New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- Hooked on Fishing not on Drugs (A638), a bill that the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance has made a priority to become law was unanimously approved by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week.

NJOA (CF) council members present at the hearing and testifying in favor of the bill were New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, Jersey Coast Anglers Association, and New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. Other groups also testified for the bill, including New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association.

Committee members:

• Albano, Nelson T. (D)
• Clifton, Robert D. (R)
• Wilson, Gilbert L. (D)
• Caride, Marlene (D)
• Dancer, Ronald S. (R)

Bill sponsors:

• Rumpf, Brian E. as Primary Sponsor
• Conaway, Herb, Jr. as Primary Sponsor
• Gove, DiAnne C. as Primary Sponsor
• Albano, Nelson T. as Primary Sponsor
• Wolfe, David W. as Co-Sponsor
• Diegnan, Patrick J., Jr. as Co-Sponsor
• McHose, Alison Littell as Co-Sponsor
• Moriarty, Paul D. as Co-Sponsor
• Chiusano, Gary R. as Co-Sponsor
• Rumana, Scott T. as Co-Sponsor
• Peterson, Erik as Co-Sponsor
• Burzichelli, John J. as Co-Sponsor

Bill A638 (HOFNOD) would establish a program within the Division of Fish and Wildlife to encourage children to avoid drug use. HOFNOD is a nationally recognized program developed by the Future Fisherman Foundation which has operated successfully in over a dozen states.

The program’s funding source would be the Drug Enforcement and Demand Reduction Fund (DEDRF) from which there would be a $200,000 appropriation to support the cost of implementing the program. This is a statutory account established to receive fines and penalties from convicted drug offenders that are used to support State authorized drug and alcohol abuse abatement programs.

Ed Markowski, President of NJOA (EP) and a long-time champion of the bill said, “HOFNOD is a uniquely designed approach to drug prevention among our youth. It is as effective with urban kids as it is with suburban and rural kids. HOFNOD consists of developing positive life skills while providing an appreciation of wildlife and the outdoors with the catalyst being the teaching of angling skills to school-aged children.”

The legislation is scheduled to be heard by Senate Environment and Energy Committee (S178) on Thursday, February 9, 2012. If approved, it would need to be passed by the full Assembly and full Senate to be sent to Governor Christie to be signed into law.

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- Two years ago the NJOA CF initiated a meeting with Senator Robert Smith (D-District 17) regarding the need for expanded forest stewardship practices in New Jersey.

The original meetings included NJOA CF Directors of Forestry, Bob Williams and Doug Tavella. Also included was NJ Audubon.

As a result, a forest stewardship bill was signed into law by Governor Corzine. Since that time the NJOA CF has led the effort in bringing together a coalition of groups to advance environmental stewardship, forestry management, deer management and more.

We have been working closely with New Jersey Audubon, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Nature Conservancy, NJ DEP, Parks and Forestry, Division of Fish and Wildlife and state policy makers to strike a balance between a healthy environment, the management of wildlife resources and the optimization of fishing and hunting opportunities.

I am glad to report that we have made significant progress since we initiated the endeavor two years ago. Not only are we helping to advance a diverse set of forest stewardship initiatives in areas like the Pinelands and on State properties, but our efforts also include plans for fishing and hunting mentorship opportunites as well as a permanent source of revenue for Hunters Helping the Hungry, a program that provides venison to those in need of quality protein.

Since our initiative began the NJOA CF has not only included the expertise of professional foresters but has added the skill of wildlife biologists, conservation officers and other specialists. Also contributing are NJOA CF council members including; Jersey Coast Anglers Association, New Jersey Forestry Association, Society of American Foresters, New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and United Bowhunters of New Jersey.

We are glad to be working on behalf of a better environment and to provide diverse opportunities for NJOA members. We will continue to provide updates on our progress.

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- Some of you may have read that two anti-fishing and anti-hunting groups may file complaints with NJ Election Law Commission over a rally held by the NOJA last year.

The rally was to bring awareness to forest stewardship, clean water, fishing, hunting and the need to protect the outdoor freedoms we enjoy.

We named the rally, “R.O.O.R.” (Rescue Our Outdoor Rally). We had a number of guest speakers; Non Government Organizations (Jersey Coast Anglers Assoc., NJ Quail Project, Reef Rescue, and NJOA Conservation Foundation), as well as eight (8) or more members of the senate and assembly — including democrats and republicans. Candidate Christie was also a speaker. The rally was issue oriented and we all had a wonderful time (even the rainy weather paused for most of the rally.)

It is common knowledge that the three New Jersey Outdoor Alliance organizations have taken a leadership role in advancing environmental stewardship by means of conservation. In response to this direction, it is predictable that special interest groups would struggle to maintain their control over the status quo, regardless if the status quo is comprised of poorly conceived protectionist policies.

However, the consequence of protectionist policies is the degradation of our forests and waters; they have caused destruction to habitat and put undue stress on wildlife. Protectionist policies have contributed to an overabundance of deer and bears, and have played a significant role in bringing quail, grouse, redheaded woodpeckers, and other species in NJ to the brink of extirpation. The cumulative effect of these detrimental policies is now compromising public safety.

