March 2010
President’s Message
New Jersey Bill Would Open Door For Bear Hunt
First Animal Rights State Caucus Formed
Missouri Amendment Will Help Protect Hunting Rights
California Sportsmen Again Face Raid on Wildlife Funds
Sunday Hunting Bills Point in Right Direction
Illinois Gun Ban Hurts Sportsmen
Yellow Tail Wine Gives Money to HSUS
PETA Uses First Lady Picture without Permission
President's Message
While many changes in life may be outside our control, how we choose to enjoy the outdoors is within our grasp. To that end, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) has been testing a new approach for bringing sportsmen together.
This new approach encourages large numbers of sportsmen to become more active in preserving their outdoor traditions by staying informed on the issues impacting them. This new Sentry program will be officially unveiled soon.
A Sentry is an individual that stands vigilant at their post to stop an invasion or warn others of danger. As mentioned in the last issue of the Sentry newsletter; our new masthead, which is also our logo for the new program, implies that the duties of a Sentry may have changed, but the need for them has not. A USSA Sentry is one who:
-Stays informed and educates others;
-Alerts the USSA of any local threats;
-Takes part in gatherings that promote outdoor sports;
-Encourages other sportsmen to get active
The USSA’s Sentry program is free- any sportsmen can belong. All current USSA members are already enrolled if we have your email address. So, I call upon you to answer a call to duty…invite every sportsman you know to become a Sentry.
Please refer to the form on the back of this newsletter for details on joining.
New Jersey Bill Would Open Door For Bear Hunt
A New Jersey bill puts bear management back into the hands of wildlife professionals, erasing anti-hunting efforts by former Governor John Corzine.
Assembly Bill 181, sponsored by Assemblyman Gary Chiusano (R- Frankford Township) and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose (R- Franklin), clears the way for bear hunting as a way to manage the state’s black bear population. The bill also clarifies that the state Fish and Game Council (FGC) has sole authority to implement and regulate black bear hunting in New Jersey.
The bill prohibits the Commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from blocking a bear hunt that has been approved by the Council. Former DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson arbitrarily cancelled the state’s bear hunt in 2006. In response, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF), along with Safari Club International and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs filed a lawsuit against the state to challenge the former Commissioner’s decision to stop the bear hunt.
“This is a critical piece of legislation that would help ensure that science, not politics, determines New Jersey’s bear management policy,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSAF president and CEO.
In addition to the bill, the FGC is working on a bear management policy. If passed, the plan must then go to the acting DEP Commissioner for final approval.
New Jersey sportsmen should contact their Assembly members and ask them to support this bill. To find your legislator’s contact information, go to www.ussportsmen.org/lac or call 614-888-4868. Sportsmen should also voice support for the bear management policy by submitting comments to the FGC at P.O. Box 400, Trenton, NJ 08625.
First Animal Rights State Caucus Formed
Several California legislators recently joined forces to create the first state based “Animal Protection Caucus.” This group is meant to bring animal rights minded policymakers together in order to push legislation from groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and PETA.
The new grouping of Golden State legislators will be co-chaired by Senators Dean Florez (D-Shafter) and Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) along with Assembly Members Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) and Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara). HSUS marked the occasion with a reception at the state capital with its president and CEO, Wayne Pacelle attending.
“It is essential that legislators understand that sportsmen expect their legislators to represent the overwhelming number of citizens who do not believe in animal rights,” said Evan Heusinkveld, USSA director of state services.
Missouri Amendment Will Help Protect Hunting Rights
A new legislative proposal in Missouri wouldd make it more difficult for the animal rights groups to attack hunting, fishing, and trapping at the ballot box.
House Joint Resolution 76, introduced by Representative Mike Dethrow (R-Alton), would require a four-sevenths majority vote to pass any ballot issue dealing with hunting, fishing, or trapping to become state law. Currently, these types of ballot measures only require a simple majority vote to pass. Both chambers of the legislature must pass the measure before the amendment is put before voters on November’s ballot.
The antis often go to the ballot box when they are unable to sway lawmakers into passing anti-hunting, fishing, and trapping measures. These ballot campaigns often aim to misinform voters by using emotional rhetoric instead of scientific facts. Nationally, many losses by sportsmen at the ballot would have been prevented if a four-sevenths majority or slightly over 57 percent were needed. This amendment would go a long way toward protecting Missouri sportsmen from these types of attacks.
Missouri sportsmen should contact their legislators and ask that they support this effort. To find your legislator’s contact information, go to www.ussportsmen.org/LAC or call 614-888-4868.
California Sportsmen Again Face Raid on Wildlife Funds
With California facing a $21 billion budget deficit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is again proposing to divert millions of dollars in funding from hunting and fishing programs for non game uses – a move which would likely result in significantly less hunting and fishing opportunities for California sportsmen.
The proposal from Gov. Schwarzenegger was made public with the release of the Financial Year 2010/2011 state budget plan. However, no specific details were provided as to where the cuts would be made. As with most states, wildlife management and conservation funding in California is largely paid for by sportsmen through their hunting and fishing license and related stamp and tag fees rather than through general tax revenues. Additionally, any misuse of hunting license dollars would put into jeopardy millions more in matching federal funds, having a devastating impact on the state’s conservation efforts.
California sportsmen should contact their legislator and oppose this diversion. To find your legislator’s contact information, go to www.ussportsmen.org/LAC or call 614-888-4868.
Sunday Hunting Bills Point in Right Direction
Bills in Connecticut and Maryland are a good start in expanding hunting opportunities on Sundays.
Connecticut Senate Bill 114, introduced by Senator Edith Prague (D- Columbia), would allow for Sunday bowhunting on private property. The bill is pending in the Joint Committee on Environment. Currently, hunting is not permitted on Sundays in Connecticut.
In Maryland, House Bill 877, introduced by State Delegate Michael H. Weir, Jr. (D- Baltimore County), would expand Sunday bowhunting in the state by adding Baltimore County to the list of counties open to Sunday bowhunting for deer while on private property. Under the bill, Sunday hunting is limited to the last three Sundays in October and the second Sunday in November. Additionally, HB 877 gives the Maryland Department of Natural Resources the authority to allow Sunday deer hunting on private property in Baltimore County during the first Sunday of the bowhunting season in November and during the first Sunday of the deer firearms season.
“These bills are a good step toward allowing all forms of hunting on Sundays in Connecticut and Maryland,” said Rob Sexton, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance vice president for government affairs.
Sportsmen in Connecticut and Maryland are urged to contact their legislators and urge them to support these important bills that will expand opportunities for hunters to get into the field and help the effective management of wildlife populations. To find your legislator’s contact information, go to www.ussportsmen.org/LAC or call 614-888-4868.
Yellow Tail Wine Gives Money to HSUS
Sportsmen Urged to Voice Protest
The Australian maker of Yellow Tail Wine has pledged $100,000 to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s largest anti-hunting organization. This partnership offers further proof of HSUS’ work to spin its animal rights message in a way as to seem mainstream.
Alerted to this relationship, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) immediately contacted the American distributor of the wine, W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd., and urged them to ask Yellow Tail to sever its relationship with HSUS.
They have chosen to ignore this request. Sportsmen should contact W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. and inform them that they disapprove of Yellow Tail Wine’s relationship with the HSUS.
W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. can be contacted at:
108 Corporate Park Drive
White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914-251-9463
Email: info@wjdeutsch.com
Ask to speak to Bill Deutsch, W.J. Deutsch’s chairman or Peter Deutsch, the company’s chief executive officer.
Additionally a major protest has been initiated at Yellow Tail’s Facebook page. Sportsmen can register their disapproval by becoming a fan of Yellow Tail on Facebook and then writing a message on their wall. If you need help, please contact USSA’s communications department at glawson@ussportsmen.org or shayden@ussportsmen.org.
PETA Uses First Lady Picture without Permission
Using a picture of the First Lady in an anti-fur ad is one of the latest actions taken by the wacky folks at PETA.
At the end of December 2009, the group unveiled anti-fur ads using Michelle Obama’s likeness in Washington D.C.’s metro and on its “PETA Van”, which goes around D.C. promoting PETA’s message. When asked about the ad; the First Lady’s Office flatly said that “We did not consent to this.” The ad, which also featured Oprah Winfrey, country music star Carrie Underwood and supermodel Tyra Banks, was subsequently pulled.
Illinois Gun Ban Hurts Sportsmen
A so called “assault weapon” bill in Illinois will ban numerous commonly used hunting firearms.
Senate Bill 3036, introduced by Senator Antonio Munoz (D- Chicago), prohibits the manufacture, delivery, sale, purchase, or possession of “semi-automatic assault weapons” including semi-automatic shotguns often used in hunting that have either a pistol grip or a thumbhole stock.
The measure includes an exemption for the possession of these types of firearms when used for hunting, but fails to allow for target or other recreational shooting activities including sighting in. Essentially, sportsmen could only use certain firearms for hunting if they already possess them or purchased them out of state.
Illinois sportsmen should contact their senators and tell them that the firearms included in SB 3036 are commonly used by scores of citizens for target shooting, hunting and other recreational activities and should not be banned. To find your legislator’s contact information, go to www.ussportsmen.org/LAC or call 614-888-4868.
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