Anti-Hunting Wildlife Commission Bill Alert

GOAL · 06-23-2008, 07:03 PM

Anti-Hunting Wildlife Commission Bill Alert

Amended Version of Bill Could Close all Land to Hunting that is Not Posted as Open!

During this present legislative session, GOAL has alerted our members to a bill that all sportsmen and wildlife conservationists should be concerned about. S540 “Resolve Establishing a Wildlife Management Commission” is designed to “end run” the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife seven person board and give the animal rights extremists a platform from which to spread their propaganda. Keep in mind that the only wildlife management program that these groups have ever been involved in was the infamous Question 1 in 1996. I need not remind everyone that their single effort in wildlife management has been an environmental, economic, social and conservation disaster.

If this were not enough, there are a few more things that all sportsmen should be aware of concerning the new draft of the bill. S.540 was amended prior to being released favorably by the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The new version adds the following language: "In addition, the commission shall consider the impacts of amending existing state policy regarding the placement of signs to prohibit hunting on private property, and whether signs should instead be placed in order to authorize such activity."

Although the bill only grants authority to the "Wildlife Commission" to study certain matters, this additional language should make it clear to every hunter the true intentions of this bill. If language like this were to ever be placed into law, it would mean that all lands that are not specifically posted as open to hunting would be closed! Imagine tracking a deer through a large section of land and being stopped by a law enforcement officer who tells you that you just went through a half acre of land that was not posted as being open and your hunting season is over and possibly your firearms are confiscated!

Secondly, there is also some confusion amongst sportsmen that the bill was amended in Committee to include that language from the Sunday hunting bill, the moose season bill, etc. These bills were attached to the Commission bill in number only. None of the hunting friendly language from these other bills made it into the amended version. So to make it very clear, there is no partial win in S.540 for sportsmen and women if it were to pass.

The bill currently resides in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. We urge all GOAL members to contact their local Senators and urge them NOT to support S.540.

To find out who your local Senator is, go to: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

Track the progress of this bill here: http://www.mass.gov/legis/185history/s00540.htm

__________________________________________________ _________________

S.540 - "RESOLVE establishing a wildlife management commission"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. There shall be established a legislative commission for the purpose of evaluating and recommending non-lethal and lethal methods which shall be available to wildlife managers and the public, to successfully manage and co-exist with the following animals: beaver, muskrat, coyote and moose.

Said commission shall consist 13 members; two (2) of whom shall be the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on natural resources and agriculture, who shall act as chairs; two (2) additional members of the state senate appointed by the president; and two (2)additional members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker. The seven (7) remaining members shall consist of: the director of the division of wildlife, or his designee; the commissioner of highways or his designee; the commissioner of the department of conservation and recreation, or his designee, a member of the Massachusetts society for the protection against cruelty to animals; a member of the Massachusetts association of boards of health; a member of the Massachusetts sportsmen’s council; and, a biologist specializing in the species of coyote, beaver, moose and muskrat, to be chosen by the chairs.

The commission may make use of the expertise of additional state and local officials and wildlife experts as it deems necessary to fulfill its mission. The commission shall examine and evaluate the effectiveness of lethal and non-lethal techniques, including but not limited to the following: flow devices; repellents; improved signage; highway and yard fencing; public education; improved highway lighting; aversive conditioning, “critter proofing” techniques for homes, yards, and neighborhoods; trapping, and hunting.

In addition, the commission shall consider the impacts of amending existing state policy regarding the placement of signs to prohibit hunting on private property, and whether signs should instead be placed in order to authorize such activity.

The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any for such legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations. The commission shall file its report with the clerks of the state senate and house of representatives, and with the joint committee on natural resources and agriculture within six months from the effective date of this act.

Fixxah · 06-23-2008, 09:58 PM

Here we go again. After a business appointment in Boston in '96 I went over to the state house where Question 1 hearing was in progress. Seeing that there was an open seat at a table, a gentleman allowed me to occupy it. His name was Mike Yucino (forgive me if I misspelled) and I sat quietly as hearing progressed. At one point, Mike had a rebuttal and was sternly told that he was "Out of order" and I'm quite sure that he bit his tongue on that one, while numerous times the antis cut Mike off mid-sentence and I said loudly, " They're out of order" and chairman nicely said to antis to please remain silent. The whole time I was there, a very short skirted anti provided ice cold water etc. to the board. That was the main reason for leaving the ranks of sportsmen, that I felt that it was a lost cause. Looking back, with hindsight being 20/20, I feel embarassed to have abandoned such a worthy cause and will not be so cowardly in the future. I recently joined GOAL and NRA. I am sorry to have been away for so long. Keep fighting the good fight.