I can’t say with certainty why the anti-fishing and anti-hunting groups are acting with malice, but this email is a reminder that all of the volunteers at the NJOA will continue to act responsibly and on behalf of the best interests of the outdoors community. We will pursue our mission to educate others about the workings of the environment and lead the way in establishing conservation measures as the primary means of safeguarding our natural resources.

Thank you for your support.

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

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- There’s a spokesperson that is often quoted in the media on environmental issues I refer to by the fictitious name, Guru Jane. Guru Jane is quoted on a wide range of proposed environmental policy changes and conspicuously every position taken is, “no.”

Excuse the slang, but, “No,” is no environmental policy, at least not a policy with any substance.

Whether we are building a home, paving a new road, constructing office space, erecting a manufacturing plant or some other initiative the issue should be measured using a cost/benefit analysis between environmental impacts and economic benefits to society. Unless we have each resigned ourselves to dwelling in tents and living off the wilderness many of our modern day living choices comes with real environmental impacts.

Functioning ecosystems sustain human societies. The food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe are the result of natural processes on which we all depend. On the other hand, building homes, roads, office space and manufacturing plants provide employment opportunities and paychecks for people to feed their families, generate tax revenue that subsidize programs that are of benefit to society and offer opportunities for better living.

The key to weighing the merits of environmental tradeoffs is understanding the mechanisms of conservation (sustainable use) and how we might make use of them to work with Mother Nature so that we don’t compromise the integrity of our environment as we sustain or achieve our societal needs or preferences.

An Actual 'NO Policy' group's NO BEAR HUNT lawn signs.

A good illustration of the flaws inherent in a “no” policy can be made from public testimony during the recent hearing on NJ Department of Environmental Protection Black Bear Management Policy. The testimony of animal activist groups such as NJ Sierra, HSUS and others was based on an animal rights philosophy; bears shouldn’t be hunted because they have a “right” to live. Ultimately, the statements made by these groups relied on emotional appeals and half-truths (such as hunting doesn’t cull problem bears). While a “No” policy may be useful posturing for stopping a bear hunt it does not resolve the substance of the matter, which is conservation (sustainable use); the creation of a balance between bears and habitat and minimizing bear/human conflicts.

Hunting is Mother Nature’s method of ensuring ecosystem balance. She does not grant animals “rights,” in fact, she uses a food web of predator/prey relationships (animals killing and eating plants other animals) as a means of sustaining life on earth and providing equilibrium in the ecosystem. If Mother Nature were to give plants and animals “rights” to live then how would life on earth be sustained? What would living things use for subsistence? A managed bear hunt not only provides a source of food for the hunter and his or her family, but in New Jersey’s case will help to provide equilibrium in the ecosystem with respect to available habitat and will assist in minimizing bear/human conflicts. Black bears are territorial creatures and culling opens up more territory for bears to recede from human contact as well as achieve reduction of aggregate numbers.

A common appeal made during the testimony by animal activists was, “Bears were here first and we shouldn’t kill them because we encroached on their wilderness.” There are two inherent problems in this statement. The first is that it divorces humankind from nature, when in fact we rely on nature for our everyday survival as much as any other living creature and no less than the earliest day our human forms occupied the earth. We’ve simply institutionalized the process through animal farming, agricultural farming and food distribution to the marketplace.

The second problem is that the statement lacks ownership. Yes, humankind developed wilderness to accommodate modern day living; however, no one opposing the bear hunt has razed their homes or businesses to provide more living area for burgeoning black bear populations. The statement is void of intellectual honesty and does nothing to address the bear quandary.

Environmental Terrorists Amongst Us
There is evidence that certain organizations operate under the veil of environmentalism as a means of advancing anti-industry and anti-globalization agendas rather than promoting legitimate environmental stewardship. These groups threatened law suits and misuse of legal loopholes to stop the bear hunt.

These radical environmentalists groups were at the Black Bear Policy hearing and should concern all conservationists.

I use the term “radical environmentalists” because their movement does nothing to acknowledge the mechanisms of conservation or promote true ecosystem health and they fail to see humankind as part of nature. Their covert mission is to destroy industry, which is more likely to harm society while doing little to help nature.

There are many instances when people and groups use “No” as a shroud for environmental stewardship, but it is not wise to consider “No” as sound environmental policy.

Understanding the precepts of conservation and giving equal significance to both environmental and economic variables is crucial for societal and environmental health. My next column will attempt to provide some insight in these decision making endeavors.

(Also published in Federation News)

• New Jersey Outdoor Alliance
• New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation
• New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Environmental Projects

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- On August 19, Governor Christie has signed into law the much awaited bow perimeter bill.

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Van Drew and Oroho, and Assemblypersons Burzichelli, McHose, Albano, Milam, Moriarity, Chiusano, Addiego, Rudder and Riley that reduces the safety perimeter for bowhunting from 450 feet to 150 feet around occupied buildings.

