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SCI Lauds Second Pro-Bear Hunt Victory in Two Months
SCI
TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 27, 2003 – Safari Club International today announced a second victory for bear hunts mandated by state wildlife officials. The first protected the successful New Jersey bear hunt in which some 300 bears were taken to reduce predation on wildlife, livestock, pets, and people.
Thanks to 11 members of the Maryland General Assembly House Environmental Affairs Committee, who appreciated the science-based arguments of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and of Maryland sportsmen for bear hunting, HB451 was defeated by vote yesterday. The ill-conceived measure would have stripped Maryland’s wildlife professionals of their ability to properly manage the state’s swelling black bear population.
“We salute the lawmakers who stood strong with Governor Ehrlich, the MDNR, and Maryland sportsmen to stop fringe groups from undermining science-based management of black bears,” said Gary F. Bogner, President of SCI, the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.
In addition to intensive direct lobbying of Maryland lawmakers, SCI issued e-dispatches encouraging Maryland sportsmen to sound off to their state legislators against the bill, which was backed by Fund For Animals and other animal extremist groups.
The introduction of HB451 followed a Feb. 4 MDNR announcement of the state’s first bear hunt in 50 years, to be held December and October 2004 in Garret County and part of Allegany County. The decision to enact a hunt was based on research conducted by Maryland’s Black Bear Task Force, the scientific findings of which were supported by Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich.
Had HB451 passed, it would have blocked any hunting as part of sound, science-based black bear management until 2010 and would have forced MDNR to conduct a wasteful black bear population survey in 2009. The House Environmental Committee rejected an identical bill in 2003.
Bogner added, “Wildlife management needs to remain in the hands of wildlife professionals. That this measure was narrowly defeated underscores the need for sportsmen to be proactive in encouraging their lawmakers to vote down legislation that would hurt hunting and wildlife. Especially in this election year, Maryland hunters should identify those state legislators who vote for the interests of sportsmen and wildlife, and those in the back pockets of extremists.”
Mayland’s efforts to enact a bear hunt closely resemble that of New Jersey’s. That state also faced a bruin population that was out of control and opposition from anti-hunting groups with agendas more to do with their extreme philosophy than the welfare of bears and state residents. Thanks to intensive work by pro-wildlife state lawmakers, SCI, other sportsmen’s groups, and local hunters, in December 2003 New Jersey conducted its first black bear hunt since 1971. The state already has begun to see a marked decrease in the numbers of “problem bear” calls from communities.
To read the MDNR’s 10-Year Black Bear Management Plan, go online to http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressre...004/011404.html. For more on HB451, go to http://mlis.state.md.us/2004rs/billfile/hb0451.htm.
Safari Club International is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. This chapter driven, nonprofit association is a tireless advocate for the world’s 45 million sportsmen and sportswomen, who, through legal hunting, annually drive more than $1.7 billion in funding to conserve all wild species. For more information, call 520-620-1220 or visit http://www.scifirstforhunters.org.
To see recent, notable conservation initiatives advanced by the SCI Foundation and SCI Chapters visit www.safariclubfoundation.org/pr/conservation.htm. These 61 projects alone represent a $7.5 million wildlife investment.
The SCI Foundation is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization that funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education, and humanitarian services. For more information on any SCIF program, call 877-877-3265 or visit http://www.sci-foundation.org.
The record-breaking SCI 32nd Annual Hunters’ Convention hosted more than 17,000 sportsmen from 50 countries. Thanks to over 1,300 top exhibitors helping hunters realize dreams around the globe, and to some 1,100 extraordinary auction items, the Convention raised over $10 million for SCI, the SCI Foundation and SCI-PAC, the political action committee amplifying SCI advocacy efforts for hunters. To register to attend SCI’s 33rd Annual Hunters’ Convention, in Reno Jan. 26-29, 2005, call 888-746-9724 toll-free or visit http://www.scifirstforhunters.org.
