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How State Legislation Shapes Your Hunting, Access, and Conservation Future (Ep 744)

How State Legislation Shapes Your Hunting, Access, and Conservation Future (Ep 744)

Ducks Unlimited Podcast

January 29, 202659m 52s

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Show Notes

Learn how state-level decisions directly impact your seasons, access, opportunity, and conservation funding.

Host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with Kaleigh Leager of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and Swanny Evans of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever—two policy professionals working daily inside state capitols to protect hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting traditions.


Most hunters understand federal policy like the Duck Stamp or the Farm Bill. But far more decisions—from Sunday hunting to conservation funding and public‑land access—are made in state legislatures. This episode explains how the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses works, why states are “laboratories of democracy,” and how small bills can create big downstream impacts on opportunity.


In this episode:

  • What the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and NASC network do
  • How state bills—good and bad—spread across the country
  • Why Sunday hunting reforms matter for access and R3
  • Conservation funding: how license structures and federal match dollars really work
  • Why discounted or free licenses can unintentionally hurt state wildlife agencies
  • The case for resident‑rate licenses for nonresident college students
  • How DU, PF/QF, and partners collaborate to stop harmful bills and advance positive ones


Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
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Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.

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Topics

state hunting legislationCongressional Sportsmen’s FoundationNational Assembly of Sportsmen’s CaucusesSunday hunting reformconservation funding modelPittman Robertson match dollarsstate wildlife agency fundingpublic land access policycollege student hunting licensesballot box biologyDU policy workpheasants forever advocacyquail forever advocacywaterfowl hunting policyDucks Unlimited podcast