Does Party Matter?

[mike rossi]

We are talking about hunting, not gun rights....

 

http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/the-effects-of-democrats-republicans-and-election-years-on-re-instating-hunting-seasons.html

 

 

http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/our-elected-officials-in-the-field.html

 

[G-Man]

Depends, if Peta or spa lines their pockets...

[Mr VJP]

It doesn't matter when they are already in the elected offices, as far as the difficulty of working with them on hunting issues.  They're all about getting re-elected.  

 

But it does matter which is better to vote into office in the first place, as far as how much work will need to be done once they're in there.

 

[mike rossi]

It doesn't matter when they are already in the elected offices, as far as the difficulty of working with them on hunting issues.  They're all about getting re-elected.  

 

But it does matter which is better to vote into office in the first place, as far as how much work will need to be done once they're in there.

 

Our report provides no evidence supporting the notion that either  side of the aisle is easier to work with; and even if it did, we need to work with both. We are not endorsing either party, but  want to point out that it is very clear that democrats in NY and in other states do not mean a death sentence to pro-hunting legislation.

 

Hunting seasons have been reinstated with every combination, including democratic trifectas. There have also been many failures to reinstate seasons when republicans have had full control. Some bans have occurred under republicans as well, perhaps more. If I thought it was important to tally up a scorecard, I would have researched every reinstated hunting season and graphed the results. 

 

Even the use of dogs for bear in 1990 was approved by Mario Cuomo and the Legislature, it was a judge who sided with the ASPCA in a law suit and  overturned the law and banned it the same year. This was not a case of the ASPCA buying politicians. In fact, the ASPCA  sued politicians over this.  Mario Cuomo and the DEC Commissioner were named as defendants in the lawsuit.  Restated for clarity: In 1990 the ASPCA sued Mario Cuomo over the legalization of hunting bears with dogs. Cuomo did not roll over either, the case went to hearing, however, the judge sided with the ASPCA.

 

If you are interested in the reason for the court decision it was because the new law was in conflict with an existing law prohibiting use of dogs to hunt big game. They messed up, if they had changed that law as well, the ASPCA would not have had a strong case. Before you call the DEC, the former governor, and Legislature dummies, be advised this has happened in a number of states. Many times, attorneys for anti hunting organizations have been known  to do a better job at scrutinizing the existing laws then do state lawmakers and wildlife agencies. 

 

The most interesting finding of this is that about an equal number of wild turkey hunting and mourning dove hunting seasons have been reinstated. While mourning dove hunting was contested in every state, even South Dakota, we did not come across any effort to block the reinstatement of wild turkey hunting. 

 

If turkey populations crash again, warranting a closure, don't be over confident and expect them to be reopened without a fight next time. The expansion of wild turkeys from the restoration is now seen as a negative impact and the first restoration was paid for with Pittman Robertson grants along with license revenue. Expect some push back. 

[Mr VJP]

In the state of NJ Bear hunting was banned under every Democrat Gov for decades, purely for political reasons.  They even used the courts to make certain of it.  Only when Republican Gov Christie was elected was Bear Hunting allowed.

 

Democrats come into office with an "anti" agenda, and hunting is just one of them.  They are allies with animal rights groups, HSUS and PETA.  It wouldn't surprise me to find Cuomo had the courts go against him on purpose, just so he could get the sportsman's vote claiming he tried to help us.

 

[mike rossi]

In the state of NJ Bear hunting was banned under every Democrat Gov for decades, purely for political reasons.  They even used the courts to make certain of it.  Only when Republican Gov Christie was elected was Bear Hunting allowed.

 

Democrats come into office with an "anti" agenda, and hunting is just one of them.  They are allies with animal rights groups, HSUS and PETA.  It wouldn't surprise me to find Cuomo had the courts go against him on purpose, just so he could get the sportsman's vote claiming he tried to help us.