“The eradication of natural predators of deer, such as the grey wolf, the mountain lion and eastern coyote has allowed the deer population to thrive and increase,” said Chiusano.

“Hunting is vital to furthering agriculture in the state, and it helps preserve our forests. Bow hunting, in particular, is a safe and effective means of helping to control the deer herd which is essential to their overall well-being.”

Governor Christie also signed into law a measure that will authorize counties to develop community based deer management plans and apply for special deer management permits for county-owned lands.

The diverse conservation organizations that supported these bills include the United Bow Hunters of New Jersey, NJ Audubon, Jersey Coast Anglers Association, Trout Unlimited, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, NJ Farm Bureau.

The New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus have inspired new legislative leadership. Senators Donald Norcross and Steve Oroho will chair the Senate seats.

Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Gary Chiusano will chair the Assembly seats.

New Jersey joins thirty-eight fellow states of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. This sportsmen’s legislative caucus at its inception gathered interest from a bi-partisan group of twenty-six legislators, all having an interest in advancing angling, hunting, trapping, and forestry and conservation issues. The NJAHCC will provide opportunities for legislators, outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen to share information educate and inspire each other about the challenges and possibilities of New Jersey’s forests, marine, fish and wildlife resources.

The interaction between legislators and the outdoor community will ensure that our traditions and heritage that we cherish will continue and thrive. The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance looks forward with earnest working closely with our state caucus, the sharing of information, ideas and interaction with other state caucuses.

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

NJOSC Women's Trap Winners (L to R) Kayle Browning, Rachael Heiden, and Stephanie Martinago.

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. --(AmmoLand.com)- Just one week after the conclusion of USA Shooting’s National Shotgun Championships, juniors across the country have traveled or extended their stay in Colorado Springs to compete in the National Junior Olympic Shotgun Championships (NJOSC).

The competition was fierce in the trap events. In Women’s Trap, Rachael Heiden, who recently won the USAS National Championship title for Women’s Open Trap, conquered the NJOSC event as well.

Heiden walked into the final with a four target lead (113 birds) and shot a solid 23-target final. She finished with a big smile five targets above the competition.

The silver medalist was Kayle Browning at 131 total targets. Browning and bronze medalist Stephanie Martinago both entered the final with 109 targets, but Browning broke ahead as Martinago shot a 19 target final. In the J2 Category, leader Ashley Carroll finished sixth overall, yet won her division with 109 targets for J2 and a total of 122 targets with her final. She was followed by Brianne Radulovich at 104 targets and Erin Danhausen at 95 targets.

The Men’s Champion was Garrett Walters, who shot for 142 targets despite high winds and an impending thunderstorm. Walters nailed 24 straight, but missed the last target to fall one shy of a perfect round. Walters shot up from a second place tie to win the competition as silver medalist Jacob Gogno, who entered the final round with 121 targets, shot a 20-target final. The bronze medalist was Jake Wallace with 137 total targets. Wallace was tied with Walters at 118 targets going into the final, but couldn’t maintain the pace for gold. Your high J2 winner was David Radulovich with 116 targets.

He was followed by Dakotah Richardson, also at 116 targets. Radulovich narrowly beat out Richardson by one target in the second match to claim the top J2 title. The bronze medalist was TJ Bayer, a member of the World Championship Junior Shotgun Team, with 114 targets. Finally, the gold medalist of the J3 category was Nick Scholz at 105 targets. He was followed by silver medalist Will Dunnebacke (100 targets) and Tyler Lirio (100 targets).

In Men’s Double Trap, Ian Rupert smoked the competition today at the National Junior Olympic Championships (NJOSC) in the Men’s Double Trap final. Rupert finished with 175 targets–exactly four targets above silver medalist Garrett Walters. Rupert, a J2 competitor, is also a member of the World Shooting Championships Junior Shotgun Team. Walters, the gold medalist of the NJOSC Men’s Trap event, finished at 171 targets. The bronze medalist, David Radulovich, shot a strong 44 target final to finish at 170 targets. The high J2 for this event was Christian Wilkoski at 110 targets. The silver medalist in the J2 category was Tyler Auger with 102 targets. Auger squeezed one target ahead of bronze medalist Justin Brooks. In the J3 category, the gold medalist was Haden Green, who shot for 86 targets. He was followed by Connor Rinker (83 targets) and Lewis Thaggard (80 targets). USA Shooting was pleased with the strong Double Trap turnout–a good sign for the upcoming talent in the sport.

Men’s Skeet was a thrilling event- laden with shoot-offs and suspense. The gold medalist, Jon Michael McGrath, shot up from fourth place with a perfect 25 X 25 in the final round. McGrath gained a two target lead over the rest of the competition, finishing with 145 total targets, missing just five targets overall. Phillip Jungman, William Brazell, and Thomas Coggins were all tied at 143 targets after the final.

