National Shooting Sports Foundation

NEWTOWN, Conn --(Ammoland.com)- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is encouraging all hunters, sportsmen, gun owners and firearms enthusiasts to contact their representative and urge him/her to support H.R. 2834.

This legislation that would require federal public land management officials, in cooperation with the respective state and fish and wildlife agency, to consider in federal public land use planning facilitating and providing access for hunting, recreational shooting and fishing.

The bill will be voted on TODAY in the House Natural Resources Committee. Please do the following IMMEDIATELY:

1. Call the Natural Resources Committee and urge the committee members to vote for H.R. 2834 and support America’s sportsmen and woman by helping to provide more access and opportunity for hunting, recreational shooting and fishing on public lands. Phone: 202-225-2761.
2. Call your representative at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to support H.R. 2834, too.

To find your representative, click here.

Visit NSSF’s Government Relations site at nssf.org/GovRel.

About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.

New Jersey Bow Hunting Bill Signed Into Law

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- Now that the bill has passed and will soon become law we can stop smiling over a job well done and answer the question, why was this bill so important to bow hunters?

First of all we have to understand what exactly the bill does. It allows a legally licensed bow hunter to hunt from an elevated stand at a distance of 150’ from a building or structure.

You still must have the legal right to be on the property, you can not trespass on posted private property and you can not be within 450’ of a school playground. If we take a quick look at the old 450’ law and draw a circle around a dwelling it excluded 14 acres of huntable area. The new law excludes only 2 acres.

This becomes important if your neighbor is an anti hunter and wants to stop you from hunting your own property. If you and your neighbor own adjoining five acre lots the 450’ law would exclude you from bow hunting on almost all of your property. Also it allows the bow hunter to have more of an impact in controlling urban deer populations which before this law passed they did not have access to. These urban deer populations populations are also the ones causing most of the problems. The most common of these being deer car collisions, destruction of trees and plants and the spread of Lyme disease. When hunters have access to a deer population, the State, through the setting of seasons and bag limits can do its job in controlling these populations. Without access there is no control.

With each victory by the sportsmen and women of New Jersey comes the responsibility to live up to the high expectations that are being placed on us.

We will never convince the anti-hunters that we have a right to even exist. It is the non-hunting public that in the end will decide our fate. We have a great opportunity with the passage of the Sunday bow hunting bill last year and the perimeter bow bill this session to show the people of the State of New Jersey that hunters are an important tool in wildlife management. It is important to remember that hunting is a privilege granted by legislation.

We must always remember that safety comes first and the best shot very often is the one not taken. If we continue to police our own ranks and prove to the public their trust in us is well deserved we will continue to make strides in increasing hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities in New Jersey.

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earths resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

Outdoor Industry Association

BOULDER, CO --(Ammoland.com)- Outdoor Industry Association is thrilled to announce that the House of Representatives passed a bill today that will grant full and guaranteed funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2010(H.R. 3534) will dedicate $900 million each year to LWCF, the federal government’s main program for preserving open space and building and enhancing parks, trails and recreation infrastructure throughout the U.S. The House passed the bill by a vote of 209-192.

“OIA thanks every member of the House who voted for this bill and specifically recognizes Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV) for his vision and commitment to achieving full and dedicated funding for LWCF,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of OIA.

LWCF has had a profound effect on the recreation landscape of this country. The federal land acquisition portion of the program is the key source of funds to purchase lands for national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and the Bureau of Land Management. The Stateside program has funded over 41,000 projects including sports fields, outdoor recreation facilities and trails. LWCF dollars expand and improve opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, backcountry skiing, camping, hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and other outdoor recreation activities. The fund has helped to enhance iconic American landscapes like Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Florida Everglades, and the Appalachian Trail.

A fully funded LWCF supports the outdoor recreation economy. Retail sales and travel expenses associated with activities like hiking, fishing, camping, climbing, mountain biking, river rafting, and wildlife viewing contribute $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy, supporting 6.5 million jobs across the U.S. and generating $88 billion in annual state and federal tax revenue

A healthy LWCF also supports conservation related jobs. A study by the University of Massachusetts found that every $1 million spent on LWCF projects and on national, state and local parks, creates more than 20 jobs on average.

“Securing full and dedicated funding for LWCF has been a priority issue for OIA and the outdoor industry for many years and today’s vote is historic step in realizing that vision. However, the work is not over. The focus now moves to the Senate which will debate a bill granting full funding for LWCF next week. We encourage our members to make sure your senators know how important this vote is to the outdoor recreation community,” said Amy Roberts, vice president of Government Affairs for OIA.

About Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. OIA provides trade services for over 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. OIA programs include representation in government/legislative affairs, market and social research, business-to-business services and youth outreach initiatives. Educational events include the annual Rendezvous®, Outdoor University®, and the Capitol Summit. Outdoor Industry Association is based in Boulder, Colorado, and is the title sponsor of the Outdoor Retailer tradeshows. For more information go to www.outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.