 

 

Mr. VJP likes to comment about things he has not even bothered to read. His word you know, don't bother to click on the very report the thread is discussing. Below is the section about NJ:

 

New Jersey

 

Spring wild turkey hunting 1981

Gubernatorial Election Year: YES

1981 Governor Brenden Byrne: Democrat

1981 Senate Majority: Democrat

1981 Assembly Majority: Democrat

 

Fall wild turkey hunting season 1997

Gubernatorial Election Year? YES

1997 Governor Christie Todd Whitman: Republican

1997 Senate Majority: Republican

1997 Assembly Majority: Republican

New Jersey Black Bear

Black Bear reinstated 2003

Gubernatorial Election Year: No

Governor: Jim McGreevey, Democrat

Senate Majority: Even, no majority

Assembly Majority: Democrat

DEP Commissioner:

 

Black Bear Closed 2004

Gubernatorial Election Year: No

Governor: Acting Governor Richard J. Codey

Senate Majority: Democrat

Assembly Majority: Democrat

DEP Commissioner:

FYI: DEP Commissioner closed black bear hunting season. NJ hunting community, assumedly the NJ Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, filed a court challenge which was rejected by the court. NJ DEP argued: 1) “NJ has a variety of legal game to hunt”. 2) NJ residents wishing to hunt black bear can do so in other states”. The Court ruled in favor of the DEP, stating that “the plaintiffs did not show irreparable injury to hunters”.  However, an appeals court ruled against the DEP, citing that the NJ DEP Commissioner overstepped his/her authority.

Black Bear Closed 2006

Gubernatorial Election Year: No

Governor: Jon Corzine, Democrat

Senate Majority: Democrat

Assembly Majority: Democrat

DEP Commissioner: Lisa Jackson

FYI: The exact details about what occurred next are unclear until further investigation can be completed. It is known that Chris Christie was campaigning for Governor and during his campaign he pledged to reinstate the black bear season. Christie was elected and he did indeed reinstate the bear season in 2010. Perhaps the hunting community did not want to incur or was unable to incur, more legal expenses. Or, perhaps members of the Fish and Game Council who are appointed by the Governor did not want to act contradictory to the Corzine administration. 

 

Black bear Reinstated 2010

Gubernatorial Election Year: No, election was 2009, however action related to election as it was a campaign promise.

Governor: Chris Christie, Republican

Senate Majority: Democrat

Assembly Majority: Democrat

DEP Commissioner:

FYI: When Chris Christie was campaigning for Governor he pledged to reinstate the black bear season. Christie was elected and he did indeed reinstate the bear season in 2010.

Northern Bobwhite Closed 2011

Gubernatorial Election year? No

Governor: Chris Christie, Republican

Senate Majority: Democrat

Assembly Majority: Democrat

DEP Commissioner:

FYI: Citing an adult mortality rate of 91.4%, of which hunting accounting for 2.9%; NJ DEP closed the season for northern bobwhite; except on two state-stocked wildlife management areas, and on currently licensed commercial shooting preserves. The DEP indicates, per the state’s northern bobwhite conservation plan, that the conservation status of the state’s northern bobwhite would be reviewed in three years, assumedly meaning in 2014.

Mourning Dove Reclassified as Game Species with a Closed Hunting Season 2012 

Gubernatorial Election year? No

Governor: Chris Christie, Republican

Senate Majority: Democrat

Assembly Majority: Democrat

DEP Commissioner:

FYI: This reclassification authorized the Fish and Game Council to set a hunting season for mourning doves since January 2012; but the Council has not acted. Under NJ’s system, the Fish and Game Council may enact any regulation which passes by the Legislature. The DEP does not set the regulations, nor does the Legislature. The DEP merely makes recommendations; lawmakers pass laws as they see fit, and it is then up to the Council to motion them into regulation or not to. The (*)Fish and Game Council is comprised of seven persons appointed by the Governor from the six from the hunting/fishing community;  three from the agriculture community; one public member “knowledgeable about land use practices and soil conservation;” and the Chairperson of the Endangered and Nongame Species Committee. This is an unpaid, voluntary staff. The Council is not employed by the DEP nor are they wildlife biologists. Through personal communication from one source employed by the DEP and two members of the NJ hunting community, we were informed that there was discussion about reinstating a mourning dove hunting season as a “replacement” for the closed northern bobwhite season. We were further told that the hunting community and the DEP have a shared concern over litigation by anti-hunting organizations if a mourning dove season was reinstated; and as a result of that concern, a mutual decision was made to not reinstate the season. We find that incredulous for several reasons. First, both entities were not only willing to take bear hunting to court against anti- hunters; but the hunting community and the DEP even went to court against each other in 2004, with the sportsmen not even giving up on a lower Court’s decision and filing an appeal. Perhaps they ran out of money fighting each other over black bears there was no money left for litigation over doves? That is actually what has been implied. Second, no verifiable proof has been provided that this decision was made by the entire hunting community, rather than a few who are connected to organizations, the Division, or the Council. Therefore, it is not only reasonable, but wise, to assume this was a decision made by a few, without transparency. 

