May 29, 2009 "In The Crosshairs"
May 29 , 2009
Representative Mike Pitts Honored as SCI’s 2009 State Legislator of the Year
Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International is pleased to announce South Carolina State Representative Mike Pitts as the 2009 State Legislator of the Year. Representative Pitts has been a leader in the sportsmen’s community since taking office. As founding Chair of the South Carolina Sportsmen’s Caucus, Representative Pitts works hard to introduce non-hunting/fishing legislators to the outdoors, teach kids to hunt & fish, and protect and preserve our outdoor heritage and traditions. Read the full release at www.safariclub.org.
Terry Erwin Honored as SCI Foundation’s 2009 Educator of the Year
Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International Foundation is pleased to announce that Terry Erwin is the recipient of SCIF’s 2009 Educator of the Year award. Mr. Erwin spent 24 years in the medical profession before joining the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's hunter education staff.& He had previously served as a volunteer when the state mandated the program. A seasoned educator, Erwin has served on numerous committees of the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA), and is the immediate Past President and current chair of the Awards and Nominations Committee of IHEA. He also helped develop the first hunter home study program, including a video and workbook sponsored by Outdoor Life, the first on-line hunter education program in Texas and the current IHEA on-line course. Read the full release at www.safariclub.org.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Proposed Migratory Bird Regulations
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), proposed in an earlier document to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2009–10 hunting season. This supplement to the proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, announces the Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee and Flyway Council meetings, and provides Flyway Council recommendations resulting from their March meetings. … You may submit comments on the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2009–10 duck hunting seasons by June 26, 2009. Following subsequent Federal Register documents, you will be given an opportunity to submit comments for proposed early-season frameworks by July 31, 2009, and for proposed late-season frameworks and subsistence migratory bird seasons in Alaska by August 31, 2009.” Source: Federal Register. For more information, click here.
Southern Africa: Mozambique, Zambia And Zimbabwe Agree On Conservation Area
“Maputo — Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia have agreed that the three countries will jointly manage the natural resources in their cross border conservation areas. The announcement was made in Maputo on Tuesday by Afonso Madope, of the Cross-border Conservation Areas Unit in the Mozambican Tourism Ministry. He was speaking to reporters shortly after the start of a meeting between the tourism authorities of the three countries.” (Source: AllAfrica Online) Read the full article about the joint conservation area at http://allafrica.com/stories/200905260769.html.
Update- President Obama Signs Legislation to Allow Concealed Carry on National Parks and Refuges
On Friday May 22nd, President Obama signed the Credit Card Holder Bill of Rights. This bill contained a provision allowing individuals to lawfully carry their concealed firearms on National Parks and Refuges if the state in which the park or refuge is located allows for concealed carry. The U.S. Department of Interior has taken the position that the concealed carry provisions cannot be implemented until February 2010, since that is when the credit card provisions of the original bill are scheduled to go into effect. Check with Crosshairs for further updates on when and where concealed carry will be allowed.
Correction- The previous Crosshair’s news item on this story from May 22nd contained a corrupt link to the voting record of the House of Representatives on this bill. The correct link to see how your Representative voted can be found here.