June 9, 2011 "In The Crosshairs"
June 9, 2011
Safari Club International and NRA Continue Their Fight to Defend
the Constitutionality of Wolf Delisting Legislation
SCI and the NRA have decided to fight on to participate in
two lawsuits that challenge the Constitutionality of the law passed
by Congress that directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to
delist the wolves of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Last week,
Judge Donald Molloy of the Montana federal district court denied SCI
and NRA the right to intervene in the two lawsuits. Judge
Molloy based his decision on his opinion that the federal government
would adequately represent SCI and NRA’s interests in the
litigation. Despite great respect for the government’s
attorneys, SCI and NRA do not always agree with all the legal
strategies and arguments relied upon by the government and therefore
disagree with the Court’s ruling. SCI and NRA are therefore
preparing their strategy to reassert their right to defend the
interests of their members and the hunting community in this
important litigation.
Eukanuba
Sponsoring Canine Village at SCIF and QU’s EPIC Outdoor Game Fair
Eukanuba will be the title sponsor for the canine
activities and will bring some of their most well-known sporting dog
exhibitions during Safari Club International Foundation and Quail
Unlimited’s EPIC Outdoor Game Fair this September. The Canine
Village, being organized by industry insider Dan O’Connor, will
feature a Super Retriever Series trial, Big Air Competition, “Ask
the Pro” sessions and numerous opportunities for hands-on training
seminars with the industry’s top trainers. The EPIC Outdoor Game
Fair will run from September 23-25, 2011 at the Foxhall Resort &
Sporting Club outside of Atlanta, GA.
www.epicgamefair.org. Read the full release at
http://www.facebook.com/EPICOutdoorGameFair
Kentucky Bull
Elk Tag Sweepstakes Sponsored by National Archery in the Schools
Take a chance to win a 2011 Kentucky Bull Elk Tag and
support the National Archery in the Schools Program. For more
information and to enter to win this unique sweepstakes just go to
http://bit.ly/jqka6k.
Facebook Founder
the Future Face of Hunting?
Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has recently adopted
a new lifestyle in which he only consumes meat from animals he’s
killed himself. Is he ready for hunting? (Source:
petethomasoutdoors.com) Read the full commentary at
http://bit.ly/iznVLE.
New Jersey
Assemblyman Introduces Legislation for Sunday Hunting
“TRENTON - Assemblyman John Burzichelli on Thursday
announced he’s introduced legislation to change antiquated state law
and allow deer hunting with a firearm on private property on
Sundays. State law generally bans hunting on a Sunday, but
Burzichelli’s bill (A-4071) would authorize deer hunting with a
firearm on Sundays on private property during any firearm season for
deer prescribed by the State Fish and Game Code.” (Source: NJ.com)
Read the full release at http://bit.ly/kRbBSo.
SCI is a founding member of the Sunday hunting coalition
and has been a leader on ending Sunday hunting bans and restrictions
in the 11 states that have such restrictions or prohibitions. By
removing bans and restrictions to Sunday hunting, SCI hopes to
improve access and opportunity for all American hunters.
SCI Files
Comments to Protect Hunting on 193 Million Acres
Safari Club International (SCI) filed comments in response
to the recently released National Forest System Land Management
Planning Proposed Rules (Draft Rules), which serve as the basis for
long term planning on all U.S. Forest Service lands. The comments
convey the important role that hunting plays in habitat and wildlife
management on the 193 million acres of public land administered by
the Forest Service. Safari Club's comments focused on the need for
the express recognition of hunting as a priority use of Forest
Service lands and the need for reduced ambiguity in the Draft Rules
so that courts are not allowed to step in and replace agency experts
as the decision-makers in the management of our nation's forests.
Read the full release at http://bit.ly/kwR5Ad.
Montana Legislature Declares the
Grizzly Bear Recovered
Since 2006, SCI has supported the delisting of the grizzly
bears of the greater Yellowstone area. Delisting will allow the
States to better manage the species, including through regulated
hunting. We submitted written and oral comments to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and intervened to defend the delisting in
District Court and the Ninth Circuit. Now the Montana
Legislature has declared the grizzly bears throughout the State to
be recovered. This will allow Montana to move forward with a bear
hunting season upon the removal of a grizzly population (e.g.,
the Yellowstone area population) from the Federal Endangered
Species Act list. (For more on the Montana Legislature’s actions,
read the story at: http://bit.ly/lceeg8.)
SCI is currently awaiting a decision by the Ninth Circuit
whether to uphold the FWS’s delisting of the Yellowstone
grizzlies. SCI has been First for Hunters on this issue since 2006
and will continue to fight this important battle.
Wyoming Game and
Fish Department Reviews Hunting on Casper Mountain
“The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is reviewing whether
to allow deer hunting on parts of Casper Mountain which have been
protected for nearly 70 years. Hunt Area 67 is the last of the
remaining “preserves” which were reestablished in Wyoming in the
1930’s, apparently in an effort to restore deer and animal
populations decimated by over hunting at the turn of the century,
according to Game and Fish officials.” (Source: Casper Journal) Read
the full story at http://bit.ly/iuK8fy.
Nevada Announces Recipients of
Black Bear Hunt Tags
The Nevada Department of Wildlife recently announced the 45
recipients of black bear tags for the state’s first bear hunt in
years. The hunt will take place in the west-central part of
the state, near Lake Tahoe. The total harvest is not to exceed
20 bears, of which only six can be females. The season will
run from August 20, 2011 to December 31, 2011, or until harvest
objective is met. More information on the hunt can be found at
http://bit.ly/iyoQBc. SCI’s
Hunter Advocacy and Litigation Section expect a legal challenge to
this hunt and we are currently weighing our options for
participating. For a complete listing of successful applicants and
other applicant statuses, go to
http://bit.ly/l65HMb.