AmmoLand Gun News

Sacramento, CA --(Ammoland.com)- Senator Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach) announced today that Senate Bill 1058 has passed out of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. SB 1058 seeks to ensure that hunting license tag and stamp funds benefit game species and their habitats. The bill is sponsored by the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA).

“I am extremely pleased that my colleagues in the Assembly policy committee unanimously passed this important piece of conservation legislation,” said Harman. “I am hopeful it will make it all the way to the Governor for signature.”

Current law has allowed hunting tag funds to be used for non-game purposes. SB 1058 will protect these funds by requiring that, before any of the hunting tag monies can be expended, hunting-related organizations would have an opportunity to review proposed projects and provide comment to the Department of Fish and Game.

“SB 1058 will further two causes that I am passionate about: increased transparency in government spending and conservation of the environment,” Harman stated.

SB 1058, a reintroduction of Harman’s Senate Bill 589 last year, will now head to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration. Senate Bill 1058 addresses concerns raised by the Administration last year when the Governor vetoed SB 589.

Senator Harman represents the cities of Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Rossmoor, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and portions of Buena Park, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Westminster.

Iowas Funding Plan for the Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Act

Ducks Unlimited

DES MOINES, Iowa --(AmmoLand.com)- Following an important vote on Monday, Iowa moved one step closer to creating a permanent and dedicated Natural Resource and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.

This legislation will protect and improve the state’s water quality, agricultural soils, natural areas and fish and wildlife habitat.

Iowa’s House of Representatives passed Senate File 2310 by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 92-7, following a unanimous 50-0 passage by the Senate in late February. This legislation will be forwarded to Governor Culver’s desk to hopefully be signed into law. Enactment of this bill will provide greater clarity and accountability of allocation and distribution of funds from the new trust fund. Voters will be able to vote on this bill during the general ballot election on November 2, 2010.

“The future looks much brighter for Iowa’s wetland and waterfowl resources,” said James Roetman DU’s Iowa volunteer state chairman from Pocahontas.

“The passage of this important legislation provides much more specificity, understanding and assurance to Iowa voters and our members that these funds will be invested wisely, and as intended, as they head to the polls in November.”

The legislatively-created Sustainable Natural Resources Advisory Committee provided recommendations for SF 2310. The bill broadly defines that trust fund moneys be allocated and invested toward protection and enhancement of Iowa’s natural resources and outdoor recreational amenities.

These recommendations were based on specific natural resource needs and current funding limitations estimated at approximately $150 million per year. According to the advisory committee, Iowa ranks 47th out of 50 states nationally in current conservation spending and 49th in total public land ownership.

Ducks Unlimited has a long history of involvement in this effort and is supportive of the proposed constitutional amendment.

“This will help accelerate the conservation of wetlands, shallow lakes, wildlife management areas and other important waterfowl habitats in Iowa,” said Steve Adair DU director of the Great Plains Regional Office.

“DU has worked closely with many other organizations and supporters to build strong bipartisan support for this legislation,” said Roetman. “We’re grateful for the overwhelming support it received in both chambers and realize it’s now up to Iowa voters to make this vision a reality on November second.”

At least three other states have amended their respective constitutions to provide dedicated funding for habitat conservation including Missouri in 1976, Arkansas in 1996 and Minnesota in 2008.

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved over 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Trenton, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- The NJ Legislature took a major step forward in passing a piece of forest stewardship legislation that the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance has been supporting along with other conservation organizations. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM APPROVED BY ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) The measure (A3239) and (companion bill S713) would direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a forest stewardship program for owners of forest land who prepare forest stewardship plans for five acres of land or more. Under the bill, plans would be required to meet the rules and regulations of sustainability, list the owner’s long term stewardship goals for the forest land and the annual activities that will be implemented in the forest.

The bill also would direct the DEP to:

• Establish a cost share incentive program, “New Jersey Forest Stewardship Incentive Program,” if funds are appropriated or otherwise made available for the support and funding of such a program, the DEP would award grants to local government units, non-profit organizations, and private owners of forest land to help subsidize their costs in implementing stewardship activities.
• Create a forest stewardship advisory council
• Prepare a report every seven years based on these forest sustainability criteria and indicators, with the first report required by February 1st of the third year following the date of enactment.

The bill would further provide that no local government unit may enact, on or after the date of enactment of this bill into law, any ordinance, rule, or resolution, as appropriate, that conflicts with, prevents or impedes the implementation of a forest stewardship plan or impose a fee in excess of $100 in any calendar year for the cutting of trees on any land that is the subject of an approved forest stewardship plan.

