Please join us for a breakfast hosted by Honda Powersports.

SPT Update (9:00am - 9:30am)

Hear from CSF’s States Program Team members as they present on the activities of state caucuses, highlighting unique examples of events, communications deliverables, and key policy victories in the Eastern half of the country.
Presented by: Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

Legislative Considerations for Non-Lead Ammunition Alternatives (9:30-10:00am)

The conversation around lead ammunition: the controversy or consensus. A moderated discussion from the firearm industry and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ (State Fish and Wildlife agency) perspectives on the use of lead afield. The impact of whether mandating bans on the use of lead or how using best management practices and education are best suited for wildlife management and R3 concerns.
Presented by: National Shooting Sports Foundation; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

South Carolina Conservation Education Act – Improving the Health and Conservation Literacy of South Carolina’s Youth (10:00-10:30am)

The May 8, 2025 passage of the South Carolina Conservation Education Act has set the stage to provide funding for up to 64,000 South Carolina 4th graders to annually attend a 1 to 3 day outdoor conservation education camp program. The program will improve the mental and physical health of South Carolina youth by exposing them to nature, outdoor recreation and outdoor education. The program will enhance the conservation literacy of participating youth, teachers and parent chaperones by providing exciting hands-on outdoor conservation education programs along with a class on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. It is our hope the act will become a national model adopted by state legislatures across the country to improve the health and conservation literacy of our nation’s youth. This effort is critical to the health of the next generation and the future of our Outdoor Heritage.
Presented by: Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation; South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

Voluntary Conservation Easements and American Property Rights: a Foundation for Wildlife Conservation (10:30-11am)

Please join us to hear an engaging presentation led by Ducks Unlimited (DU) on the importance of voluntary conservation easements. This discussion will provide you with an understanding of the benefits that voluntary conservation easements give the public through enhancing wildlife habitat, ensuring clean water, and protecting agricultural lands, while also providing benefits for private landowners.
Presented by: Ducks Unlimited

SPT Update (9:00-9:30am)

Hear from CSF’s States Program Team members as they present on the activities of state caucuses, highlighting unique examples of events, communications deliverables, and key policy victories in the Western half of the country.
Presented by: Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

Evolutions in Fair Chase: Planes, Drones, & Other UFOs (9:30-10:00am)

As manned and unmanned aerial vehicles become more common in our everyday lives, unfortunately, abuses in the field likewise become more common. Hunting, especially mountain hunting, has always been hallmarked by reverence for isolation from the rest of humanity – isolation that can easily be broken by the idling of an airplane engine or the buzzing of a drone. Lawmakers have an opportunity to advance fair chase hunting ethics by ensuring state statutes and agency regulations mandate the responsible use of aircraft.
Presented by: Wild Sheep Foundation

Importance of Nonresident Sportsmen and Women (10:00-10:30am)

Across the country, state fish and wildlife agencies and natural resource departments rely on the sale of hunting and fishing licenses to fund critical conservation efforts. Many of these agencies, particularly in the western half of the country, depend heavily on revenue from nonresident hunters and anglers. In recent years, nonresidents have shouldered the burden of paying high license fees while often facing some of the toughest odds when it comes to drawing a tag. Join us as we dive deeper into the funding mechanisms used by state fish and wildlife agencies, and the long term issues that can arise if current trends continue.
Presented by: Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

Lessons learned from the Successes and Pitfalls of Grizzly Bear Management in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming (10:30-11am)

Our expert panelists will explore the triumphs and challenges of grizzly bear management across the Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, revealing how state-level management of ESA list species introduces intricate layers of ecological, political, and social complexity. Drawing from real-world experiences, our panelists will unpack innovative policy recommendations and illuminate the community impacts that stem from these management choices.
Presented by: Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation; Wyoming Wildlife Federation; Shepards of Wildlife Society

Join us for a refreshment break in the exhibitor area and stop by exhibitor booths to enter a raffle.

Markets for Forest Products and Forestland Conservation

Strong markets for forest products are vital to supporting private working forests and keeping forests as forests. As markets undergo change, this session will explore challenges and opportunities for forest landowners to earn a return on their investment and prevent conversion to other land uses, as sustainably managed forests provide important habitat for wildlife and critical access for hunters throughout the country.
Presented by CSF & National Alliance of Forestry Owners

Prescribed Fire
Prescribed fire is a critical tool for restoring and maintaining forest and grassland ecosystems. In many states, policies inadvertently discourage the practice. But conservation groups, landowners, and others are working to advance state-reforms to promote good fire, with notable recent successes in Montana and California.
Presented by: Property & Environmental Research Center

Join us for a lunch hosted by the National Trappers Association and the Fur Takers of America, as they discuss the importance of trapping and its relevance to our every day lives - from fly-tying supplies to cowboy hats.