A shoot-off between the three quickly eliminated Coggins as he missed one bird; Jungman and Brazell turned up the heat as Brazell aimed and broke two, and Jungman echoed. When Brazell missed one target, Jungman held the crowd in suspense as he calmly fired on his last bird of the pair. A clean break assured the silver medal for Jungman, and Brazell became the bronze medalist. The high shooter of the J2 category was Granger DeWitt at 121 targets. DeWitt also finished sixth in the open division after losing a shoot-off to TJ Bayer. The J2 silver medalist was TJ Bayer at 118 targets (his open final does not count toward category awards). Luis Gloria was the bronze medalist at 118 targets. Coulter DeWitt was the high J3 winner. DeWitt was leaps and bounds above the competition at 108 targets. The silver medalist was Will Dunnebacke at 99 targets. Also scoring 99 targets was the bronze medalist Cole Britt.

Women’s Skeet was a battle between Resident Athletes Caitlin Connor and Jaiden Grinnell. Grinnell was leading by two targets after the first day of competition, but lost her stride as she shot a 42/50 in day two. Connor’s strong performance left her with a five target lead heading into the final, which she maintained throughout with a strong 25 target final. Connor, the gold medalist, finished at 144 targets and Grinnell, the silver medalist, scored 139 targets. The bronze medalist was Morgan Craft at 136 targets. The high J2 shotgunner was Brandy Drozd at 106 targets. Drozd also finished fourth in the open division. The silver medalist, and new to the podium, was Riley Moody at 97 targets. In third was Brianne Radulovich at 96 targets.

Winchester Ammunition

Winchester Ammunition is a Proud Sponsor of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team: Winchester® Ammunition has been the exclusive ammunition sponsor and supplier of the USA Shooting Shotgun Team since 1999. Members of the 2008 shotgun team brought home four medals from Beijing using Winchester AA International Target loads. Winchester is an industry leader in advancing and supporting conservation, hunter education and our country’s proud shooting sports heritage. For more information about Winchester and its complete line of products, visit www.winchester.com.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation is pleased to welcome Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association to its diverse council membership.

Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association is an organization made up of many local boats located at the southern jersey shore, from Ocean City to Cape May.

It joins an expanding group of influential conservation organizations that comprise the NJOACF Council. NJOACF is dedicated to advancing sound conservation policy in Trenton. We employ a full time government affairs group to work in conjunction with the NJOACF Council and volunteer force of officers, managers and representatives to make New Jersey a “conservation” state.

On behalf of all NJOACF and its supporters I’d like to welcome Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association to our council! You may learn more abut their organization by visiting their website: www.fishingnj.com

NJOACF Council:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association * New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

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

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Edison, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Dozens of outstanding white-tailed deer taken during New Jersey’s 2008-09 hunting seasons will be available for viewing at the upcoming Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show and Deer Classic.

This years show will be held from January 14 – 17 at Raritan Center in Edison. This year’s top entries will be recognized at the Deer Classic Awards Program on Sunday, January 17 at 2:30 p.m.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife will have a large display area at the show, where hunting and fishing licenses will be available for purchase and visitors will have the opportunity to speak with biologists representing different areas of expertise. Division biologists will also be presenting programs on Bass Fishing and Deer Hunting in New Jersey during the show.

A bow and arrow range staffed by certified Hunter Education instructors will be set up again this year, too. New this year is the opportunity for participants to try their hand at shooting a crossbow. The range is free and open to anyone aged 10 years and up.

Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s & Adventure Show

The Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show and Deer Classic is a great way for families to enjoy a day together learning about the great hunting and fishing opportunities in New Jersey as well as all of North America, and to see the latest in hunting, fishing and outdoor gear.

The Garden State Deer Classic is sponsored by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, United Bowhunters of New Jersey, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation and the Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show.

For more information on the Deer Classic visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/deerclassic.htm. Information on the Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show, including directions and seminar schedules can be viewed at www.gsoss.com.

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

“We’ve got your back!”

Garden State Deer Classic Display of record deer

New Jersey Fish and Game

Trenton, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Dozens of outstanding white-tailed deer taken during New Jersey’s 2008-09 hunting seasons will be available for viewing at the upcoming Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show and Deer Classic.

This years show will be held from January 14 – 17 at Raritan Center in Edison. This year’s top entries will be recognized at the Deer Classic Awards Program on Sunday, January 17 at 2:30 p.m.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife will have a large display area at the show, where hunting and fishing licenses will be available for purchase and visitors will have the opportunity to speak with biologists representing different areas of expertise. Division biologists will also be presenting programs on Bass Fishing and Deer Hunting in New Jersey during the show.

A bow and arrow range staffed by certified Hunter Education instructors will be set up again this year, too. New this year is the opportunity for participants to try their hand at shooting a crossbow. The range is free and open to anyone aged 10 years and up.

The Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show and Deer Classic is a great way for families to enjoy a day together learning about the great hunting and fishing opportunities in New Jersey as well as all of North America, and to see the latest in hunting, fishing and outdoor gear.

The Garden State Deer Classic is sponsored by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, United Bowhunters of New Jersey, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation and the Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show.

