NJ Riders - need help stopping Sunday Hunting Bill

[Drive NJ]

New Jersey Pro-Hunting Legislation Moves to Senate Floor!

Monday, October 06, 2008

Two important pro-hunting bills were heard and passed by the New Jersey Senate Environment Committee on Monday, October 6

S80, sponsored by State Senators Stephen M. Sweeney (D-3) and Kevin J. O’Toole (R-40), was passed by a 5-1 vote. Simply put, S802 authorizes deer hunting with bow and arrows on Sundays.

The second bill, S976, was approved by a 6-0 margin. S976 reduces the distance from 450 feet to 150 feet of an occupied building for a person possessing a nocked arrow for the purpose of hunting.

S802 and S976 now make their way to the Senate floor for its consideration.
_________________

I'm not against hunting... just against hunting 7 days a week. Seems to me its a pretty fair split now. We share the woods and fields 6 days a week and there is one weekend day we can be out without looking out for hunters.

The argument from the hunter's side is that many of them work a 6 day week and Sunday is their only day available to hunt without taking time off. I can see the point, but that doesn't solve the problem of having a hunt free weekend day for non-hunters (hikers/bikers/riders/ etc).

Right now Sunday Bow Hunting is well on its way to passage - and other hunting won't be far behind.

If you want to preserve one weekend day of peace, please take a minute to contact your state Senators and tell them to VOTE NO on S802 and S976

if you're not sure who your legislators are... go to < http://www.lwvnj.org/ >, scroll down and look on the right side for the red, white and blue box "Write your Legislators" enter your ZIP CODE. It will take you to your Senator's contact info.

Please do it now or don't complain when you can't ride on Sundays!

[MayS]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm in MD but I sympathize with your horse owners (and hikers, birders, and mountain bikers).

Fall makes me sad. The weather is perfect for being outdoors. The trees are starting to show their true colors. The bugs are dwindling. But with hunters out, it's a bit scary. My area also has some problems with poaching and trespassing, so even riding on your own farm has its risks.

Why can't riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians have just one day a week to enjoy the outdoors? They also work 5 days a week like everyone else.

[chaltagor]

Around here, the hunters are out for six days, then on Sunday they tear around on their quads all day in the woods. If the horses go into the woods, they get upset because we are "scaring the deer away." Needless to say, the hunters around here aren't Mensa members.

[apprider]

Bumping this up, as it has passed the senate. I've called the folks listed below, it took a total of five minutes, but more people need to weigh in with thier views.

This bill has now been sent to the "Agriculture and Natural
Resources Committee. We MUST call the following people on this committee and tell them to please vote NO on Bill A1669 ( aka S802). If this bill is stopped in this committee, it will not
continue to the full assembly for a vote. We MUST URGE the people
listed below to VOTE NO.

The hunters have already been calling. (The are ahead of us at
this point!!!!!)
This bill is going to be voted on in the Ag and Natural Resources
Committee on November 13th.
If it passes, it will go to the full Assembly on November 17th.


WE MUST STOP IT NOW. PLEASE CALL THE PEOPLE LISTED BELOW.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Fisher, Douglas H. - Chair, #856-455-1011
Albano, Nelson T. - Vice-Chair, #609-465-0700 (Please note: This
man is a primary sponsor of the hunting on Sunday bill. Please urge
him to rethink his position.)
Amodeo, John F. # 609-677-8266
Conaway, Herb #856-461-3997
Karrow, Marcia A. #908-782-5127

[caffeinated]

Good luck... why couldn't they just open a few specific weekends for Sunday hunting?

There are some Sundays open for hunting around here, and it wasn't too difficult to work around last year...

(that said, the hunters in our trail riding area are mostly familiar with horses and horse people, we seem to mostly coexist OK)

[apprider]

Thanks. I'm not anti-hunting. Rather I prefer to stay out of the woods during hunting season so I don't disturb thier hunt, but I would like one day for a trail ride during the months long season.

