Who We Work With

In the broadest sense, CSF’s access to decision-makers at the state and federal level on issues relating to public access to quality fish and wildlife habitats in order to recreate is the bedrock of how CSF does its work and achieves success on various public policy issues.

This access and trust from dedicated members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses and the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus enables CSF to generate and influence policy initiatives and decisions that perpetuate the success of the System.

This trust is built upon decades of advisory relationships with policy-makers generated through formal and informal mechanisms.  Over time, CSF has become regarded as a non-partisan professional authority on issues relating to public access to quality fish and wildlife habitat for outdoor recreation. 

This reputation is exhibited by CSF President Jeff Crane and Vice President Gary Kania representing CSF on a number of federal advisory committees advising the federal government on policy issues of interest to the committees. Both sportsmen and the industries that support them benefit from someone looking out for their interests within these advisory committees.
•    Crane is a member, and Kania an alternate member of The Sport Fish and Boating Partnership Council, which advises the Secretary of Interior on recreational fishing and boating issues
•    Kania was appointed to the Marine Protected Areas advisory committee to represent recreational fishing interests as part of the National Marine Protected Areas Center inside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and works alongside other federal and state agencies in developing MPA strategies and policies.
•    Earlier this year, Crane was appointed to the newly formed Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council (WHHCC) that advises the Departments of Interior and Agriculture about recreational hunting, shooting sports activities, and associated wildlife and habitat conservation.

CSF’s expertise is also in demand as our policy team is involved with NGO policy committees and is an important part of partnerships with other conservation organizations.
•    Kania maintains a major CSF presence on several committees within the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which is the collective voice of North America’s fish and wildlife agencies. Committee assignments include: Legislative and Federal Budget, Ocean Resources Policy, Teaming With Wildlife, and Wildlife Resource Policy.
•    CSF is a member of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), a group of more than 40 organizations that work together to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat as well as to preserve the traditions of hunting and trapping. The partnership is a loose affiliation with partner organizations retaining their autonomy and respecting each other’s differences. Crane is former Chair of the AWCP.