Trapline Journal Weblog

(Columbus, OH) - The nation’s leading advocate of sportsmen’s rights is announcing the creation of a fund with the sole purpose of combating the world’s number-one anti-hunting organization.

Money collected by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) through the new Sportsmen Against HSUS fund will be used in the continuing battle against the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and its animal rights campaign.

The Sportsmen Against HSUS fund is designed to:

* mount a national campaign which will focus on educating the media, elected officials, the public, sportsmen and the many others targeted by the animal rights group, and

* fund the campaigns that combat the public policy threats initiated and supported by the HSUS. The HSUS lobbying machine claims to have played a role in getting 86 different state laws passed in 2007 alone. The group also filed more than a dozen new lawsuits in 2007.

Wayne Pacelle, who claims to be a vegan, and is an anti-hunting advocate and president and CEO of HSUS, recently said, “Let’s raise at least $10,000 right now, with $5,000 to go to pets who are the victims of foreclosures and an additional $5,000 to fight the horrible wildlife abuses that the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance loves.”

The HSUS is America’s leading opponent of hunting, fishing, trapping and scientific wildlife management. It led the charge in a 2006 ballot campaign to ban dove hunting in Michigan, contributing $1.6 million to the effort. Among other voter issues, it also took the lead in the 1994 ballot campaign to ban cougar and bear hunting with hounds and bait in Oregon. It opposes hunting on National Wildlife Refuges and other public lands. It has filed lawsuits to impede the management of gray wolves and grizzly bears.

Some current policy attacks on sportsmen’s rights by the HSUS include:

* the launching of a campaign to address so-called “puppy mills,” abusive large-scale commercial dog breeding operations. Using sentimental images of suffering puppies, the organization is backing legislation in Pennsylvania that would devastate small hobby breeders, dog show kennels and sporting dog enthusiasts. The legislation is so radical that it has been opposed by the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club and even dog rescue shelters in the state.

* a mandatory spay and neuter bill in California, which would require all dogs be spayed or neutered by the age of six months, making it nearly impossible for sportsmen with mixed-breed sporting dogs to remain in business.

The USSA is taking the fight to the HSUS after its continuous attacks against sportsmen’s rights.

“The name Humane Society disingenuously implies that the organization is in the business of taking care of stray dogs and cats,” said USSA president Bud Pidgeon. “The HSUS does nothing to make the public think otherwise when tugging at the heartstrings of Americans when asking for donations.”

It is more important than ever that all sportsmen unite to combat the principal enemy of American conservation and the outdoor sports that make conservation possible, he said.

Pacelle has a sordid history of leading the anti-hunting crusade. When he was the national director of the Fund for Animals, which has since merged with HSUS, he was quoted as saying, “We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States …”

Pacelle has let the public in on the agenda of the HSUS, saying, “More money will mean more pet protection, but also more ballot initiatives to restrict inhumane and unsporting hunting practices, more state legislation, more local ordinances.”

To contribute to the Sportsmen Against HSUS fund, please contact the USSA at 801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, Ohio, 43229. For more information call (614) 888-4868, or email info@ussportsmen.org.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website www.ussportsmen.org .

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ALBANY, NY (09/13/2007)- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today issued emergency regulations that will help reduce or eliminate the capture or killing of pets in body-gripping traps. New York’s 2007-08 trapping season opens on Oct. 25 in most areas of the state and the restrictions will apply to the setting and use of body-gripping traps.

In recent years, a few dogs have regrettably been caught and killed in body-gripping traps set on public or private lands. These types of traps are mainly used to catch animals such as raccoon and fisher. After careful review of the current trapping regulations, DEC determined that additional regulation is needed to minimize the chance that dogs will inadvertently be caught in these traps, while maintaining their effectiveness in catching targeted animals.

DEC provided an original proposed rulemaking for public review on May 30, 2007, to restrict the type, setting, and use of body-gripping traps. Many comments were received from trappers, dog owners, and other concerned citizens during the public comment period. As a result of this input, the Department made significant revisions to the original proposal and will be providing a second comment period to obtain additional public input before making these regulations final. The revised proposal will be published in the New York State Register - http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register.htm - on Oct. 3, starting a 30-day public comment period that closes Nov. 2.

In the interim, DEC has adopted the proposed regulations on an emergency basis, effective today, Sept. 13. The emergency regulations and proposed regulations include additional designs for body-gripping traps set in dog-resistant containers used with baits; contains restrictions on body-gripping traps set without the use of baits in so-called “blind run sets”; and requires a new setback restriction for body-gripping traps set on public lands near trails. Body-gripping traps will be prohibited on public lands within 100 feet of public trails.

At their annual convention in Herkimer County, the New York State Trappers Association (NYSTA) unanimously passed a resolution calling on trappers to voluntarily and immediately adopt measures similar to the Department’s proposed regulation to avoid the capture of dogs.

Following the adoption of their resolution, David Leibig, President of NYSTA, stated: “Today we have a regulatory proposal that I believe will ensure the continued responsible use of these important tools, body-gripping traps, throughout New York, and I am pleased to announce that the NYSTA Board of Directors has unanimously voted to fully support the language of the proposed regulation.”

DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis applauded NYSTA’s proactive policy. “NYSTA is to be commended for supporting this important regulation and for calling on their membership to adopt measures immediately to prevent the capture of dogs. The methods in DEC’s revised proposal will significantly improve trapping selectivity in New York and we believe that having the measures in effect for the upcoming trapping seasons is an important and responsible action needed to avoid the capture of pets. ”

While this emergency regulation and proposal is considered an important improvement to New York’s trapping regulations, it is also important that members of the public recognize that dog ownership brings important responsibilities. With trapping season approaching, pet owners are reminded to make sure that dogs are not allowed to run at large, and to obey local leash laws where applicable.

A link to the emergency regulations will be posted to the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov soon. Details of the revised proposed regulation and a link for submitting comments electronically will be available at www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/propregulations.html on approximately Oct. 3.

Public comments may also be submitted in writing to:
Gordon R. Batcheller
NYSDEC Bureau of Wildlife
625 Broadway
Albany, New York 12233-4754

Sportsmen Applaud President’s Order to Promote Hunting
President understands sportsmen are essential to wildlife conservation
August 17, 2007 (National)

(Washington, D.C.) – An Executive Order issued by the President of the United States will spell more hunting opportunities and enhanced conservation efforts, according to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the nation’s premier sportsmen’s rights advocacy organization.

Today, President George W. Bush released the order, entitled “Facilitation of Hunting and Wildlife Conservation.” It directs all relevant federal agencies to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities, wildlife management and habitat.

“The Executive Order is a great milestone for sportsmen and wildlife conservation,” said Bud Pidgeon, president and CEO of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. “It clearly demonstrates that the President understands the unbreakable bond between successful wildlife conservation and hunting - that sportsmen are the key to abundant wildlife and habitat.”

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance proposed that the White House issue an Executive Order on hunting early in President Bush’s first term, and again in 2007. The order, number 13,443, directs federal agencies that manage public land, outdoor recreation and wildlife management to:

• Address declining trends and implement actions that expand and enhance hunting opportunities
• Consider the economic and recreational value of hunting
• Manage wildlife and habitat in a manner that expands and enhances hunting opportunities
• Work collaboratively with states to manage wildlife in a manner that respects private property rights and state authority over wildlife
• Establish goals with the states to foster healthy game populations

“The order gives federal agencies a clear-cut directive that they work to increase hunting opportunities with state wildlife agencies,” said Pidgeon. “It will result in more resources directed at preserving the future of hunting and greater access to public land. The President is to be commended.”

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organization that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

Monday, July 16, 2007

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it will significantly revise a recent proposal for new “explosives safety” regulations that caused serious concern among gun owners. OSHA had originally set out to update workplace safety regulations, but the proposed rules included restrictions that very few gun shops, sporting goods stores, shippers, or ammunition dealers could comply with.

Gun owners had filed a blizzard of negative comments urged by the NRA, and just a week ago, OSHA had already issued one extension for its public comment period at the request of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. After continued publicity through NRA alerts and the outdoor media, and after dozens of Members of Congress expressed concern about its impact, OSHA has wisely decided to go back to the drawing board.

Full story is available at the NRA website: http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=3162

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has extended the comment period on its proposed rule for 60 days until September 10. The proposed new rules would have a dramatic effect on the storage and transportation of ammunition and handloading components such as primers or black and smokeless powder. The proposed rule indiscriminately treats ammunition, powder and primers as “explosives.” Among many other provisions, the proposed rule would:

• Prohibit possession of firearms in commercial “facilities containing explosives”—an obvious problem for your local gun store.
• Require evacuation of all “facilities containing explosives”—even your local Wal-Mart—during any electrical storm.
• Prohibit smoking within 50 feet of “facilities containing explosives”.

For full story, visit the NRA website at
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=3151

The OSHA news release is at
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=14100

Legislation was unanimously passed earlier this week by the Michigan Senate to help protect
trapping, hunting and fishing.

“The livelihoods of hunting and fishing face risk today unless we can encourage more Michigan residents to appreciate and support these outdoor activities,” said Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe. “This legislation will help promote the importance of these recreational activities and will provide protection by the Department of Natural Resources and state Legislature.”

Senate Bill 441 states that it is the mission of the Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Commission and Legislature to protect and promote the rights of hunting, fishing and trapping for Michigan residents and tourists. This mission statement will be inserted throughout key portions of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Michigan is third in the nation for licensed hunters and eighth in the nation in licensed anglers. These groups provide $1.3 billion and $2 billion annually to the state’s economy.

It appears that bear trapping in Maine will continue. LD1635, “An Act to Prohibit Recreational Bear Trapping” was voted out of committee May 11th as “Ought Not To Pass”. If this bill had passed, it would have reversed a public vote to allow bear trapping.

The bill now moves to the House, but with the “Ought Not To Pass” recommendation from the committee, will likely be voted down.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife made several policy changes in attempt to settle the concerns of the groups against bear trapping.

Several pro-hunting groups were aligned with the groups against bear trapping. The groups and politicians that sponsored this bill (again, after a public vote last year to continue to allow bear trapping) will never be satisfied until all consumptive use of animals is outlawed. They will not stop at trapping. As usual, their campaign consisted primarily of misinformation, including posting a video on YouTube of a hunter that appears to shoot a bear baited with a box of donuts.