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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
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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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