indigenous peoples and local communities a larger voice in CITES decision making.
Despite the Parties addressing more than 150 agenda items, the decisions made at the CoP will have little practical impact on SCI members’ interests. This is a welcomed change compared to previous CITES meetings.
In addition to the daily CoP meetings, SCI and the CIC organized a well-attended side event on Wildlife Economies centered on innovative solutions to encourage the legal and sustainable use of wild species to enhance biodiversity conservation, while addressing the drivers and impacts of illegal trade. Experts from various sectors shared insights, strategies, and tools to promote legal, sustainable wildlife use that connects conservation outcomes with livelihoods and broader global objectives. Pictured above: SCI and CIC representatives with the panelists who participated in the event.
2. Ending the Year with a Celebration in DC
Last week SCI hosted a Hunters’ Embassy ™ Reception in Washington, D.C., celebrating a great year working alongside our champions on the Hill and in the Trump Administration. In addition to 20 members of Congress, we were joined by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director Brian Nesvik, and Dr. Jenifer Chatfield and Nathan Naidu, Senior Advisors to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. We thank our friends in government for continuing to work alongside SCI to the benefit of all hunters, domestically and abroad.
3.New and Old: Black Bear Hunts in the South
Thanks in part to SCI’s advocacy and legal efforts, TWO black bear seasons opened this past weekend! On December 6, both Florida and Louisiana began their highly regulated black bear hunting seasons.
This is a historical time for sportsmen and women as Florida’s hunt is the first since 2015 and Louisiana reopened their season last year after a 35-year hiatus. Both states utilize a lottery system to select hunting permit holders; Florida issued 172 permits, and Louisiana issued 26 permits.
SCI was proud to support the efforts to reestablish hunting seasons within these states and help secure active management of the growing bear populations. Through our local chapters/members, grassroots efforts, social and traditional media, in-person testimony, and in the court room, SCI stepped up to defend the Freedom to Hunt.
Most recently in Florida, SCI’s legal intervention helped secure the future of the black bear hunt after a Florida court denied a temporary injunction to stop the hunt.
SCI continues to Protect the Freedom to Hunt and open doors for hunters as a direct result of our advocacy efforts! SCI is #FirstForHunters.
4. NAPHA Community of Hunting Remains Strong
Namibia’s Professional Hunters Association continues to have a very strong presence at its annual general meeting. Axel Cramer termed out as president and Hannes Du Plessis was elected to his first term. The President of Namibia had planned to attend, but Neville Gertze, the Executive Director of the President’s Private Office spoke on her behalf. Support for the sustainable use of wildlife remains strong within the government and the desire to grow this sector for the benefit of all Namibia. It was reported that local hunting is declining, mainly biltong hunters and sport shooters, primarily due to the rising cost of hunting. Game numbers have also dropped due to drought conditions. Issues on the horizon are the legalization of crossbows, cheetah and blackfaced impala hunting, and increasing the international profile of Namibia. Pictured above (L-R): SCI Past President John McLaurin, NAPHA President Hannes Du Plessis, NAPHA Immediate Past President Alex Cramer, SCI Guides & Outfitters Liaison Everett Headley
5. Hunters’ Embassy™ Happenings
On Wednesday, SCI-PAC hosted a Hunters’ Embassy™ Luncheon, benefitting NRCC Chairman and former SCI Federal Legislator of the Year, Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC). SCI is proud to support the Congressman and thanks him for his work to defend hunting freedoms in Congress.
6. Happening on the Hill
SCI joined our colleagues in the American Wildlife Conservation Partners in a letter to Senate leadership expressing our support for the Fix Our Forests Act and requesting the legislation be brought to the floor for a vote as soon as possible. This bipartisan legislation would take huge strides to remove burdensome red tape slowing down habitat improvement projects and promotes common-sense management practices that will lead to healthy, sustainable forest habitat.
Reach out to your Senator HERE to show your support for the Fix Our Forests Act!
7. Women Go Hunting
Fourteen women were sponsored by SCI’s Women Go Hunting Program (WGH) to deer hunt at the Legends Ranch in Michigan. Many of them hunted for the first time ever. Others had hunted before but never harvested a deer. All 14 women took deer over the four-day event, which is part of the Legends Ranch Learn to Hunt Program.
The experience included conservation education at the Wildlife Center at Legends Ranch, firearms training at the onsite shooting range, two days of guided hunting on the 2,000-acre deer preserve, and demonstrations on preparing and cooking venison.
Six of the participants won the hunt at the SCI Convention in Nashville, TN, last January through the free Women Go Hunting Sweepstakes. The others were SCI employees who wanted to experience the thrill and passion for hunting enjoyed by the nearly 50,000 SCI members they serve every day.
Legends Ranch owner Robert Sergi is a strong proponent of conservation education, having provided more than 13,000 children with tours of the Wildlife Center at the Legends Ranch. He has also generously supported WGH, committing to donating another six slots to the Learn to Hunt Program for the upcoming WGH Sweepstakes to be held during the next SCI Convention in Nashville on February 18-21, 2026.
“Women are important to the future of hunting,” says Sergi. “At Legends Ranch, we want to help more women know the joys of hunting and become lifelong hunters.”
WGH will host a booth at the SCI Convention and hold its annual Ladies Mix & Mingle event on Saturday, February 21st. For more information on WGH, contact Barbara Crown at bcrown@scifirstforhunters.org.
8. Around the States
Tennessee: Last week, Senior State and Local Liaison Bee Frederick visited Nashville, TN for the annual Conservation Partners Lunch hosted by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. The meeting was attended by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) senior leadership as well as various in-state and national conservation partners where the group discussed the upcoming legislative session, including TWRA funding, licensing, directed dollars, and other various management issues. Pictured above: SCI’s Bee Frederick and Jason Maxedon, Executive Director of the TWRA
New Jersey: SCI has called upon members in New Jersey to reach out to their lawmakers to reject anti-hunting legislation, Assembly Bill 6055. If passed, this bill would significantly alter the make-up of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council. This proposed bill would empower animal extremists to block decisions crucial for responsible wildlife management, reduce public safety through increased human bear contact, and simultaneously reduce opportunity for hunters in New Jersey. If you are a New Jersey resident, please join our Hunter Advocacy Action Center alert by clicking here.
9. SCI in Las Vegas for Cowboy Christmas!
From December 4th-13th, Safari Club International is participating in the RMEF Hunter and Outdoor Christmas Expo held during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over the weekend, SCI Western State and Local Liaison Keely Hopkins joined staff at the booth to help share information about SCI’s conservation and advocacy efforts. Kristy Titus also made a special appearance at the booth each day to greet SCI members and expo attendees. If you are in Las Vegas for NFR, make sure you make your way to booth 20743 for show specials and to pick up some SCI gear! Pictured above (L-R): SCI Western State and Local Liaison Keely Hopkins with Kristy Titus, host and producer of “Pursue the Wild” and SCI ambassador.
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!
