INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
December 16, 2025
Washington, D.C.
Congress
The House is in Session this week
The Senate is in Session this week
WHAT WE’RE READING
North Carolina: Top NC court will not take Sunday hunting case
Missouri: Missouri announces changes for spring 2026 turkey hunt
California: California wildlife officials quietly shift on killing a high-profile predator
Maine: Will Maine finally lift its Sunday hunting ban?
United States: House GOP wants to curb legal fees paid to greens
United States: Republican bid to overhaul ESA returns to spotlight
United States: Oregon congressman again is pushing to remove gray wolves from Endangered Species Act
United States: Rep. Fulcher proposes exploration of transferring Idaho federal land to state and local control
WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO
Let’s Go Bear Hunting – American Outdoor News
Four Corners SCI is not responsible for links that take you to away from our website.
1. SCI Testifies in House Subcommittee on Abuse of EAJA by Well-Funded Non-Profits
Last week, SCI Senior Litigation Counsel Regina Lennox testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, regarding abuse of the Equal Access to Justice Act by well-funded nonprofit organizations. These groups, some of which have net assets in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, accept taxpayer dollars to fund litigation against the government which reverses science-based decisions or slows down government projects.
Lennox’s testimony focused on specific examples of these abuses, including a case in which plaintiffs received $35,000 just for filing a complaint. She also identified targeted amendments that would reduce the ability of these groups to weaponize EAJA. These include: applying the same net worth caps to 501(c)(3) nonprofits as every other business entity; limiting the total amount or number of awards an organization can receive; capping the amount of fees an organization or individual can receive in one suit; restricting hourly fees below a specific cap; allowing the United States to contest a claim to attorneys’ fees without having to pay additional fees; and increasing transparency by requiring direct reporting by courts and agencies.
Read SCI’s press release on the hearing here.
Read Lennox’s testimony here.
Watch Lennox’s testimony here.
2. Happening on the Hill
oday, the House of Representatives will vote on the Pet and Livestock Protection Act. Led by Representatives Tiffany (WI-07) and Boebert (CO-04), this bill would delist the gray wolf from ESA protections in the lower 48 states, bypassing judicial review. The gray wolf has met ESA recovery goals for over 20 years, and management should be returned to state wildlife agencies that are better able to manage their wildlife than the federal government. In support of this bill, SCI has created a new Hunter Action Advocacy Center alert urging House members to vote in support of this bill. To contact your representative and express your support for wolf delisting, click here.
On Wednesday, December 17th at 10:00am EST. the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a legislative mark-up to consider several bills. Among these is Chairman Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) comprehensive Endangered Species Act reform bill, the ESA Amendments Act. SCI strongly supports this bill and the significant steps that it takes to reduce burdensome regulation, promote state and local wildlife management, support recovered species ESA off-ramps, and incentivize private landowner conservation efforts. Watch the mark-up here.
3. Hunters’ Embassy™ Happenings
On Monday December 8th, the Hunters’ Embassy hosted four state wildlife directors for a tour of SCI’s Advocacy Center where they learned more about all the work SCI does in Washington, DC. We had the pleasure of welcoming Missouri Department of Conservation Director Jason Sumners; Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Angi Bruce, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division Chief Kendra Wecker, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Natural Resources Deputy Shannon Lott. The directors and SCI staff discussed the importance of hunting and continued engagement with their departments and the Association for Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). Pictured below (L-R): Director Jason Sumners (MO), Director Angi Bruce (WY), AFWA Multistate Conservation Grants Program Manager Silvana Yaroschuk, Wildlife Division Chief Kendra Wecker (OH), and Natural Resources Deputy Shannon Lott (MI).
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!
