Legislative block
Status of pending laws
State Updates from across the nation
Keeping an eye on the anti-hunters, the Sportsmen’s Alliance monitors bills in all 50 state legislatures and
takes action to protect hunting, fishing and trapping from being undermined. Here are some of the latest states
to face challenges from anti-hunters and animal-rights activists and organizations.
Iowa Muzzleloaders
Iowa House File 2058, sponsored by Rep.
Todd Prichard (D- Charles City), lowers the caliber
restrictions for muzzleloading firearms from .44
caliber to .30 caliber during deer season. HF 2058 was
referred to the House Natural Resources Committee
where it was to be heard and voted upon.
Mississippi deer & Turkey Reporting
Mississippi Senate Bill 2922, sponsored by Sen. Angela Burks Hill (R-
Picayune), would require a mandatory harvest reporting for deer and turkey
within 72 hours of taking the animal. Currently, deer and turkey harvest
reporting is voluntary in Mississippi. SB 2922 has cleared committee and will
head to the senate floor for a vote.
West Virginia Deer
Retrieval Using Hounds
Virginia Bill Severely Restricts
Tethering of dogs
House Bill 646, sponsored by Delegate John J.
Bell (D- Chantilly), prohibit the tethering of a dog
outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. It also prohibits the
tethering of a dog outside in temperatures below 32
or above 85 degrees, even if the dog is acclimated to
them or is a dog specifically bred for the temperatures.
In West Virginia, Senate Bill
30, sponsored by Sen. Mark
R. Maynard (R- Genoa), would
allow for leashed dogs to track
mortally wounded deer, resulting
in higher retrieval rates for deer
hunters. Current law does not
allow for dogs to be present
when tracking deer. SB 30 is in
the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Apprentice Hunting Bills
Introduced in Hawaii
In Hawaii, HB 1970, sponsored by Rep. Dee Morikawa (D-16),
would establish an apprentice hunting license for new hunters 10
years of age or older. Apprentice licenses allow a newcomer to
try hunting under the supervision of an experienced hunter prior
to the completion of a hunter education course. The bill passed
committee by a 7-0 vote.
11
SPORTSMEN’S MONTHLY
January | February 2018
NEw Jersey Bill Seeks to
ban trapping NEW YORK LEGISLATION LOWERS
YOUTH HUNTING AGE
New Jersey Senate Bill
179, sponsored by Sen. Vin
Gopal (D-11), would ban
the manufacturing, sale,
possession, importation,
transportation or use of
a spring-loaded foothold
or body-gripping trap.
Effectively, making it illegal
to trap by traditional methods.
Under current law, foothold and
water-set body gripping traps are
permitted in New Jersey.
Senate Bill 3156, sponsored by Sen.
Joseph A. Griffo (R-Rome), would
lower New York’s minimum hunting
age for big game. Currently, those between the
ages of 12 and 14 years of age can only hunt small
game. SB 3156 would allow people to purchase New
York’s universal hunting licenses and begin hunting big game,
including deer and black bears, at age 12. New York’s minimum
hunting age is the highest in the United States.
MENTORED HUNTING LEGISLATION
PASSES SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE
South Dakota’s Senate Bill 137, sponsored by Sen. Jason E. Frerichs
(D- Wilmont), would eliminate the minimum age to try hunting under the
supervision of a mentor, passed the Senate with a vote of 30-4. SB 137 lets
kids 10 and under try hunting prior to completing a hunter education class.
Currently, mentored hunting is only available for ages of 10 to 16.
Wisconsin senator wants to ban
hunting, trapping on public lands West Virginia: panel recommends
sunday hunting on public land
Wisconsin Sen. Fred A. Risser (D-Madison)
introduced two bills