This bill would amend the “Landowner’s Liability Act,” which provides general liability protection to landowners (as well as lessees and occupants of the lands) under certain circumstances for defined sport and recreational activities including hunting, fishing and trapping. However, current law removes that protection when permission is granted in exchange for payment such as a fee or lease agreement. This bill would remove this inhibition on lands where the landowner is implementing an approved forest stewardship plan and the use of the forest land for sport or recreational activity is consistent with the plan for sustainability.

JOIN NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

About:
NJOA – The mission of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. We will champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation – including fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders and policy makers. We will support legislation, and those sponsoring legislation, that provides lasting ecological and social enrichment through sustainable use of the earth’s resources. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

WASHINGTON, DC –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has affirmed its support of Senate Bill 1470, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act, legislation that would fulfill twin goals of sustaining traditional conservation values and fish and wildlife resources in Montana while upholding the forest-based jobs that form the economic bedrock of communities throughout the state.

The TRCP decision heightens the ongoing efforts by a number of prominent sportsmen-conservationist groups, including the Montana Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, the Mule Deer Foundation and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, to promote S. 1470 and furthers the TRCP’s aim of building consensus on natural resource policy issues affecting citizens in Montana and across the country.

Introduced by Montana Sen. Jon Tester, the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act would sustain the economic development and recreational use of National Forest System lands and other public lands in Montana, add lands to the National Wilderness Preservation System, release certain wilderness study areas and designate new areas for recreation.

A letter sent to Sen. Tester by the TRCP reads, “This legislation represents a unique and sensible approach to resolve natural resource management conflicts by combining three distinct collaborative efforts – Three Rivers Challenge, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership – among timber companies, recreation groups, sportsmen, and wilderness advocates to resolve natural resources gridlock.”

Bill Geer, director of the TRCP Center for Western Lands and a Montana resident, was quick to laud S. 1470 and the valuable public-lands conservation that would result from its passage. To illustrate, Geer pointed to data gathered from the TRCP’s Sportsmen Values Mapping Project, which captures sportsmen’s input to delineate important hunting and fishing areas.

“When a map of the geographic areas incorporated into the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act is overlaid on the TRCP Sportsmen Value Maps, we see that every area included in the bill is ranked by Montana sportsmen as ‘moderate to high value’ bread-and-butter hunting and fishing areas,” said Geer. “These are the areas in which sportsmen in 43 clubs in 32 towns across the state say they want the hunting and fishing values retained in the face of development. S. 1470 would enable that conservation.”

“The TRCP has deemed the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act a solid collaborative approach providing substantial benefits to sportsmen,” said TRCP President and CEO George Cooper. “We are pleased to lend our support to Senator Tester’s bill and look forward to continued opportunities to work together with our conservation partners to guarantee the future of America’s cherished hunting and fishing heritage.”

The Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests will convene a hearing on Dec. 17 to further consider S. 1470. Representatives of the sportsmen’s community will be in Washington to testify on behalf of the legislation.

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions
of hunting and fishing.

California Outdoor Heritage Alliance

Sacramento, CA - -(AmmoLand.com)- After more than 3 years of lobbying efforts, the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) has succeeded in including $110 million for waterfowl and wetland habitat conservation efforts in a statewide bond measure that, with the Governor’s expected signature, will appear on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

COHA was pleased to work with its founding member, California Waterfowl, as well as its conservation partners, Ducks Unlimited and the Grasslands Water District, to include this important funding as part of an overall $11.14 billion water bond package.

The measure, entitled the “Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010″, includes language COHA helped draft which calls for “at least $100 million” to be allocated to the Wildlife Conservation Board for the purchase of water rights and water conveyance infrastructure for wildlife refuges and habitat areas under the federal Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA). These waterfowl habitat areas include Central Valley National Wildlife Refuges, state Wildlife Management Areas and private duck clubs within the Grasslands Resource Conservation District in Merced County – areas which provide significant hunting opportunity for waterfowl, pheasant and other game birds.

The measure also includes COHA written language which would provide an additional $10 million for private lands wetland conservation programs administered by the Department of Fish and Game – including the California Waterfowl Habitat Program (i.e. Presley Program) – that offer financial incentives to duck clubs and other private landowners to protect and enhance the wildlife values of their property.

COHA wishes to thank Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Fresno), the author of the bond measure, as well as Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Members Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) and Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto), for their considerable efforts to include our funding provisions. To take effect, the measure must be approved by the California electorate on November 2010 statewide ballot.

