Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    What ever happened to the mourning Doves in the state
    of N.H.
    
    They were put a list of non gamebirds by the legislature.
    
    So, even if you are inclined to think, I don't want to hunt
    moose who cares, is not in My opinion valid reason not
    to be concearned about you right to later change your mind
    or who knows which one of your offspring might want to hunt
    moose.
    
    This is exactly what happened here with Mouring Doves..
    
    Nobody gave D*mn and we lost probably forever the right to
    hunt them in N.H.
    
    Let me tell you that they are one of the most chalanging wingshots
    you will ever encounter.
    
    So please, Don't appethetic ( sp  ? )
    
    Sportsmen are going to have to fight to keep there rights to hunt.
    
    I was reading last night where there will be an intense fight in
    the state of Maine this year...
    
    It seems a woman was shot while she was on her porch.. She had seen
    the hunter had got to close to her house and she was waving a white
    hanky to call to his attention that he was near a building.
    
    Now there are several attemps one which is to make it unlawful to
    hunt with in a mile ( or was it a half mile of a building)
    
    I forget the facts but the point is they are really going
    to push some stiff restrictions if we don't get out and protect
    our selves.
    
    bear
    

    	I called Mary Shriver this morning to find out
    what happened.... 
    
    It aint over yet...
    
    The hearing lasted from 10 am - 2:30 and was refered to committee.
    
    She said is was well attended and for once the pro hunting
    people outnumber the anti...
    
    I asked who sponsered the House bill 188 and she said
    Larry Chase  from Portsmouth ( sp ) and co sponsered by
    Wayne Burton from Durham
    
    I asked what were there motives and she said she did not know.
    
    I said it seems a little strange because there are very few
    moose in that area. and she agreed.
    
    She will contact us again when it comes out of comittee.
    
    I want to thank anyone who may attended the meeting. I regret I was unable
    to do so myself. If anyone attend the meeting and can give us
    some first hand information I would ( for one ) be interested
    in hearing about it.
                    
    we will all need to contact our representitves and let them know
    that we are against this bill and if enough of us voters
    take a interest it could spell political suiside for those
    who defend it.
    
    
    bear

    Well mr. Gath, I was there and for once it was poetic. Here are
    the particulars.
    
    There were a total of 130 individuals who had shown up. Out of this
    total there were 47 anti-moose hunters and 10 of them spoke. There
    were 83 pro-moose hunters and 16 spoke.
    
    It was evident that the F & G committee had already made up their
    minds and in a way actually harassed the anti's. Every time the
    anti's came up with a reason not to have a moose hunt it was either
    disproven or clouded with "heresay" type evidence from Friends of
    Animals and the like. Also, the way the bill was written, those
    people who shot a moose this past year would have to dispose of
    all remaining meat or mount on walls. I didn't bring the bill with
    me today but tomorrow I will bring it in and input it as it reads.
    
    Just because the committee will suggest to the House floor to kill
    the bill is no reason to stop fighting. There will be plenty of
    anti's there when it comes up for a vote.
    
    I also saw the guy who was leading the fight for a morning dove
    seaso and he says that it's not over, he's coming back. Hope you
    can join us on the House floor.
    
    Regards, John

    It was a victory, how ever small. Where most of the hunters
    wearing a piece of clothing that identified them as Hunters?
    
    Do I understand that there is someone trying to reinstate
    the mourning Dove back as a game bird?
    
    I compliment you for taking the time and standing up for
    what you beleive in. Something we are all going to have to start
    doing if we want to keep our privliges.
    
    Bear

    Some more legislative news worth mentioning is a Bill (249) in the
    NH House proposed by Rep. Herbert Drake, R-Rye.  The Bill if enacted
    into law would establish a $ Five (5) million wildlife habitat
    conservation fund by tacking a $5 surcharge on all hunting, fishing
    and other Fish and Game licenses for the next 5 years.  The funds--
    coming from about 225,800 licenses issued annually-- would be used
    to acquire land where wildlife can be effectively managed and
    propogated.
    
    I can just hear the complaints already from a lot of sportsman "too
    expensive to begin with, now they want more", or "I'm a fisherman,
    what do I care about land for".
    
    Now I'm not trying to preach to the readers of this notesfile 'cause
    DEC screened us all to make sure we each had a brain before they
    hired us.  The message I'm trying to convey is to show public support
    for Bills such as this one.  That support can be at our clubs, shops,
    or at the dinner table with friends/relatives.  Encourage them to
    make the supportive phone call or letter.  Bills such as 249
    far surpass (in importance) those that deal with an individual species.
    Without the habitat (which is being chewed up by developers) we'll all end
    up going to a zoo someday to get a glimpse of a moose or a deer,
    etc..     
    
    -Dave

    House Bill 188-FN reads this way;
    
    1 Moose. RSA 208:1-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
    208:1-a Moose. No person shall hunt, take, or have in his possession
    any moose or any part of the carcass of a moose taken in this state.
    
    2 Effective date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
    
    F & G also explained that the $69,090 in revenues collected allowed
    the department to accuire additional telemetry equipment that will
    assist in tracking and and allow Chris Kline to better judge the
    size of the herd. 
    
    Another little thing that happened at the meeting was that one of
    the anti's had so much shit coming out of his mouth he was told
    to shut-up and set down. The pro folks kind of chuckled under their
    breath and we recieved lots of glaring looks.
    
    On the other House Bill on the acquisition of land for wildlife
    probagation. Good idea. I'll back it. 
    
    Regards, John.

    	Like someone had mentioned before in an article in a newspaper,
    developers are the biggest threat to wildlife and their habitat
    and not hunters. I totally agree with this bill. If the state cannot
    get land to save wildlife hunting will become a thing of the past.
    Although memories can be gratifying, they don't put meat on the
    table and I would like to be able to get more memories to add to
    the ones that I already have. 
    					Bret   and not the fluffy one