HUNTERS AND anglers will become the target of a new round of attacks at the ballot box if legislation permitting the voter issue process is passed in four new states, including New York, according to the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America.
Bills have been introduced in Alabama, Minnesota, New York and Texas, which would allow citizens to initiate legislation to be decided by voters through a petition process. While appearing to be simple citizens’ rights issues, says the WLFA, these bills will open the door to a new wave of anti-hunting measures bank-rolled by national anti-hunting organizations.
The bill now being considered in New York requires that in order to qualify an issue for the ballot, signatures must come from a number of geographic areas or congressional districts.
The WLFA is urging sportsmen to call their legislators. In New York, you can call (518) 455-4218 for the name and number of your assemblyman and state senator and that you should urge a no vote on Assembly bill 3676 and Senate bill 5020.
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If a proposal by New York’s Dept. of Environmental Conservation goes through, the cost of a resident fishing license will rise from $14 to $20, effective Oct. 1. The small game and big game licenses, which cost $11 and $13, respectively, would be replaced by a combined $20 license that covers both small and big game hunting. The special big game archery and muzzleloader licenses would jump from $11 to $15 each. The fee for a resident sportsman’s license, good for fishing and hunting big and small game with firearms, would rise from $31 to $38. In addition, a new $65 super sportsman’s license would be created that would cover everything in a sportsman’s license plus the archery and muzzle-loading seasons.
The New Jersey Division of Fish Game and Wildlife, in cooperation with the N.J. Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will again host its annual JAKES Day event on June 12. The free event will be held at the Division’s Assunpink Wildlife Management Area Conservation Center in Robbinsville, Monmouth County.
The JAKES program, which is open to youngsters aged 17 and under, and which is an acronym for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship, stresses the importance of ethics and responsibility, while involving and educating youth in wildlife conservation in order to pass on the turkey hunting tradition.
Limited to 50 participants, the deadline to register is June 5. For more info, contact Cathy Blumig at (732) 873-3206.