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CALIFORNIA SENATOR PULLS BEAR BILL IN FACE OF OPPOSITION
C alifornia Senate Bill 252 was pulled by its sponsor , Sen . Scott Wiener , a week following its introduction , after backlash from the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance and others throughout the industry .
“ The Bear Protection Act ,” sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States , sought to ban all recreational hunting of black bears . The legislation followed the successful blueprint of other HSUS-backed legislation and ballot initiatives in California , including the elimination of all mountain lion and bobcat hunting , the use of hounds for predators and all forms of trapping . While the proposals all banned these practices for sportsmen , they left caveats for the state to continue killing the animals in the face of human-wildlife conflicts . SB 252 would have cost the California Department of Fish and Wildlife approximately $ 1.39 million per year from the loss of bear tags alone .
Sen . Wiener , whose constituents predominantly hail from San Francisco , claimed that the state ’ s bear population was under threat from hunting . However , the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance and our allies pointed out that the bear population has been conservatively estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 , more than triple the population of 40 years ago . Likewise , the state ’ s quota of 1,700 hasn ’ t been reached in years ; last year only 919 tags were filled . The powerful California animalrights lobby has kept the state from increasing the quota to meet equitable harvest goals .
“ It ’ s great that Sen . Wiener has pulled this legislation , and we hope that he continues to evaluate and learn about wildlife management and its role in recovering wildlife and habitats nationwide , as well as funding conservation in The Golden State ,” said Bruce Tague , vice president of government affairs at Sportsmen ’ s Alliance . “ Wildlife management is best left in the hands of biologists , not bureaucrats , politicians and public opinion .”
Wildlife management is best left in the hands of biologists , not bureaucrats , politicians and public opinion .
Backlash against Sen . Wiener ' s bill was swift and vocal , pushing him to withdraw it .
THREE MARYLAND COUNTIES CONSIDER SUNDAY HUNTING
Legislation in Maryland will open or expand Sunday hunting in three counties . House Bill 225 and 325 will expand the number of Sundays open for hunting of deer during archery and firearms seasons in Talbot and Queen Anne ’ s counties , while House Bill 615 would allow deer hunting during every Sunday of the firearm and archery seasons on both public and private land in Prince George ’ s County .
SPORTSMEN ’ S MONTHLY
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