Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs

The Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs represents multiple member clubs across Western New York, unified around hunting, archery, and conservation issues. They're not a retail operation—they're the backbone of organized sportsmen's advocacy in the region.

• •Coordinate between member clubs throughout Erie County
• •Advocate for hunters and archers at the state level
• •Develop and promote conservation education programs
• •Organize hunting and archery safety courses
• •Host meetings, banquets, and community events
• •Track and respond to legislation affecting hunting seasons and methods

On August 26, 2025, NY Governor Hochul signed the crossbow bill into law—ending a decades-long push by ECFSC and allied organizations.

The new law removes restrictive specifications on crossbows (draw weight and limb width limits), allows crossbow use throughout early archery season, and most importantly, requires crossbow hunters to complete the bowhunter safety course. This addresses real-world hunting ethics issues: crossbow bolts have identical lethality to broadheads, requiring different shot placement knowledge and blood tracking skills than firearms alone teach.

ECFSC's persistent advocacy—presenting harvest history, recruitment data, and facts—made this happen. The biggest beneficiaries: senior bowhunters who can now return to the woods with modern crossbows, bringing hands-on mentorship to the next generation of hunters.

ECFSC runs specialized committees covering:

• •Bowhunting and archery
• •Big game and small game hunting
• •Fish and waterfowl programs
• •Hunter education and youth licensing
• •Trapping and predator management
• •Legislative tracking and state council coordination
• •Environmental advocacy

Led by officers including President Jack Coad and Vice President Joe Fischer, ECFSC publishes conservation news, legislative updates, and opinion pieces from experienced hunters. Their blog features columns like "Stone Cold Truth" and "Protecting the Community"—real insight from people who hunt and fish Western New York.

ECFSC meets regularly, publishes legislative reports, and welcomes hunters and archers who want to stay informed and involved in state-level hunting policy.