[horse_feathers]

From Sept. 08 Bureau of Law Enforcement monthly report.


"Officer Mutone stopped to inspect a horseback rider on the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area. When confronted, the rider informed the officer that she had left her horseback riding permit in her vehicle. The officer then followed the rider back to her vehicle where she spent time searching for the permit. When the rider couldn't find the permit, she then told the officer that she must have left it at home. After further questioning, the subject finally admitted that she had never purchased a permit. When Officer Mutone informed her that she was in violation, the woman became enraged, used abusive language, and then gave the officer an offensive gesture. As Officer Mutone was gathering information, the woman got into her vehicle, drove across a field and proceeded to drive away. Officer Mutone then pulled the driver over and asked to see her driver’s license and other credentials. Unfortunately, the driver could not produce the necessary documents. In conclusion, the diver was issued summonses for: no horseback riding permit; operating a motor vehicle off the established roadway and failure to produce the required motor vehicle documents."

---------------------------------------------------------------

A few facts:

...there are more than 324,000 acres in 120 wildlife management areas, and new properties and additions to existing properties are continually being added. This acreage represents more than 44% of New Jersey's state-owned public open space.

Initially, the purchase of lands for the Wildlife Management Area System was funded entirely from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. In 1961, the first of several Green Acres bond issues was approved, enabling the general public to participate in the development of the system. Approximately half of the present system was purchased through the Green Acres bond issues. Operational funding is provided entirely by hunters and anglers. Capital projects such as boat ramps, dams and parking lots are usually funded through combinations of Federal Aid (funds from excise taxes on sporting equipment), Green Acres and General Fund Capital appropriations.

Through the years, particularly with the infusion of Green Acres monies since 1961, the mission of the Wildlife Management Area System gradually broadened from "Public Shooting and Fishing Grounds" to areas where fish and wildlife habitat is protected and enhanced, while providing a variety of compatible recreational and educational opportunities.

The number of people in search of wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities has grown significantly in the last 35 years as shown by the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, conducted every five years by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In New Jersey, the 2001 National Survey found that 135,000 people hunted, 806,000 people fished, and more than 2,328,000 people participated in other wildlife-oriented recreational activities (bird feeding, wildlife observation, photography, etc.). The survey includes only people 16 years of age and older.

While demand continues to increase, the overall amount of land available for the pursuit of wildlife-oriented recreation is declining. New Jersey loses roughly 45-sq. mi. of wildlife habitat to development every year. In view of this reality, acquiring and managing Wildlife Management Areas is an important part of management programs conducted by the Division to provide for the public's wildlife-related recreation.


FYI -

Horseback riders have 365 days per year access to WMAs in question. Hunters only have 25% of the year. Sunday Bow hunting amounts to approximately 14 days out of the year.

[lolalola]

From a letter to the editor that should appear in several NJ papers this week:

We the taxpayers, under the Green Acres Bond Act, purchased a total of 63 WMAs and partially purchased another 45 WMAs which amount to a GRAND TOTAL OF 108 WMAs. Fish, Game and Wildlife, on the other hand, purchased exactly 12 and partially purchased 39 others (with a considerable amount of money from “we” the taxpayers, thru the Green Acres Bond Act). We also want to state that OVER 66% of the acreage of the WMAs were purchased with Green Acres Bond Act money! All the information can be verified @ http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/wmaland.htm.



Since many residents enjoy The ASSUNPINK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, we want everyone to be made aware this WMA was purchased entirely by “we” the taxpayers of NJ. The hunters did not pay one thin dime for it.