For more information on the Deer Classic visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/deerclassic.htm. Information on the Garden State Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show, including directions and seminar schedules can be viewed at www.gsoss.com.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Love of the outdoors that is. Since you are reading this there is a good chance that you have a tremendous love and respect for the outdoors.

The generations that proceeded left an incredible outdoor legacy for us and it is incumbent upon us to be environmental stewards for the generations that follow.

If you agree, we would enjoy having you as a volunteer for the NJOA. You don’t need to be an expert on any particular outdoor subject all you need is a desire to protect and defend our freedom to fish, hunt, trap and spread the word that these are key activities for environmental stewardship.

The NJOA is an “all volunteer” organization and we’ve found that our most successful working relationships have been with people who want to give back to our natural resources and who don’t mind leaving their egos at the door. We at the NJOA are “doers” and attitude comes first.

So why not join others who have helped the NJOA: put outdoor minded people in office, advance legislation to promote natural resource conservation, create New Jersey’s first angling and hunting caucus, etc. or just took the time to share their love of the outdoors with others.

Visit our website to learn more about the NJOA. You can also sign up to be a volunteer at the following link:

https://phibetagib.wufoo.com/forms/njoa-volunteer-applicationcontact-form/

Thank you for all you do for New Jersey’s great outdoors.

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Congratulations to the NJOA council, NJOA supporters and all conservationists for their hard work in electing Gov elect Christie.

The NJOA will be representing conservation interests on the Transition New Jersey sub-committee for Environmental Protection, which is chaired by Hon. Marcia Karrow.

“Tuesday, November 24, 2009, Governor Elect Christie Announces More Committee Members”

New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced today additional members of the Transition New Jersey sub-committees, including Environmental Protection… These sub-committees will conduct a top to bottom review of their respective government department and agency.

Environmental Protection

• Chair, The Honorable Marcia Karrow
• Former State Senator, 23rd District
• John Abene President, Delphi Energy
• Peter deNeufville Chairman, Voltaix, L.L.C.
• Anthony Mauro, Sr. Chairman, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance
• David Pringle Campaign Director, New Jersey Environmental Federation
• Steve Santola, Esq. Executive Vice President/General Counsel, Woodmont Properties
• John Spinello, Jr., Esq. Former Associate General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Edward Walsh President, The Walsh Company
• Anthony Slimowicz Director, WCD Capital Partners, LLC
• John Trela, Ph.D. Former Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection
• Rhea Brekke Executive Director, New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology
• Tony Monteiro CEO, Dynamic Insurance Inc.
• John Sartor Exectuvie Vice President, Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor, LLC
• Joseph Riggs Group President, K. Hovnanian Homes
• Bruce Katcher, Esq. Partner, Manko Gold Katcher & Fox LLP

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Maryland --(AmmoLand.com)-Also ending quietly last month was the Maryland Sportsmen’s Association, not quite 10 years old, the result of hunter apathy and sloppy paperwork.

Without the anti-hunting policies of the Parris Glendening administration to fire up the grass roots and with legislation breaking its way, MSA lost a lot of its raison d’etre.

“Nothing bad was happening. There were still little fights, but nothing scary,” said Wendy Donahoo, MSA’s final president.

Even worse, the founding fathers of MSA neglected to incorporate the organization, something that didn’t come to Donahoo’s attention until it was too late. When a group of hunters legally took the name for its club, MSA no longer had an identity.

At its zenith, MSA was the umbrella organization for sportsmen’s clubs statewide, with a membership of more than 5,000.

What did it accomplish?

• It lobbied successfully for the bear hunt, Sunday hunting and increased bag limits.
• It helped bridge differences between archery hunters during the creation of crossbow regulations.
• And in 2000, when budget cuts closed two state campgrounds in Western Maryland just before the start of deer season, MSA volunteers kept them open.

Now, there’s nothing left. And nothing is just what hunters are going to get. As a smart friend of mine said Friday:

“Now is not the time to park the car and walk away. Now is the time to keep the foot on the accelerator.”

The animal rights community already has taken notice.

Here’s my prediction:

• Expect heavy incoming rounds.
• Expect some serious anti-hunting legislation next session.
• Expect lobbyists in bear suits in the halls of Annapolis.
• Expect to lose some hunting opportunities.

And you know what, hunters? You deserve it.

About:
NJOACF Council Members: Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-The meaning of “grassroots” is “pertaining to, or involving the common people.” Grassroots is not like anything else in politics. Today’s major political movements tend to ignore the grassroots and focus almost exclusively on the use of media to gather winning support at the polls. But “grassroots” efforts are needed if we are to make enduring improvements to society.

Grassroots is a testimony to what we can do when we “get involved.” During the past two months the officers of the NJOA; Ed Markowski, Pete Grimbilas, Jerry Natale and Cory Wingerter, along with countless volunteers, traveled the length of the Garden State to speak at sportsmen’s clubs, hand out flyers at retail stores and talk with customers at bait & tackle shops in an effort to rally the common people and bring attention to the decaying condition of New Jersey’s outdoors.