Chopper · 06-26-2008, 08:31 PM

Response from my State Senator:

Dear Mr. xxx:

Thank you for contacting me regarding Senate Bill 540, An Act to Establish a Wildlife Management Commission. I appreciate hearing from you and I welcome the opportunity to update you on this issue.

As you know, S.540 would establish a commission to investigate lethal and non-lethal methods for dealing with coyotes, beavers, muskrats, and moose. I understand your concerns regarding this bill, particularly that newly added language would alter the presumption regarding whether hunting is permissible on private land.

Since I first ran for the Senate, I have strongly supported the right of law abiding individuals to keep and bear firearms, whether it is for collection or personal protection. I also unequivocally support the rights of hunters and sportsmen to own firearms and to use them for such purposes. I believe we ought to vigorously enforce those laws rather than enacting new gun control laws and have been proud to have earned an "A" rating from G.O.A.L. the last two years in a row.

Your concern with a possible change in requirements of signage that prohibit or authorize hunting on private property refers to language in House Bill 890, which had been attached to Senate Bill 540. You may be interested to learn that S.450 is currently before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, on which I sit. Our committee is no longer considering the language of H.890, and no further action will be taken regarding that proposal. The passage of S.540 would only put into law the language on the original bill itself. Please be assured that should this matter come before the full Senate, I will keep your views in mind.

Once again thank you for contacting me with your concerns. If there is anything I can do to further assist you with this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to call my office at 617-722-1485.

Sincerely,

Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

State Senator

Coyote33 · 07-01-2008, 02:24 PM

When do they break for the Summer? Is there a final wrap-up time for the MA legislature, and / or a start-up time for the next session?

06-23-2008, 07:03 PM	#1
GOAL NES Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 399 iTrader: (0)	Anti-Hunting Wildlife Commission Bill Alert Anti-Hunting Wildlife Commission Bill Alert Amended Version of Bill Could Close all Land to Hunting that is Not Posted as Open! During this present legislative session, GOAL has alerted our members to a bill that all sportsmen and wildlife conservationists should be concerned about. S540 “Resolve Establishing a Wildlife Management Commission” is designed to “end run” the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife seven person board and give the animal rights extremists a platform from which to spread their propaganda. Keep in mind that the only wildlife management program that these groups have ever been involved in was the infamous Question 1 in 1996. I need not remind everyone that their single effort in wildlife management has been an environmental, economic, social and conservation disaster. If this were not enough, there are a few more things that all sportsmen should be aware of concerning the new draft of the bill. S.540 was amended prior to being released favorably by the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The new version adds the following language: "In addition, the commission shall consider the impacts of amending existing state policy regarding the placement of signs to prohibit hunting on private property, and whether signs should instead be placed in order to authorize such activity." Although the bill only grants authority to the "Wildlife Commission" to study certain matters, this additional language should make it clear to every hunter the true intentions of this bill. If language like this were to ever be placed into law, it would mean that all lands that are not specifically posted as open to hunting would be closed! Imagine tracking a deer through a large section of land and being stopped by a law enforcement officer who tells you that you just went through a half acre of land that was not posted as being open and your hunting season is over and possibly your firearms are confiscated! Secondly, there is also some confusion amongst sportsmen that the bill was amended in Committee to include that language from the Sunday hunting bill, the moose season bill, etc. These bills were attached to the Commission bill in number only. None of the hunting friendly language from these other bills made it into the amended version. So to make it very clear, there is no partial win in S.540 for sportsmen and women if it were to pass. The bill currently resides in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. We urge all GOAL members to contact their local Senators and urge them NOT to support S.540. To find out who your local Senator is, go to: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php Track the progress of this bill here: http://www.mass.gov/legis/185history/s00540.htm __________________________________________________ _________________ S.540 - "RESOLVE establishing a wildlife management commission" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. There shall be established a legislative commission for the purpose of evaluating and recommending non-lethal and lethal methods which shall be available to wildlife managers and the public, to successfully manage and co-exist with the following animals: beaver, muskrat, coyote and moose. Said commission shall consist 13 members; two (2) of whom shall be the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on natural resources and agriculture, who shall act as chairs; two (2) additional members of the state senate appointed by the president; and two (2)additional members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker. The seven (7) remaining members shall consist of: the director of the division of wildlife, or his designee; the commissioner of highways or his designee; the commissioner of the department of conservation and recreation, or his designee, a member of the Massachusetts society for the protection against cruelty to animals; a member of the Massachusetts association of boards of health; a member of the Massachusetts sportsmen’s council; and, a biologist specializing in the species of coyote, beaver, moose and muskrat, to be chosen by the chairs. The commission may make use of the expertise of additional state and local officials and wildlife experts as it deems necessary to fulfill its mission. The commission shall examine and evaluate the effectiveness of lethal and non-lethal techniques, including but not limited to the following: flow devices; repellents; improved signage; highway and yard fencing; public education; improved highway lighting; aversive conditioning, “critter proofing” techniques for homes, yards, and neighborhoods; trapping, and hunting. In addition, the commission shall consider the impacts of amending existing state policy regarding the placement of signs to prohibit hunting on private property, and whether signs should instead be placed in order to authorize such activity. The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any for such legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations. The commission shall file its report with the clerks of the state senate and house of representatives, and with the joint committee on natural resources and agriculture within six months from the effective date of this act.