We want to make the public aware of one other extremely dangerous hunting bill being snuck under our noses: Bill S976/A595: This bill will allow bow hunters to hunt within 150’ of your homes, barns, offices, etc where hunting is permitted. The Assembly people already passed this bill. Find out if your Assembly people voted YES on this bill by following the instructions in the 1st paragraph but type in Bill A595. Your Senator will be voting on this bill very soon. Do you want your children, yourself or your pets to face the risk of bow hunters hunting within 150’ of your home? Take a yard stick and measure for yourself just how close 150’ will be to your home. If you are opposed, you must call your Senator and tell them to vote NO on this bill or you will hold them accountable. Don’t forget at election time, to hold accountable, your Assembly people if they voted YES on this bill. FYI: Even NY law states a hunter cannot hunt within 500’ of a home, building, etc.

If you do not know who your senator or assembly people are, go to website, http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Default.asp, on left hand side, CLICK: Districts by Number, CLICK: the district you are in. Remember, we elected our senators and assembly people to represent ALL the people of NJ, not just one select group of people, namely the hunters.

[Mulhockaway]

Sunday bow hunting for deer on WMA’s and ones own land.
Why would people who enjoy horses side with the animal rights community on this issue?
It seems strange to me since there is no evidence to support the claims against bow hunters or bow hunting and their compatibility with other uses of State wildlife management areas.
Fact is WMA’s were purchased FOR HUNTING and ALL of the upkeep for them still comes out of the hunter and anglers dedicated fund weather or not they were purchased with Green acres funding or not.
Horse owners have far more in common with the hunting community than many of them realize and may want to consider that since they to are persecuted by the animal rights community who are fundamentally against ALL ANIMAL USE.
Look at what is going on in England, in the eyes of most all animal rights groups there is no separation from chasing a fox and hunting deer with a bow both endeavors will be ended if they get their way.

Horse owners and particularly trail riders stand to loose access to WMA’s should they continue to allow animal rights agitators to drive a wedge between the different aspects of the outdoor community as when it comes to WMA’s usage they account for LESS THAN 800 $25. permits sold per year and if I am not mistaken it would only take a simple RULE CHANGE from the DEP commissioner to restrict those few riding permit users to Sundays ONLY during all hunting seasons and I for one would not want to see sportsmen rally against additional WMA’s being opened to riding and I know that there are WMA’s currently under review for this status as I write this.

Of the large number of WMA’s owned by the state I believe only 12 right now are covered by riding permits and I know people who have requested an extension of this number like it or not we may need the support of the hunting community to expand this.

I personally know of riders who enjoy the trails at Assinpink during every week of the year even during the firearms deer seasons with out limiting their rides to Sundays yet have you ever heard of a horse being injured there (or any place else) by anyone who was legally hunting?
PLEASE we are talking about hunting with bows and arrows here and only on WMA’s and on private lands with the land owners consent.
There does not seem to be a problem in N.Y. and they allow hunting with center fire rifles on state parks 7 days a week, this is not the case in NJ and it is not even on the table.

It makes me chuckle every time I read BB postings and “Letters to the Editor” from animal rights people and those manipulated by their misinformation, when talking about the use of public lands or even the land YOU own they immediately try to grab the high ground and claim to be speaking for all people (With the exception of those they are targeting), how clever what historic figures have done THAT in the past!
Lets look at who has supported the Sunday bow hunting bill, the NJ Farm Bureau,the NJ Audobon Society ,the NJ Conservation foundation, along with a number of others not coming to mind right now who go well beyond the regular “Hook and Bullet crowd of supporters.
Those who have taken a serious look at both conservation and recreation agree on this bill and support it that is why it has gone as far as it has.
We went to kindergarten and should have learned to share back than lets put it into practice now before our failure to do so costs us.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Hmmm.. when someone comes on, has one post to their name, and starts out with how a sole woman rider was abusive to an officer...makes you wonder about their starting bias.

[SierrasMommy]

I keep my horse in Howell, NJ, so this is a very important issue for me and my barn mates. Unfortunately for me, I live in Staten Island, NY, so it is not an issue affecting my home area, esp. when you consider how small the horse industry has become on SI (very few horses/horse owners left with only about 3-5 barns at most left on the Island). Is there any way you know of that I could contact someone or would I have to go through NY senators and hope they can get the word? I'm not big into politics, so I don't know the protocol.

