A New Jersey state senator is looking to stack the deck against sportsmen and women on the state’s Fish and Game Council.
A bill, introduced by Sen. Joseph Vitale, would expand the council from 11 to 19 members and since sportsmen are limited to six seats and the Commissioner of Environmental Protection would get one of the new seats, guess who would wind up with the rest?
Since Commissioner Brad Campbell often acts like an enthusiastic animal rights activist, the cards would be totally against hunters and anglers in New Jersey. The bill also looks to take away management authority from the Director of Fish and Wildlife and give it to the commissioner.
If passed, Senate Bill 2603 would end hunting and fishing in the Garden State. Individuals with no wildlife experience would be dictating management over the state’s wildlife.
Sportsmen and women contribute 80 percent of the money used to manage fish and wildlife in New Jersey, yet those who contribute not one dime would have control over wildlife policy.
The bill essentially guts the authority of the Fish and Game Council, and gives it to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection. It specifically grants the Commissioner the authority to suspend hunting seasons without a public hearing or the consent of the Fish and Game Council. All changes and decisions made by the council will have to be approved by the Commissioner as well.
If you live in New Jersey and hunt and fish, it is time to start working the phones. Call your legislators in Trenton and give them an earful.
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Not since the Battle of 1812 have the Brits and Yanks gone at it on the high seas, but come June 20-22 they will go at it again, only this time in a shark tournament.
It will be the Inaugural International Shark Fishing Hook and Release Tournament dubbed “Brits versus Yanks” to be held at the Montauk Yacht Club. It will feature well-known fishermen from across the pond against a group of American anglers who have put up the $2,400 entry fee. The fee includes opening dinner, awards dinner and auction as well as breakfast. There are a few more openings if you are interested. Stephen Sloan, host of the radio show “Fishing Zone,” is the honorary chairman of the event and the person to contact by calling (888) 807-8001.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the National Lighthouse Museum.