Contact: Jim Brown
520-620-1220, ext. 477; 520-954-0581 (cell)
jbrown@safariclub.org
SCI
TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 27, 2003 – Safari Club International today announced a second victory for bear hunts mandated by state wildlife officials. The first protected the successful New Jersey bear hunt in which some 300 bears were taken to reduce predation on wildlife, livestock, pets, and people.
Thanks to 11 members of the Maryland General Assembly House Environmental Affairs Committee, who appreciated the science-based arguments of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and of Maryland sportsmen for bear hunting, HB451 was defeated by vote yesterday. The ill-conceived measure would have stripped Maryland’s wildlife professionals of their ability to properly manage the state’s swelling black bear population.
“We salute the lawmakers who stood strong with Governor Ehrlich, the MDNR, and Maryland sportsmen to stop fringe groups from undermining science-based management of black bears,” said Gary F. Bogner, President of SCI, the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.
In addition to intensive direct lobbying of Maryland lawmakers, SCI issued e-dispatches encouraging Maryland sportsmen to sound off to their state legislators against the bill, which was backed by Fund For Animals and other animal extremist groups.
The introduction of HB451 followed a Feb. 4 MDNR announcement of the state’s first bear hunt in 50 years, to be held December and October 2004 in Garret County and part of Allegany County. The decision to enact a hunt was based on research conducted by Maryland’s Black Bear Task Force, the scientific findings of which were supported by Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich.
Had HB451 passed, it would have blocked any hunting as part of sound, science-based black bear management until 2010 and would have forced MDNR to conduct a wasteful black bear population survey in 2009. The House Environmental Committee rejected an identical bill in 2003.
Bogner added, “Wildlife management needs to remain in the hands of wildlife professionals. That this measure was narrowly defeated underscores the need for sportsmen to be proactive in encouraging their lawmakers to vote down legislation that would hurt hunting and wildlife. Especially in this election year, Maryland hunters should identify those state legislators who vote for the interests of sportsmen and wildlife, and those in the back pockets of extremists.”
Mayland’s efforts to enact a bear hunt closely resemble that of New Jersey’s. That state also faced a bruin population that was out of control and opposition from anti-hunting groups with agendas more to do with their extreme philosophy than the welfare of bears and state residents. Thanks to intensive work by pro-wildlife state lawmakers, SCI, other sportsmen’s groups, and local hunters, in December 2003 New Jersey conducted its first black bear hunt since 1971. The state already has begun to see a marked decrease in the numbers of “problem bear” calls from communities.
To read the MDNR’s 10-Year Black Bear Management Plan, go online to http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressre...004/011404.html. For more on HB451, go to http://mlis.state.md.us/2004rs/billfile/hb0451.htm.
Safari Club International is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. This chapter driven, nonprofit association is a tireless advocate for the world’s 45 million sportsmen and sportswomen, who, through legal hunting, annually drive more than $1.7 billion in funding to conserve all wild species. For more information, call 520-620-1220 or visit http://www.scifirstforhunters.org.
To see recent, notable conservation initiatives advanced by the SCI Foundation and SCI Chapters visit www.safariclubfoundation.org/pr/conservation.htm. These 61 projects alone represent a $7.5 million wildlife investment.
The SCI Foundation is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization that funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education, and humanitarian services. For more information on any SCIF program, call 877-877-3265 or visit http://www.sci-foundation.org.
The record-breaking SCI 32nd Annual Hunters’ Convention hosted more than 17,000 sportsmen from 50 countries. Thanks to over 1,300 top exhibitors helping hunters realize dreams around the globe, and to some 1,100 extraordinary auction items, the Convention raised over $10 million for SCI, the SCI Foundation and SCI-PAC, the political action committee amplifying SCI advocacy efforts for hunters. To register to attend SCI’s 33rd Annual Hunters’ Convention, in Reno Jan. 26-29, 2005, call 888-746-9724 toll-free or visit http://www.scifirstforhunters.org.
Contact: Jim Brown
520-620-1220, ext. 477; 520-954-0581 (cell)
jbrown@safariclub.org
