April 12, 2005
Volume 3, Issue 8

State Caucus Update
Michigan Caucus Introduces Remote Hunting Ban
Idaho Ends Session with Victory for Sportsmen
Maryland Closes Legislative Session; Numerous Successes for Sportsmen
Illinois Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Annual Banquet
Pennsylvania Caucus Members Meet with NASC

Michigan Caucus Introduces Remote Hunting Ban
On April 12, Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau) introduced Senate Bill 373 to ban using a computer to remotely control a firearm to take game and make it illegal to operate a facility offering such an opportunity.  “Internet hunting is a slap in the face to the hunters of Michigan,” McManus said. “This violates every standard of hunting and degrades it by creating a point-and-click videogame in cyberspace. This takes the honor, challenge, and skill out of the historical sport of hunting.”  The bill defines “computer-assisted remote hunting” as the use of a computer or any other device, equipment or software to remotely control the aiming and discharge of a firearm, bow or crossbow to take game located in Michigan.  The introduction of this legislation by the Michigan Sportsmen’s Caucus makes Michigan the eleventh state to introduce such legislation.

Idaho Ends Session with Victory for Sportsmen
The 58th Idaho Legislature adjourned on April 6, 2005 after a busy session and victories for the sportsmen of Idaho with help from Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and the newly formed Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus Advisory Council.

Undoubtedly, the largest victory for sportsmen to defeat HB 174 (legislation that would permit moose and deer to be raised in game farms and turn regulatory authority of game farms from the Idaho Game and Fish Department over to the Agriculture Department) came as a result of hard work and coordination by the Caucus. The heartfelt debate, led by Idaho Caucus Co-Chairman Senator David Langhorst (D-Boise) and several additional Caucus members, helped to defeat the bill and energize several senators to join the caucus immediately following the debate. For more information, click here.

Maryland Closes Legislative Session; Numerous Successes for Sportsmen
Late Monday night, the Maryland General Assembly wrapped up probably the most successful legislative session for sportsmen in recent years thanks to the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. The Caucus can celebrate victory over the defeat of several direct challenges from the anti-hunting/fishing community and passage of pro-active legislation including no net loss of public hunting areas and adding Dorchester County to the list of counties that allow Sunday hunting during the fall archery season.

The Caucus was successful at beating back two notable anti-sportsmen bills, HB 371 and HB 372. HB 371 would have classified black bears as non-game mammals, putting an end to the black bear hunting season in Maryland that opened in 2004. HB 372 would have expanded the prohibition against using, setting, placing, or maintaining leg-hold traps to all persons statewide; a later bill proposed to ban leg-hold traps in Howard County was also defeated. Caucus Co-Chair Delegate Chuck Boutin (R-Cecil & Harford Counties) cited these efforts as excellent examples of the importance of an effective sportsmen’s caucus to defend against attacks on our outdoor heritage and promote a pro-sportsmen’s agenda. For a more detailed overview of the Maryland session, click here.

Illinois Sportsmen’s Caucus Hosts Annual Banquet
The Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus held its Annual Dinner and Banquet on April 6, 2005 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Each year the Caucus donates profits from the event to the Illinois Conservation Foundation for use in their youth and handicapped outdoor programs. The event was sponsored by the IL Hunting/Outdoor Sporting Association, IL Federation for Outdoor Resources, IL State Rifle Association, and the Trooper Political Action Committee #41, and approximately $14,000 was raised. Live auction highlights included a hunt at NILO farms, NASCAR tickets, a quail hunt, and an ArmaLite AR-10. This year’s event also included items sent to the caucus from the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. The NASC has worked with its numerous sponsors to supply items for fundraising banquets and will be providing similar items to participating state caucuses in the future.

Pennsylvania Caucus Members Meet with NASC
The Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus met on Tuesday at the Capitol in Harrisburg to discuss the evolution of the Caucus and potential growth in the future. NASC State Caucus Manager Aaron Hobbs and Legislative Coordinator Sidney Allen joined the meeting to present a plaque commemorating the formation of the Caucus in 1999 and to provide a brief presentation outlining the relationship between the NASC and the state caucuses. After the meeting, Aaron and Sidney took the time to meet with members of the Caucus to discuss model legislation from other state caucuses that could be introduced to protect the rights and interests of Pennsylvania sportsmen.