Presented by: National Trappers Association & Fur Takers of America

New Legislative Threats to Live Bait - Multistate Implications for Anglers (1:00-1:30pm)

In recent years, European animal welfare groups and antis have launched a multistate effort to ban the use and sale of live bait for fishing. This panel will discuss legislation proposed in New Hampshire, New York and Colorado, the current status of live bait regulation across states, fisheries management considerations, and sportsmen’s groups’ pushback to this legislation.
Presented by: Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, American Sportfishing Association, and National Aquaculture Association

Mississippi River Restoration (1:30-2:00pm)

The Mississippi River Basin is home to America's richest inland and coastal fisheries and vital to waterfowl, deer and small game hunting. Finding the right balance between the needs of agriculture, flood protection, industry, shipping, transportation and access to high-quality fish and wildlife habitat is a challenge for local, state and federal agencies and user groups. Progress is being made in several parts of the Mississippi Basin on restoring natural water flows to benefit farmers, communities concerned about flood protection and fish and wildlife habitat while Congress considers legislation to help control the spread of aquatic invasives species and better manage the Basins fisheries. Local experts will discuss efforts to help improve habitat, direct resources to fisheries management and balance the needs of the various user groups within the Mississippi River Basin. 
Presented by: Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Tennessee Wildlife Federation; Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association

Rigs to Reefs (2:00-2:15pm)

Over 7,000 oil and gas platforms have been constructed in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) over the course of the last 70 years. Over time, these structures have been the catalyst for teeming communities of fish and marine life that serve as incredibly important destinations for recreational anglers, divers, and commercial fishermen alike. Today, we have less than 1,100, remaining with over half of these platforms up for decommissioning in the next few years. We are working on legislation to more efficiently facilitate the conversion of these platforms to permanent artificial reefs.
Presented by: Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation

Modernized Muzzleloader Definitions (2:15-2:40pm)

Muzzleloading firearms have long been permitted as a method of take among deer hunters in most states, with many states offering special seasons solely for the use of muzzleloaders. This historically significant method of take harkens back to the original firearms used in North America, and represent a safe, yet challenging opportunity for sportsmen and women. Likewise, historic limitations on the effective range of muzzleloading rifles have made them popular in states with limited opportunities for modern firearm hunters due to population size or topographical challenges. While these methods of take remain popular among many hunters, variations in the legal and regulatory definition of muzzleloaders, accompanied by improvements in muzzleloader technologies, have resulted in a call for muzzleloader definitions to be reviewed and, in many cases, modernized to accept these improved technologies.
Presented by: Traditions Firearms; The Kinetic Group

Suppressors (2:40-3:05pm)

The removal of suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA) is a hot button issue. Whether through legislative means or litigation, it could have an impact on the legal status of suppressors in up to 17 states. Discover if your state could be impacted by potential changes to federal suppressor laws and learn how ASA is working with legislators in these states to change the way their statute references the NFA, federal registration requirements, and licensing.
Presented by: American Suppressor Association

Shopping Cart Surveillance (3:05-3:30pm)

Recent state-level proposals aimed at altering the structure of payment card processing fees are often presented as victories for small businesses and workers. This session digs deeper, exposing a significant unintended consequence: consumer privacy.  Much like issues surrounding  merchant category codes for firearms retailers, we will explore how this legislation impacts everyday consumers’ privacy by requiring participants in the retail ecosystem to build - and use - new infrastructure capable of transmitting data that not only captures where consumers are shopping, but also the specific items they are purchasing.
Presented by: International Center for Law & Economics

Join us for a refreshment break in the exhibitor area and stop by exhibitor booths to enter a raffle.

State Fish and Wildlife Agency Directors will reflect on topics from the Summit and describe legislative challenges and victories from their respective states.
Presented by: Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

NASC Executive Council President, Rep. Jeff Wardlaw (AR) will provide closing remarks as the business portion of the 22nd Annual NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit concludes.

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CSF President and CEO Jeff Crane and NASC Executive Council President Rep. Jeff Wardlaw (AR) will make closing remarks; host state legislators will be recognized; awards will be given to legislators from each region, a state agency, and key NASC partners; and new Executive Council members will be announced. The host state and location of the 2026 NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit will also be announced.

The evening is not over yet, as activities will continue with a cigar reception. A variety of cigars, hors d'oeuvres, and liquid refreshments will be provided, wrapping up this year's NASC Summit. Attendees are encouraged to join their colleagues for a toast to a productive conference and discuss plans for the next legislative session.