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March29, 2006
Volume 4, Issue 11
State Caucus Update
Maryland Caucus Active on Pro-Sportsmen Bills as Session Comes to a Close
Georgia Senate Passes Internet Hunting Ban
Mississippi Legislature Sends “No Net Loss” Bill to Governor; Youth Hunting Legislation Signed
Kentucky Governor Signs Two Sportsmen’s Caucus Bills
South Carolina Legislature Sends Remote Hunting Ban to Governor
Pennsylvania Introduces Bill to Increase Game Commission Funding
Outside Organizations
NSSF Hunting Heritage Partnership Helps New Hampshire Boost Hunter Education Numbers
Maryland Caucus Active on Pro-Sportsmen Bills as Session Comes to a Close
The Maryland legislature is moving on several pro-sportsmen measures, including the expansion of Sunday hunting in the Old Line State, shooting range protections and banning internet hunting. Legislation is working its way through the House and Senate to add two more counties to the growing list of counties where deer hunting on Sundays is permitted. The first time a Sunday hunting measure passed in 2003, it was limited in order to give sportsmen-friendly areas the opportunity to participate. The current bills will allow two of the most highly urbanized areas to join the list of Sunday hunting-friendly counties. S.907, a shooting range protection bill introduced by NASC Executive Council President Senator John Astle (D-Annapolis), passed the Senate on Saturday. The House passed HB 968 this week to ban internet hunting. The House also has the option to act on a Senate version, S.521 that already passed the other chamber last week.
Georgia Senate Passes Internet Hunting Ban
An internet hunting bill Introduced by Representative Pete Warren (D-Augusta) has passed both the House and Senate of the Georgia Legislature. The Senate version strengthened the House passed version by suspending a violators hunting and fishing license for three years. The bill with the Senate language will now return to the House for concurrence.
Mississippi Legislature Sends “No Net Loss” Bill to Governor; Youth Hunting Legislation Signed
On Monday, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour signed HB 698, a youth hunting apprentice bill introduced by Caucus Co-Chair Representative Eric Robinson (R-Quitman), to allow children 12 to 16 to hunt under direct supervision of a licensed hunter before receiving a hunter education certificate. In addition the legislature sent a “no net loss” of hunting lands bill to the Governor’s desk. The bill, S.2075, was introduced by Caucus Co-Chair Senator Lynn Posey (D-Union Church).
Kentucky Governor Signs Two Sportsmen’s Caucus Bills
Two bills highlighted in last week’s State Matters were signed by Governor Ernie Fletcher yesterday. S.148 allows county clerks to request a $2 donation for hunger relief from each applicant of a motor vehicle license. The donation will be sent to the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to be used in support of hunger relief programs such as Hunters Feeding the Hungry. He also signed HCR 120 to create a Land Stewardship and Conservation Taskforce that will study strategies for the protection of natural areas, farmlands, habitats, and forests.
South Carolina Legislature Sends Remote Hunting Ban to Governor
Joining the list of states banning internet hunting, the South Carolina legislature has sent HB 3879, introduced by Representative Mike Pitts (R-Laurens), to Governor Mark Sanford for his signature. Gov. Sanford was an active member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus during his six years of service in the U.S. Congress as a Representative.
Pennsylvania Introduces Bill to Increase Game Commission Funding
Monday, Representative Bruce Smith (R-York) introduced HB 2600 and HB 2601 in an effort to secure increased funding for the state Game Commission. One proposal would increase hunting license fees by $10 and the other would increase the price by $15. Rep. Smith argued that the cost of running the Commission has risen since 1999, the last time that hunting license fees were increased. Both bills would also establish a $5 turkey stamp and $10 pheasant stamp with revenue dedicated to conservation and hunting programs for the respective species.
NSSF Hunting Heritage Partnership Helps New Hampshire Boost Hunter Education Numbers
The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that with the help of a grant from their Hunting Heritage Partnership program, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has seen a 7.4% rise in the number of hunter education graduates. Granite State officials used the grant money for a coordinated Hunt New Hampshire campaign featuring television, radio, outdoor and print advertisements based on NSSF materials. Demand for the hunter education classes in 2005 caused some classes to be in excess of 100 students.
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