Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act Passes in U.S. House

by
posted on February 6, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
sci_ah2015_fs.jpg (4)

Great news for sportsmen and women! My husband, Phil, and I walked into an SCI luncheon just in time to hear Melissa Simpson, Director of SCI's Government Affairs and Science-Based Conservation Division, announce that H.R. 3590—the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act—just passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 268-154 and is en route to the Senate.

This legislation, commonly referred to as the "Sportsmen's Package," contains eight initially separate bills that were all packaged into one bill and introduced on Dec. 21, 2013 by the leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC), working alongside the NRA, SCI, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, among others. The bill protects our outdoor traditions for generations to come while addressing many current concerns of hunters, target shooters and anglers—including the permanent guarantee of hunting on nearly 500 million acres of public lands. This is a very big deal.

NRA's Susan Recce, Director of NRA-ILA's Conservation, Wildlife and Natural Resources Division, told me that the priorities in the SHARE Act include: protecting the traditional use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle by American hunters and anglers, the potential increase of Pittman-Robertson funds for shooting ranges, the permanent authorization of the electronic duck stamp, importation of legally hunted polar bears, and helping facilitate the use of and access to Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands and waters for hunting, recreational fishing and shooting. It also prohibits the enforcement of individual firearm regulations at water resources development projects administered by the Corps of Engineers, and prohibits additional fees for commercial filming on federal lands and waterways.  In addition, this legislation will also permanently establish the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee to advise the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting and recreational shooting.

This legislation affects all of us. Just two years ago, Phil and I tried to get a filming and photo permit to cover a horseback hunt for elk in a wilderness area in Wyoming. After two weeks of the run-around, the U.S. Forest Service denied the permit, costing the outfitter a great opportunity for promotion and we missed a great opportunity for the "Phil Phillips Unleashed" TV show and an article in American Hunter for no apparent reason. This legislation has been a long time coming! 

Latest

Draper Shooting Colt King Cobra Target 22 LR
Draper Shooting Colt King Cobra Target 22 LR

#SundayGunday: Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR 4.25-Inch

This week on #SundayGunday, we handle the super-popular Colt King Cobra Target 22, a fabulous full-size rimfire revolver chambered in .22 Long Rifle that is just about perfect for so many roles in the life of an outdoorsman.

First Look: S&W Lipsey’s Exclusive 610 and 617 Mountain Guns

Smith & Wesson has announced the release of two new Lipsey’s Exclusive revolvers, the Model 610 and Model 617 Mountain Guns.

Behind the Bullet: 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum

Launching a 160-grain bullet in excess of 3200 fps, the 7mm RUM is among the fastest commercially loaded 7mm cartridges available.

USFWS Debuts 2025-2026 Federal and Junior Duck Stamps

The 2025-2026 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp—commonly known as the Duck Stamp—became available for purchase on June 27, 2025.

Tested: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener

Digital Associate Editor walks viewers through the features of the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener, the perfect tool for a hunter looking to keep all his knives factory sharp season after season.

Recipe: Green Curried Black Bear

Green curry sauce is an excellent base for simmering bear meat, making it flavorful, tender, and safe to consume. Read on for another instant classic recipe from Brad Fenson.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.