 

(*)FISH and GAME COUNCIL

The Fish and Game Council, appointed by the Governor, oversees the Division's operations and appoints a Director (subject to the Governor's approval). The council meets monthly.

History

The Fish and Game Council was created by Law in 1945 (N.J.S.A.13:1B-24) and succeeded the former Board of Fish and Game Commissioners. The Fish and Game Council was transferred to the Department of Conservation in 1948 and its powers were to be "exercised and performed through the Division of Fish and Game in the department." The Division of Fish and Game was placed under the supervision of a director who was given the power to "administer the work of such Division under the direction and supervision of the commissioner." The commissioner in turn was charged by the legislature with the responsibility for the administration of the work of the department, to appoint and remove officers and other personnel and to generally perform all of the executive functions necessary to administer the department.

Composition

This law established the composition of the Council as follows: three members of council shall be farmers, recommended to the Governor for appointment by the agricultural convention; six members shall be sportsmen, recommended to the Governor for appointment by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs; and two members shall be commercial fishermen. One farmer representative and two sportsmen representatives in the council shall be chosen from among residents of any of the following counties - Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren; one farmer representative and two sportsmen representatives in the council shall be chosen from among residents of any of the following counties - Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset and Union; and one farmer representative and two sportsmen representatives shall be chosen from among residents of any of the following counties - Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem. With the creation of the Marine Fisheries Council in 1979, the commercial fishing representatives were replaced on the Fish and Game Council with the Chairman of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee and a public member "knowledgeable in land use management and soil conservation practices."

Powers and Duties

The Legislature has empowered the Fish and Game Council with the independent responsibility to adopt a Fish and Game Code for the purpose of providing a system for the protection and conservation of fish and game. In addition, the Council has been authorized to perform an advisory and recommendatory function in the development of comprehensive policies in this general area and to:

a. Consult with and advise the Commissioner and director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife with respect to the work of such Division.

b. Study the activities of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and hold hearings with respect thereto as it may deem necessary or desirable.

c. Report to the Governor and the Legislature annually, and at such other times as it may deem in the public interest with respect to its findings and conclusions.

The council appoints the director who is required to be a "person with special training and experience in wildlife management". The council's appointment is subject to the approval of the Governor and the director can only be removed by action of the Governor.

The sole responsibility for the executive administration of the Division of Fish and Wildlife has been placed in the Director of the Division subject to the direction and supervision of the Commissioner. Therefore, Council has no authority under the statutes to issue administrative or executive directives to either the commissioner or the director.

This analysis of the governing statutory provisions has been reinforced by a decision of the New Jersey Supreme Court in Humane Society, supra. Although the issue in that case was concerned with the composition and membership of the Council, the court had occasion to comment on its unique and specialized responsibilities:

"The Fish and Game Council is invested with certain regulatory powers aimed at protecting and developing an adequate supply of fish and game for recreational and commercial purposes. These powers are expressed primarily by the Council's determinations as to when and where in the State hunting and fishing shall take place, and which freshwater fish, game birds, game animals, and fur bearing animals may be taken and in what numbers. The wildlife thus regulated is those animals which are the focus of the sports of hunting and fishing. In addition, the Council supervises a program of wildlife propagation, the expenses of which are supported by fees for hunting and fishing licenses paid for by sportsmen and commercial fishermen"

Therefore, the Council's essential and primary responsibility as noted by the Supreme Court is aimed at protecting and developing an adequate supply of fish and game for recreational and commercial purposes. This limited responsibility is implemented through adoption of the Fish Code and the Game Code and in the development of comprehensive policies for the consideration of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Governor and the Legislature.

Current Members (April 2015)

Fish and Game Council

Dave Burke, Acting Chair

Cathy Blumig

Phillip Brodhecker

Dr. Barbara Brummer

Joseph Demartino

Agust Gudmundsson

Joe DeMartino

Jeffrey Link

Robert Puskas

Dan Van Mater

Vacant

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 3, 2015

Contact: Bob Considine (609) 292-2994

Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

NEW JERSEY FISH AND GAME COUNCIL APPROVES PROPOSED UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE BLACK BEAR MANAGEMENT POLICY

(15/P18) TRENTON – Based upon research by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council today approved a proposed updated Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy that continues the annual December hunt, adds an October hunt beginning in 2016, and calls for enhanced public education efforts in parts of the state that are experiencing black bear encounters for the first time, among other measures.