Their efforts ended with the Rescue Our Outdoor Rally (R.O.O.R.), an initiative that highlighted the need to reverse the trends that are weakening the condition of our forests, waters, fish and wildlife. It was also a forum for Mr. Chris Christie to announce his commitment to reverse these trends.

So, I’d like to thank all of you – the common people – for being involved, for your efforts to get out the vote and for caring enough to make a difference. Change does not come easy and the election of Mr. Chris Christie as New Jersey’s next governor is only the first step in many that we will need to take in order to improve the condition of New Jersey’s outdoors.

As we take these steps and encounter challenges we now have a history of success to look back on for inspiration. In 2007 we, the “common people,” voted two state legislators opposed to fishing and hunting out of office and two pro-outdoor legislators into office in District 12. In 2008 we unified to elect Congressman John Adler to federal office. Now, in 2009, we helped to elect the next governor of New Jersey – Mr. Chris Christie.

Again, thank you. There are 650,000 anglers, hunters and conservationists in NJ. Our numbers are nearly 30% of the people who voted in yesterday’s election!

We can control the future of conservation in New Jersey – in fact, we have already begun.

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office. NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-We’ve spent the last three weeks providing as much information as we could about why Election Day is important to those who enjoy fishing and hunting.

We’ve shown how oversight is in a state of decay, we’ve watched how those opposed to our values are taking political control and slowly stripping us of our freedoms, we’ve also watched as the health of our forests erodes.

Before our eyes we see science being replaced with emotion for the management of fish and game, we’ve been introduced to confusing new terms such as “over-fished;” a word that is used to close down fisheries even when there is an abundance of fish.

Anglers, hunters and conservationists are being regarded by some in political positions as insignificant – even though we are in the majority. We are treated as if we damage the environment when we are in fact true environmental stewards. Our apathy has allowed those that oppose us attain positions of power and influence over us.

Today, Election Day, we have a chance to make a difference. We have a chance to show we are the majority. We can assert that we are environmental stewards and that we should be recognized as such.

Those who differ with our values and detest our way of life have publicly announced their endorsement of Governor Corzine. On the other hand, Mr. Chris Christie has stated in ads, speeches and one-on-one conversations with anglers, hunters and conservationists that he understands the value of our love and respect for the outdoors.

I’ll end my 2009 election information with the following quote from someone many of us have depended on for snippets of advice since we were children:

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting. ~Dr. Seuss

What are we waiting for? The future is ours for the taking. If you agree, send this to as many people as you can today.

Seize the day.

From all of us at the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance.

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

Rescue Our Outdoors Rally

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

New Egypt, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-A 25 year veteran of New Jersey’s political establishment said,

“It was the most legislators that I every saw at a sportsmen event and I was proud to be a part of the rally.”

Another observer stated, “There were as many people in attendance at the R.O.O.R. as were at the rally held by the Vice President of the United States for Governor Corzine – and that rally had no threat of rain.”

One person noted, “I think R.O.O.R. should be an annual event.”

For those of you unable to attend, there were 8 legislators from both the democrat and republican parties in attendance. There were a total of 15 guest speakers (including legislators) – experts in their fields. They discussed bear policy, open space, commercial gear on the reefs, the state of New Jersey’s dwindling quail habitat, poor forestry practices and the sea bass closure. The legislators thanked the outdoor community for their support and recognized their contributions towards environmental stewardship.

The turnstile counter totaled 689 attendees – each of these people defied the rain and made the trip to New Egypt to show their commitment to change the eroding condition of angling, hunting and forestry in New Jersey. On behalf of all of the volunteers of the NJOA – I thank you for your dedication. You are helping to ensure the future viability of our natural resources and helping to guarantee that we have access to them.

Of course, special guest speaker Mr. Chris Christie was the highlight of the day. He reiterated his commitment to the anglers, hunters and conservationists of New Jersey. He happily had his picture taken with the hundreds of people who patiently waited in line and reached out to shake every outstretched hand.

Mr. Christie has been vocal about his support for the outdoor community during his campaign speeches, statements on his website and with me personally. In May of 2009 he attended a NJOA council member meeting to address the concerns of fishing, hunting, diving and forestry clubs.

So, thanks to all of you who were with us in New Egypt or who were with us in spirit. We’ll soon be posting pictures on our website so be sure to visit our Home page at:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office. NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Trenton, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Regardless if you are a democrat, republican or independent – if you are someone who prioritizes your enjoyment of fishing, hunting and the quality of our forests you should consider the following: The Corzine administration has neglected (or perhaps in some instances, intentionally extinguishing) many of entities that oversee fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, etc.

If you’re a hunter you might be interested to know that on the list of Governor Corzine’s charitable trust contributions there is $13,000 to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New York. On its website ASPCA NY states: “the ASPCA is opposed to hunting animals for sport, even if the animals killed in this way [hunted] are subsequently consumed.”

As for fishing, the Corzine Administration circumvented historical precedent by precluding the rightful involvement of recreational and commercial fishermen in the nomination process of a representative to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The result was the replacement of a seated recreational representative member with a delegate supported by environmental activist groups.