[Arizona DQ]

Originally Posted by Mulhockaway

Sunday bow hunting for deer on WMA’s and ones own land.
Why would people who enjoy horses side with the animal rights community on this issue?
It seems strange to me since there is no evidence to support the claims against bow hunters or bow hunting and their compatibility with other uses of State wildlife management areas.
Fact is WMA’s were purchased FOR HUNTING and ALL of the upkeep for them still comes out of the hunter and anglers dedicated fund weather or not they were purchased with Green acres funding or not.
Horse owners have far more in common with the hunting community than many of them realize and may want to consider that since they to are persecuted by the animal rights community who are fundamentally against ALL ANIMAL USE.
Look at what is going on in England, in the eyes of most all animal rights groups there is no separation from chasing a fox and hunting deer with a bow both endeavors will be ended if they get their way.

Horse owners and particularly trail riders stand to loose access to WMA’s should they continue to allow animal rights agitators to drive a wedge between the different aspects of the outdoor community as when it comes to WMA’s usage they account for LESS THAN 800 $25. permits sold per year and if I am not mistaken it would only take a simple RULE CHANGE from the DEP commissioner to restrict those few riding permit users to Sundays ONLY during all hunting seasons and I for one would not want to see sportsmen rally against additional WMA’s being opened to riding and I know that there are WMA’s currently under review for this status as I write this.

Of the large number of WMA’s owned by the state I believe only 12 right now are covered by riding permits and I know people who have requested an extension of this number like it or not we may need the support of the hunting community to expand this.

I personally know of riders who enjoy the trails at Assinpink during every week of the year even during the firearms deer seasons with out limiting their rides to Sundays yet have you ever heard of a horse being injured there (or any place else) by anyone who was legally hunting?
PLEASE we are talking about hunting with bows and arrows here and only on WMA’s and on private lands with the land owners consent.
There does not seem to be a problem in N.Y. and they allow hunting with center fire rifles on state parks 7 days a week, this is not the case in NJ and it is not even on the table.

It makes me chuckle every time I read BB postings and “Letters to the Editor” from animal rights people and those manipulated by their misinformation, when talking about the use of public lands or even the land YOU own they immediately try to grab the high ground and claim to be speaking for all people (With the exception of those they are targeting), how clever what historic figures have done THAT in the past!
Lets look at who has supported the Sunday bow hunting bill, the NJ Farm Bureau,the NJ Audobon Society ,the NJ Conservation foundation, along with a number of others not coming to mind right now who go well beyond the regular “Hook and Bullet crowd of supporters.
Those who have taken a serious look at both conservation and recreation agree on this bill and support it that is why it has gone as far as it has.
We went to kindergarten and should have learned to share back than lets put it into practice now before our failure to do so costs us.

Well said! Until more horse people quit spouting the Animal Right's message, we are ALL at risk to lose more than just a few days riding per year!!! How about the right to OWN horses all together??? They are after pet owners, horses will be next!

[lolalola]

This isn't an anti-hunter issue. It is an issue about having one day of the week for non-hunters of any persuasion to enjoy the public lands they help fund without fear of crossing hunters. Maybe bow-hunting isn't so bad - don't kid yourself, gunning on Sunday will be the next step. In our town, hunters have shot right into people's houses. Every year, one of the farmers around here had a cow shot - I recall him saying, "Do I have to spray-paint COW on the side of each of them??"

Let hunters have the woodlands six days a week for hunting. Let non-hunters have it one day, a Sunday, for their uses. It's been that way for years. Now why the change?

[enjoytheride]

I don't understand how this is an animal rights issue. I also don't understand where all the new posters came from spouting hunting knowledge.

It doesn't seem like the horse people are against hunting.

It seems like riding your horse while people are allowed to hunt is dangerous and they would like one day where it is safe.

How many riders consider it unsafe to ride while people are bow or other hunting?

