National Outlook - March 2006

West Virginia Joins Effort to Protect Hunting on Public Lands

The Mountain State has seen the introduction of legislation to ensure that hunting is protected on state public lands. The bill reflects a concept originally conceived by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA).
West Virginia Delegate Robert Kiss, D-Beckley, sponsored HB 3119, the Hunting Heritage Protection Act. The bill requires the Division of Natural Resources to manage state lands to prevent the loss of huntable acreage and to open comparable hunting lands if an area is closed to the sport. The bill awaits action in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

House Bill 3119 is based on model legislation developed and promoted by the USSA and put forth in the federal Hunting Heritage Protection Act in 2000, introduced by now Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-GA. Arkansas, Georgia and Maryland passed similar legislation in 2005. Florida, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania have introduced legislation derived from the same concept, which Illinois adopted in 2004.
In the United States Congress, Sen. Chambliss resurrected the concept and has again introduced the Hunting Heritage Protection Act, SB 1522. The bill, which would ensure Federal lands remain open to hunting, awaits action in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Take Action! West Virginia sportsmen should urge their legislators to support HB 3119. Urge them to protect hunting lands and state wildlife resources. To contact state legislators, call (877) 565-3447 or use the Legislative Action Center at www.ussportsmen.org.

Families Afield Campaigns Make Future of Hunting Brighter

Two successful Families Afield bills in Pennsylvania and Ohio will help boost falling sportsmen’s numbers. The bills are part of the national Families Afield campaign, established by leading conservation groups to eliminate hunting barriers and recruit young sportsmen.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell signed HB 1690 on Dec. 22, 2005, authorizing the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a mentored youth hunting program. To mark the enactment of the legislation, the governor held a signing ceremony on Jan. 27 to help educate the public about the new program and to promote Families Afield in other states.
In Ohio, the Senate unanimously approved HB 296 on Jan. 24. The bill creates an apprentice hunting license and allows licensed adult sportsmen to take newcomers into the field prior to the completion of hunter education certification. Before becoming fully licensed, the apprentice must complete hunter education.
“The progress of Families Afield in Pennsylvania and Ohio is confirmation that the bills are what people want,” said Rob Sexton, vice president for government affairs for the USSA. “The bipartisan support that Families Afield has received indicates legislators are listening to sportsmen and understand the positive impacts these bills can have.”

Sponsored by Rep. Stephen Buehrer, R-Delta, Ohio HB 296 received overwhelming support in the House of Representatives and now goes to Gov. Bob Taft.
The Families Afield program was introduced by the USSA, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to stem the tide of hunters lost to other interests and increase hunter recruitment throughout the country.
The following conservation leaders were on hand for the signing of Pennsylvania HB 1690: (Front row from the left) Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president; Gov. Ed Rendell; Rob Keck, NWTF executive vice president and CEO; (Back row from left) Aaron Hobbs, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation state caucus manager; Sidney Allen Jr., Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation legislative coordinator; Rob Sexton, USSA vice president for government affairs; Guy Sagi, National Rifle Association editor in chief for Free Hunters Magazine.