About:
The California Outdoor Heritage Alliance is a 501(c) 4 non-profit political advocacy organization dedicated solely to the promotion of wildlife and the protection of our hunting heritage. COHA professional staff is active at the California State Legislature, Congress, State Fish and Game Commission, State and Federal resource agencies and all other political arenas where decisions are made which may impact wildlife management, habitat conservation, wildlife program funding, hunting access and opportunity, and your ability to purchase and possess sporting arms and munitions. COHA was created in early 2006 by the California Waterfowl Association. For more information on COHA and its efforts, visit their website at www.outdoorheritage.org

Outdoor Industry Association

BOULDER, CO –-(AmmoLand.com)- Congress has approved a 17 percent increase in total funding over last year’s level for the Department of the Interior (DOI) which manages a vast majority of the nation’s public lands. The final bill H.R. 2996,

http://www.outdoorindustry.org/pdf/ConferenceReportDOI2010.pdf

designates over $32 billion to the DOI, an increase in $4.66 billion compared to last year. Notable victories for the outdoor recreation community include invigorated funding levels for the federal and stateside Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as well as authorization and support for the FLAME Act which is aimed at managing the escalating costs of wildfire.

Systematically underfunded in the past, the LWCF received revived attention from lawmakers this year. The conference committee approved $265.3 million for federal LWCF, a figure that exceeds last year’s funding level by $100 million. The committee has designated $40 million to stateside LWCF, twice the amount specified in last year’s appropriations.

The bill also creates the FLAME Fund which sets aside resources for fire suppression emergencies to avoid drawing from non-fire operations such as the budgets that fund campgrounds and trails. The conference report allots $474 million to the fund for FY2010, $61 million of which will go to the Bureau of Land Management and $413 million will be allotted to the Forest Service.

Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) appreciates the leadership that congressional members have shown for outdoor recreation and land stewardship throughout the appropriations process.

“The vast majority of outdoor recreation occurs on our magnificent public lands and in order for the recreation economy to continue to grow as well as for Americans to enjoy the health and spiritual benefits of outdoor recreation, we as a nation must invest in the management of these wonderful resources. This budget reflects that priority,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of OIA.

Here is a brief list of additional highlights from the spending bill:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Management Planning program will receive nearly $50 million this year, a $2 million increase over last year and slightly below the $52.5 million recommended by OIA.

The BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System will receive a nearly $8 million increase over last year’s funding, just shy of the OIA recommendation.

The National Park Service’s (NPS) operating budget was approved at $130 million more than last year’s level, exceeding the OIA recommendation of a $100 million increase.

The committee approved the NPS’s Centennial Initiative for $15 million, $10 million below both the House request and the OIA recommendation.

The Forest Service’s Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness program was approved for $285 million which is a $7.5 million increase over last year.

The committee allotted $85.4 million for the Forest Service Trails program which is a $4.4 million increase over last year.

The final version of the spending bill will go to President Obama for his signature.

Click here (http://www.outdoorindustry.org/pdf/ConferenceReportDOI2010.pdf) to be directed to the full text of the conference committee report.

About Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Industry Association® (OIA) is a national trade association whose mission is to ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry. OIA provides trade services for over 4000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry. OIA programs include representation in government/legislative affairs, market and social research, business-to-business services and youth outreach initiatives. Educational events include the annual Rendezvous®, Outdoor University® and the Capitol Summit. Outdoor Industry Association is based in Boulder, Colorado, and is the title sponsor of the Outdoor Retailer tradeshows. For more information, visit http://www.outdoorindustry.org or call 303.444.3353.

California Outdoor Heritage Alliance

Sacramento, CA --(AmmoLand.com)-Two other wildlife conservation bills supported by COHA were also recently signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.

AB 94 (Evans) extends the “Natural Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Act” for five years and deletes the monetary limit on the award of tax credits pursuant to the Act. The bill maintains important financial incentives offered through the Act for private property owners to voluntarily contribute lands to the State of California, local governments or nonprofits at a reduced cost to the public. Such lands not only have significant wildlife conservation values, but may also provide much-needed recreational opportunities for the public, including hunting and fishing.

SB 448 (Pavley) creates the “California Safe Harbor Agreement Program Act” to encourage private landowners to voluntarily manage their property for the benefit of threatened and endangered species without being subject to additional regulatory restrictions. This is an appropriate legal approach in COHA’s view, since additional take regulations would hinder conservation efforts in many cases by compelling landowners to not participate in habitat protection programs. By ensuring that the program creates a “net conservation benefit” without jeopardizing the continued existence of a particular species, COHA believes the bill will improve land management practices in a landowner-friendly manner.

About:
The California Outdoor Heritage Alliance is a 501(c) 4 non-profit political advocacy organization dedicated solely to the promotion of wildlife and the protection of our hunting heritage. COHA professional staff is active at the California State Legislature, Congress, State Fish and Game Commission, State and Federal resource agencies and all other political arenas where decisions are made which may impact wildlife management, habitat conservation, wildlife program funding, hunting access and opportunity, and your ability to purchase and possess sporting arms and munitions. COHA was created in early 2006 by the California Waterfowl Association. For more information on COHA and its efforts, visit their website at www.outdoorheritage.org