Below is additional evidence of how New Jersey’s outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen have fared under the Corzine administration. What will the quality of our lives be with respect to fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, etc. after another four years? Each of us has the opportunity to decide on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Mr. Christie has been vocal about his support for the outdoor community during his campaign speeches, statements on his website and during a personal interview he granted me. He attended a NJOA council member meeting to address the concerns of fishing, hunting, diving and forestry clubs and agreed to be the main speaker at last Saturday’s Rescue Our Outdoor Rally.

Mr. Christie has also received the endorsements of the Asbury Park Press, Press of Atlantic City, Courier Post, Home News Tribune and Philadelphia Inquirer.

The NJOA has done its homework and I trust each of you is doing yours. Our choice is Chris Christie for governor. Remember, election day is November 3rd. The governor’s race is very close and there is too much riding on the next four years for us to be complacent. The outdoorsmen/women of NJ can make the difference – remember, there are 650,000 of us, which is approximately 15% of all voters.

Corzine Administration Report Card: Wildlife Management:

Bears
The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife is mandated to protect and manage all wildlife in the state. In fulfillment of this responsibility, the agency is charged with managing the growing black bear population not only to safeguard the public but also for the benefit of the black bear population in relation to available habitat and ecosystem balance.

The Corzine Administration replaced commonly accepted, science based bear management methodology with a policy that attempts to manage the behavior of people. The use of educational materials and secured trash, typically utilized to augment the use of a bear population management through hunting (to minimize bear/human conflicts) has instead been used to the exclusion of hunting.

As of August 2009, black bear vs. human incidents in New Jersey shows the number of serious encounters continues to rise and includes two incidents in which bears approached or chased children. Overall, there have been 2,153 calls about bears this year with several months of reporting still remaining.

A total of 1,306 bear-related incidents were reported to the DEP in 2006, compared to 1,407 in 2007 and 2,151 in 2008. The effect of growing bear populations, the nature of the animal to be very territorial with large home ranges, the localization of bear populations in the Northwest corner of the state and bear habituation appears to be a cause of increased bear/human conflicts.

Additionally, at the same time that bear activity was escalating the Corzine administration was preventing population control it reduced funding for Black Bear management from $850,000 in 2006 to $573,000 in the current year’s budget.

Councils:
The Fish and Game Council and Marine Fisheries Council play a vital role in the management of New Jersey’s fish and wildlife resources. The councils help to create and finalize each year’s hunting and fishing regulations and enable the professional and scientific management of these resources. Members of the councils are appointed by the Governor.

The Corzine Administration has neglected to adequately maintain the integrity of the composition of the two councils. Vacant seats have been left unfilled and replacements are needed for those with expired terms. The eleven member Marine Fisheries Council presently has eight members serving in expired terms and one unfilled seat. The Fish and Game Council has only eight of its eleven seats filled and five of those members are serving in expired terms.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is responsible for management of fisheries in federal waters which occur predominantly off the mid-Atlantic coast. The Corzine Administration circumvented historical precedent by precluding the rightful involvement of recreational and commercial fishermen in the nomination process. The result was the replacement of a seated recreational representative member with a delegate supported by environmental activist groups. The selection appears to be a part of a federal trend to exclude certain stakeholders (recreational and commercial fishermen) from fishery management. This is clearly in opposition to the intent of the Magnuson/Stevens Act.

There is also a report from Sierra Club stating that Governor Corzine made a commitment to reform the Fish and Game Council. It should be noted that no changes have occurred as of the date of this report.

Division Fish and Wildlife:
Funding for the Division of Fish and Wildlife has for over 50 years been supported by the revenues from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. In 2005 these dedicated funds were supplemented by a general appropriation of $4.2 million because of significant increased public responsibilities. Under the Corzine administration this appropriation has been steadily decreased to $1.6 million this year. Although deer hunters contributed an additional $1 million to the dedicated fund in 2007 due to changes in deer permit fees this was offset by an equal reduction in the appropriation.

The status of the Fish and Wildlife staff is of even greater concern to the NJOA. Since 2006 the staff has lost 50 professional managers and conservation officers (25%) while the remainder of DEP has experienced only a 10% reduction and the upper administrative staff has actually increased. Also, Fish and Wildlife could loose an additional 25% of its staff due to retirements. This will create a large deficit in experience and institutional knowledge.

Marine Fisheries Administration
The Marine Fisheries Administration, responsible for managing the resources of a multi-million dollar industry with over 10,000 jobs, provides recreational opportunities for over one million anglers that contribute in excess of $100 million in state tax revenues – conversely, it is one of the most poorly funded and staffed on the Atlantic coast. This year the marine fisheries budget was reduced to an all time low of $1.8 million.

Not only has the Corzine administration failed to adequately fund and staff marine fisheries management, in 2009 the Secretary of the Treasure authorized the withdrawal of funds from four dedicated shellfish management accounts totaling $850,365. These dedicated accounts were specifically established by previously passed legislation. There is a history of overlooking the importance of adequately funding the state’s marine fisheries program for recreational anglers and future generations.

