National bear hunting defense task force update (3/7/2003)

A coalition of bear hunting and bowhunting organizations has taken the first step to protect bear hunting from proposed federal legislation that would cripple the sport.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance created the National Bear Hunting Defense Task Force in January in response to threats made to the use of bait to hunt black bears on federal land. An impressive assembly of sportsmen's groups immediately joined the Task Force. They include Arkansas Bowhunters Association, Michigan Bear Hunters Association, Michigan Bow Hunters Association, Michigan Hunting Dog Federation, Minnesota Bowhunters, Inc., New Hampshire Bear Hunters Association, North American Bear Hunter's Alliance, North Carolina Bear Hunters Association, Upper Peninsula Bear Houndsmen, Virginia Bear Hunters Association, Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association and Wisconsin Bowhunters Association. In addition, Bear Hunting Magazine has joined the coalition.

One of the group's first actions was to send a letter to a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies asking that it oppose anti-bear hunting legislation that Representative Jim Moran (D-Virginia) has threatened to introduce.

Congressman Moran sits on the House Appropriations Committee and is known for inserting last minute amendments into appropriations bills. He nearly banned trapping on the National Wildlife Refuge System in 1999 in this fashion.

"The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance strongly supports the authority of the states to make their own judgments about their own wildlife populations and recreation," wrote William P. Horn, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance federal affairs director. "We strongly urge you and the subcommittee to resist any such preemption of state authority."

The National Bear Hunting Defense Task Force will work to protect bear hunting from threatening federal legislation. If you or your club would like to join, call the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at (614) 888-4868.

CopyrightÓ  U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance- www.ussportsmen.org

Home > News and alerts > You are here: National bear hunting defense task force update