“The annual hunting season in the northwestern part of the state has been an important tool in a comprehensive plan designed to control the bear population and reduce conflicts between bears and people,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Chanda. “The comprehensive policy proposed today continues to stress the importance of research and public education, and is based on the most up-to-date science and population estimates.”

Specifically, the proposed Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy unanimously approved today:

Continues the annual six-day December firearm hunting season. The hunt may be extended by up to four days if poor weather or other conditions result in a reduced harvest. This year’s hunt will begin December 7.

Adds an additional six-day October hunting season beginning in 2016, three days for bow hunting only and three days for bow hunting and hunting with muzzle loading guns. The bow hunting season will enable hunting of nuisance bears that can be difficult to hunt by gun in certain areas.

Increases the allowable per-hunter harvest from one bear to two bears beginning next year, provided the first bear is taken during October bow/muzzle loading hunt and the second is taken during the December firearm hunt.

Increases, effective this year, the current zones in which hunting is permitted to include the remainders of Hunterdon, Somerset and Morris counties,  a small additional portion of Passaic County, and a small portion of Mercer County. This will help control the population in areas where reports of bear and human encounters have been increasing due to bears expanding their habitat.

Calls for work toward developing an estimate for a statewide bear population.

Reemphasizes the importance of ongoing public education efforts, trash management and research. Efforts will be focused on urban areas and parts of the state where bears are expanding their range.

The proposed policy, which will be opened to public comment and a public hearing, was developed after extensive research of five bear hunting seasons that have taken place since 2010. The Division has concluded that expanded hunting opportunities are necessary to reduce the size of the population and reduce conflicts with people.

Research over the past five years that included surveys, captures of previously tagged bears, den studies, reproduction analyses and density analyses confirm that northwestern New Jersey continues to have one of the nation’s densest black bear populations.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife utilized studies conducted by Penn State University along with widely accepted population estimate methodologies known as the Lincoln-Petersen Index and linear regression modeling to conservatively estimate the size of the black bear population in northwestern New Jersey at 3,500, about the same as when the hunt was first authorized in 2010.

The population has not decreased significantly because reproduction rates, known as recruitment, have exceeded mortality from hunting and natural causes.  The number of bears harvested in the five hunts has steadily dropped from 592 in the first season, to less than 300 animals in subsequent seasons, due in large part to poor weather at that time of year and a more wary bear population.

In addition, the December hunt coincides with the time when bears are becoming less active and beginning to den. The December hunt, coinciding with the annual firearm deer hunting season, was purposely planned for this time of year to be conservative as biologists assessed the first five years of hunting.

The hunting zone as approved in 2010 encompassed a roughly 1,000-square-mile area of northwestern New Jersey north of Interstate 78 and west of Interstate 287. This area includes all or portions of Hunterdon, Passaic, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren counties, and a small portion of Bergen County. This area is home to the majority of the state’s black bears.

While the December hunting season appeared to be helping to reduce overall nuisance complaints, the numbers increased in 2014, probably due to lower-than-expected harvest numbers and population increases due in part to black bear reproduction rates that are higher than in other parts of the nation. The number of bear-human interactions in the northwestern part of the state increased from 1,231 to 1,951 over the past year, a 60 percent increase.

The new policy proposed today continues to emphasize the importance of public education and research to reduce conflicts and strives to maintain a sustainable and robust bear population, recognizing its importance as a natural resource valued by the residents of the state and as being important to ecological balance. Future re-adoption cycles for the policy will coincide with seven-year Game Code re-adoption cycles. The Fish and Game Council met at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area office in Upper Freehold.

The proposed policy will be sent to Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin, who must approve the policy before it is published in the New Jersey Register and

opened for a 60-day public comment period and public hearing.

The New Jersey Fish and Game Council is a volunteer board that is mandated by law to create and finalize hunting and fishing regulations that manage wildlife resources for the benefit of all residents. The Council’s Game Committee and the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife thoroughly reviewed all available data in making recommendations for the proposed policy changes.

The Council may make changes based on comments before taking a final vote to approve the policy later this year.

For more information on black bears in New Jersey and a copy of the proposed Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/bearfacts.htm

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Mr VJP]

Mike, I read all of that prior to commenting.  I just boiled it down to a conclusion.

 

Where does any of that counter what I posted?