[JSwan]

enjoytheride -

I don't know who all these people are but Sunday hunting is usually a pretty volatile issue.

The bans are holdovers from the old blue laws.

Pretty strong feelings on either side - mostly centered on religious beliefs. Though AR groups will never support any measure that allows hunting.


I foxhunt and am in the woods during all the seasons. Doesn't bother me one bit. I hunt on private and public land, and allow hunting on my farm.

No biggie to me. I'm more afraid of being hit by a car than I am a bullet.

[Mulhockaway]

SierrasMommy,
Since you are from NY it might interest you to know ALL HUNTING is allowed in your home state 7 days a week not just bow hunting on ones own land or on land maintained by hunters but on State Parks and Forests too.
I would think if those animal rights people who have been misrepresenting the proposed legislation in an effort to get others to act out of FEAR had any actual FACTS to go with their rhetoric they would be using it. "A guy shot a bla bla during bla bla bla" is not a supporting fact.
Do some looking into how many horses are shot in NY by legitimate bow hunters (I do not think this has EVER EVEN HAPPEND) and you will see that horse owners are being manipulated by the very animal rights groups who will someday be coming after YOUR right to ride.

[Lori B]

I don't think anyone cares which weekend day is hunting free, they just want there to be ONE single, blankety-blank day in the fall where one can trail ride, bird watch, etc. without wrapping themselves in orange and making a giant bet on the good sense and abilities of a bunch of folks carrying guns.

Let it be Saturday that is hunting free instead. I bet no one would care. But it really does only seem fair that there is one day a week where we don't have to be worried about sharing what in some areas is a scarce resource, open space, with hunters. Hunters make mistakes. Really. I don't have to hate hunting or hunters to know that this is a simple fact.

There are many outdoor activities whose participants don't have the same goals or needs as hunters. Why should those taxpaying, outdoor space using citizens be excluded from a reasonable request as to the use of these resources?

[Mulhockaway]

Lori B,
Argue about the issue at hand and that is about a bill that is about BOWS and ARROWS (NOT GUNS) and it is about State WMA's and what is done on private property which can be open to bowhunting on Sunday or closed to it acording to the whishes of the one who owns it.
CLOUDING the issue with falsehooods has become the trademark of those who oppose this bill out of hate,fear and ignorance but have little facts to call upon to support their stand.

If horse riders who use the WMA's feel so strongly about their intolerance for bowhunters would they than support further steps to protect them by joining with those who would request that the VERY FEW riding permits sold be limited ONLY to days when NO HUNTING is allowed on WMA's?

[Lori B]

My opinion is unchanged if you substitute bows & arrows.

I don't hate anyone or anything in this discussion, except for being screamed at by someone who is not a regular participant on this board. Why do you keep bringing up hate?

Whether a hunter is using a gun or a bow, if a hunter makes a mistake, and I and my horse (or dog, or kid) are in the path of that mistake, someone can die. I still think that it is not unreasonable that non-hunting users of WMAs and other public open spaces should be able to use those spaces free from worry about making themselves visible to hunters one freaking day a week. I don't care if it's Saturday or Sunday.

Why are you so angry? No one here is yelling at you.

[Mulhockaway]

LoriB,
I’m not yelling just adding emphasis to facts sorry if you took it that way but I am posting about what is happening in my state of NJ.
Look at the thread topic and you who are not harmed at all by Sunday bowhunting in NJ and living in Maryland a state that allows Sunday hunting with by all means on private land seem to feel you have something to gain by attacking a bill in a state you don’t even live in just like so many animal rights people are doing now.
Condemn me for being a new poster I was invited here by a friend who is both a rider and a bow hunter (Who is a long time lerker that rarely posts) who asked me to come here and counter the falsehoods surrounding many of the posts about this NJ bill.
You stand a far greater chance of having something happen to you and your horse when you trailer what’s next do you expect to have the public roads to yourself too?
Once again what someone does on their own land should be up to them and in NJ trail riders have far more options than public land hunters do under this bill.