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06-23-2008, 09:58 PM	#2
Fixxah NES Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Between Westwood and Canton, Land of Tiot Posts: 3,546 iTrader: (14)	Here we go again. After a business appointment in Boston in '96 I went over to the state house where Question 1 hearing was in progress. Seeing that there was an open seat at a table, a gentleman allowed me to occupy it. His name was Mike Yucino (forgive me if I misspelled) and I sat quietly as hearing progressed. At one point, Mike had a rebuttal and was sternly told that he was "Out of order" and I'm quite sure that he bit his tongue on that one, while numerous times the antis cut Mike off mid-sentence and I said loudly, " They're out of order" and chairman nicely said to antis to please remain silent. The whole time I was there, a very short skirted anti provided ice cold water etc. to the board. That was the main reason for leaving the ranks of sportsmen, that I felt that it was a lost cause. Looking back, with hindsight being 20/20, I feel embarassed to have abandoned such a worthy cause and will not be so cowardly in the future. I recently joined GOAL and NRA. I am sorry to have been away for so long. Keep fighting the good fight.

06-26-2008, 08:31 PM	#3
Chopper NES Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 298 iTrader: (7)	Response from my State Senator: Dear Mr. xxx: Thank you for contacting me regarding Senate Bill 540, An Act to Establish a Wildlife Management Commission. I appreciate hearing from you and I welcome the opportunity to update you on this issue. As you know, S.540 would establish a commission to investigate lethal and non-lethal methods for dealing with coyotes, beavers, muskrats, and moose. I understand your concerns regarding this bill, particularly that newly added language would alter the presumption regarding whether hunting is permissible on private land. Since I first ran for the Senate, I have strongly supported the right of law abiding individuals to keep and bear firearms, whether it is for collection or personal protection. I also unequivocally support the rights of hunters and sportsmen to own firearms and to use them for such purposes. I believe we ought to vigorously enforce those laws rather than enacting new gun control laws and have been proud to have earned an "A" rating from G.O.A.L. the last two years in a row. Your concern with a possible change in requirements of signage that prohibit or authorize hunting on private property refers to language in House Bill 890, which had been attached to Senate Bill 540. You may be interested to learn that S.450 is currently before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, on which I sit. Our committee is no longer considering the language of H.890, and no further action will be taken regarding that proposal. The passage of S.540 would only put into law the language on the original bill itself. Please be assured that should this matter come before the full Senate, I will keep your views in mind. Once again thank you for contacting me with your concerns. If there is anything I can do to further assist you with this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to call my office at 617-722-1485. Sincerely, Edward M. Augustus, Jr. State Senator

07-01-2008, 02:24 PM	#4
Coyote33 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,301 iTrader: (0)	When do they break for the Summer? Is there a final wrap-up time for the MA legislature, and / or a start-up time for the next session?