CONSERVATION CORNER
April 17, 2006
Sportsmen's Caucus Handles Important Legislation
by James L. Cummins

Only a few months old, the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus has already developed a pro sportsmen's agenda in the halls of state government. Below is summary of some of the bills affecting sportsmen that have been introduced in the Mississippi Legislature.

Internet Hunting became a hot button issue in states across the country after a Texas rancher set up a remote controlled rifle allowing people to sit at their computer and, with the click of a mouse, fire the rifle at game. The Texas Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus quickly recognized this was not in line with Fair Chase ethics and introduced legislation to ban such activity in the state of Texas. This year, Senator Lynn Posey (D-Union Church), introduced Senate Bill 2041, which has passed both the House and the Senate and has gone to Governor Barbour for his consideration. Mississippi will be the 12th state in the nation to make the practice illegal.

According to Posey, "Internet hunting undermines the long tradition of our outdoor heritage and the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus felt it was important to introduce and pass such proactive legislation to prevent erosion of our hunting values."

Adopted by the National Association of Sportsmen's Caucuses (NASC) in 2004 as model legislation, the "Hunting Heritage Protection Act" protects hunter access to state managed lands by requiring that if public land is closed to hunter access that compensatory lands be opened elsewhere in the state.

After first being passed by the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus in 2004, NASC adopted this concept and has since worked with state sportsmen's caucuses for introduction and passage. During 2005 Arkansas, Maryland and Oregon Legislative Sportsmen's Caucuses successfully introduced and passed this legislation.

This year, Senators Lynn Posey (D-Union Church) and Bob Dearing (D-Natchez) introduced Senate Bill 2075, and Representative Warner McBride (D-Courtland) introduced House Bill 978 to protect hunter access to state managed lands.

Recruiting new hunters and anglers is critical to the perpetuation of the outdoor heritage and promoting youth hunting and fishing is one of the most important ways to bring in a new generation of outdoorsmen.

Working with the Families Afield program and other partners, the NASC is assisting state caucuses with legislation to remove barriers to hunting and fishing for youth. Such legislation includes special youth hunting and fishing days, reducing the minimum age restrictions and streamlining the process for obtaining hunter education.

Three bills have been introduced in the Mississippi Legislature by the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus to do this. They include House Bill 698, which is authored by Representative Eric Robinson (R-Quitman), and Senate Bills 2764 and 2795, which are authored by Senator Lynn Posey (D-Union Church).