TSV Roundup Week of February 2nd, 2026

From classrooms to statehouses, the future of hunting access is being decided right now. State legislatures are moving fast, and the decisions being made right now will shape hunting and fishing access for decades. This nationwide conservation roundup breaks down the most important policy fights affecting sportsmen and women, from the Southeast to the Great Plains. The conversation opens with Tennessee’s push to expand hunter education opportunities by allowing schools to offer voluntary hunter safety courses for grades five through twelve. The discussion explores why early exposure to hunting ethics, firearms safety, and wildlife management matters, and how similar efforts have already gained bipartisan support in states like Georgia and Michigan. Out West, attention turns to Wyoming, where proposed legislation could affect transferable landowner tags, the use of tracking dogs for wounded game, and funding structures for state fish and wildlife agencies. These policies directly influence elk hunting access, fair-chase recovery practices, and long-term conservation funding. In the Northeast, Massachusetts presents a major opportunity with potential Sunday hunting rollbacks and expanded crossbow inclusion during archery season. The stakes are high for whitetail deer management, Lyme disease concerns, and giving working families more time afield. The roundup closes in the Midwest, covering Kansas efforts to reimburse wildlife agencies for discounted licenses and an Iowa proposal aimed at increasing political participation among hunters and anglers through voter registration. For anyone who hunts, fishes, or cares about protecting outdoor traditions, this episode connects policy to real-world impact and explains why showing up at the state level has never mattered more. Get the FREE Sportsmen’s Voice e-publication in your inbox every Monday: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/newsletter Follow The Sportsmen’s Voice wherever you get your podcasts: https://podfollow.com/1705085498 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices