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January 25, 2006
Volume 4, Number 3
State Caucus Update
State Caucuses Continue Return to Capitols to Focus on Sportsmen’s Agenda
Youth Hunting Bill Moves Forward in Ohio
Idaho Caucus Members Prepare to Introduce Right to Hunt Amendment
Events
Virginia Caucus Receives NASC Model Legislation Award at Opening Session Breakfast
Vermont Legislators Interact with Constituents at Popular Sportsmen’s Show
NASC News
Southeast Regional NASC Liaison Appointed
State Caucuses Continue Return to Capitols to Focus on Sportsmen’s Agenda
In recent weeks, legislators in Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia have opened 2006 sessions with an eye on advancing sportsmen’s issues.
In Michigan, SB 646 was introduced by Caucus Co-Chair and NASC Executive Council member Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau) to provide a link to the Department of State voter registration application website for all online hunting, fishing, and fur harvester license applicants. Sportsman and Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez (D-Belen) of New Mexico introduced SB 157 in the Senate last week to ban remote hunting via the internet.
Maryland legislators have filed HB 205 to expand Sunday deer hunts to a new area of the state. Tennessee lawmakers are considering three youth hunting bills carried over from 2005. Colorado officials introduced HB1130 last week to exempt members of the military returning from service abroad or mobilization from hunting and fishing license fees for the number of years served abroad or while mobilized.
Youth Hunting Bill Moves Forward in Ohio
Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Stephen Buehrer (R-Delta) introduced legislation last year that would create an apprentice hunting license and fur trapping permit in order to allow more youth to get out in the fields. Those who would like to try hunting or trapping would be allowed to go out with a licensed adult before completing a hunter safety course. HB 296, after passing the House in December, was passed by the Senate unanimously yesterday and now heads to the Governor.
Idaho Caucus Members Prepare to Introduce Right to Hunt Amendment
Members of the Idaho Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus are currently working to introduce language to preserve the right to hunt, fish and trap in the Gem State. Representative Clete Edmunson (R-Fruitland), the sponsor of the anticipated legislation, said, "Ensuring future generations the right to hunt, fish, and trap is a top priority of our sportsmen legislators. By passing this legislation, we will make certain that our children, their children, and all generations to come will be able to enjoy the outdoor opportunities that we have all come to cherish."
Virginia Caucus Receives NASC Model Legislation Award at Opening Session Breakfast
The Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus kicked off the beginning of the 2006 General Assembly with a weekly breakfast briefing. The agenda included Colonel Gerald Massengill, Interim Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), who spoke about efforts underway to streamline and create accountability measures for the DGIF and to reaffirm the Department’s commitment to Virginia sportsmen and eagerness to work with the sportsmen’s caucus. The caucus used the meeting to re-elect House Co-Chairs Delegates Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge) and Jim Shuler (D-Blacksburg). Senate co-chairs will be selected at a later date.
During the meeting, NASC State Caucus Manager Aaron Hobbs presented the caucus with the 2005 NASC Model Legislation Award for legislation passed last year to create an additional dedicated funding source for DGIF with the state Migratory Game Bird Stamp. Delegate Lingamfelter stated, “Working for the sportsmen and women of Virginia is very important to me and this caucus and we are honored to be recognized by our friends and colleagues that work together on sportsmen’s issues nationwide through the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses.” The award was later presented on the House and Senate floor by Delegate Lingamfelter and Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Hot Springs), respectively. “We hope to receive numerous awards like this in the future, not because we are seeking awards, but because this caucus is working each session to do what is best for our sporting constituency and the wildlife we seek,” continued Senator Deeds.
Vermont Legislators Interact with Constituents at Popular Sportsmen’s Show
State legislators working to form a Vermont Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus met with sportsmen Saturday at the Yankee Sportsman’s Classic. Senator Mark Shepard (R-Bennington) and Representative Steven Adams (R-Hartland) worked the crowd of several thousand to provide information about threats to sportsmen’s rights and ideas they are considering in the current legislative session, including HB447, a range protection measure, and dedicated funding solutions for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Southeast Regional NASC Liaison Appointed
In an effort to improve the quality of services to state sportsmen’s caucuses, Sidney Allen, NASC’s Legislative Coordinator, will serve as the regional liaison for state sportsmen’s caucuses in the Southeast, including Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee. He will also manage sportsmen’s issues and future caucus business in Alabama and Mississippi. As a native of Mississippi, Sidney understands the regional issues that affect the southeast states of the country and has an established working relationship with many legislators from the region.
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