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office. NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping. Visit: www.njoutdooralliance.org

Rescue Our Outdoors Rally

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

New Egypt, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- If the outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen of NJ continue to remain uninvolved in the political process then you can guarantee that your ability to enjoy your outdoors will be taken away from you by those that hate your values.  Become involved attend Rescue Our Outdoors Rally.

Below is a recap of what has happened during the last 4 years.

Can we expect things to be better during the next 4 years if we don’t assert ourselves?

We are 650,000 strong and we CAN change the future:

1. Become involved! Attend the R.O.O.R. rally – rain or shine, show Trenton we are committed to the principles of conservation and the health of our natural resources!
2. VOTE on November 3rd!

While we were enjoying the great outdoors the past 4 years access to our great outdoors was shrinking.

Wildlife Management:

Bears
The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife is mandated to protect and manage all wildlife in the state. In fulfillment of this responsibility, the agency is charged with managing the growing black bear population not only to safeguard the public but also for the benefit of the black bear population in relation to available habitat and ecosystem balance.

The Corzine Administration replaced commonly accepted, science based bear management methodology with a policy that attempts to manage the behavior of people. The use of educational materials and secured trash, typically utilized to augment the use of a bear population management through hunting (to minimize bear/human conflicts) has instead been used to the exclusion of hunting.

As of August 2009, black bear vs. human incidents in New Jersey shows the number of serious encounters continues to rise and includes two incidents in which bears approached or chased children. Overall, there have been 2,153 calls about bears this year with several months of reporting still remaining.

A total of 1,306 bear-related incidents were reported to the DEP in 2006, compared to 1,407 in 2007 and 2,151 in 2008. The effect of growing bear populations, the nature of the animal to be very territorial with large home ranges, the localization of bear populations in the Northwest corner of the state and bear habituation appears to be a cause of increased bear/human conflicts.

Additionally, at the same time that bear activity was escalating the Corzine administration was preventing population control it reduced funding for Black Bear management from $850,000 in 2006 to $573,000 in the current year’s budget.

Councils:
The Fish and Game Council and Marine Fisheries Council play a vital role in the management of New Jersey’s fish and wildlife resources. The councils help to create and finalize each year’s hunting and fishing regulations and enable the professional and scientific management of these resources. Members of the councils are appointed by the Governor.

The Corzine Administration has neglected to adequately maintain the integrity of the composition of the two councils. Vacant seats have been left unfilled and replacements are needed for those with expired terms. The eleven member Marine Fisheries Council presently has eight members serving in expired terms and one unfilled seat. The Fish and Game Council has only eight of its eleven seats filled and five of those members are serving in expired terms.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is responsible for management of fisheries in federal waters which occur predominantly off the mid-Atlantic coast. The Corzine Administration circumvented historical precedent by precluding the rightful involvement of recreational and commercial fishermen in the nomination process. The result was the replacement of a seated recreational representative member with a delegate supported by environmental activist groups. The selection appears to be a part of a federal trend to exclude certain stakeholders (recreational and commercial fishermen) from fishery management. This is clearly in opposition to the intent of the Magnuson/Stevens Act.

There is also a report from Sierra Club stating that Governor Corzine made a commitment to reform the Fish and Game Council. It should be noted that no changes have occurred as of the date of this report.

Division Fish and Wildlife:
Funding for the Division of Fish and Wildlife has for over 50 years been supported by the revenues from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. In 2005 these dedicated funds were supplemented by a general appropriation of $4.2 million because of significant increased public responsibilities. Under the Corzine administration this appropriation has been steadily decreased to $1.6 million this year. Although deer hunters contributed an additional $1 million to the dedicated fund in 2007 due to changes in deer permit fees this was offset by an equal reduction in the appropriation.

The status of the Fish and Wildlife staff is of even greater concern to the NJOA. Since 2006 the staff has lost 50 professional managers and conservation officers (25%) while the remainder of DEP has experienced only a 10% reduction and the upper administrative staff has actually increased. Also, Fish and Wildlife could loose an additional 25% of its staff due to retirements. This will create a large deficit in experience and institutional knowledge.

Marine Fisheries Administration
The Marine Fisheries Administration, responsible for managing the resources of a multi-million dollar industry with over 10,000 jobs, provides recreational opportunities for over one million anglers that contribute in excess of $100 million in state tax revenues – conversely, it is one of the most poorly funded and staffed on the Atlantic coast. This year the marine fisheries budget was reduced to an all time low of $1.8 million.

Not only has the Corzine administration failed to adequately fund and staff marine fisheries management, in 2009 the Secretary of the Treasure authorized the withdrawal of funds from four dedicated shellfish management accounts totaling $850,365. These dedicated accounts were specifically established by previously passed legislation. There is a history of overlooking the importance of adequately funding the state’s marine fisheries program for recreational anglers and future generations.

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/chairmans/christie/endorsement.html

Attend R.O.O.R. – it will reflect your commitment to the outdoors! Tell Trenton you’ve had enough. R.O.O.R. and be heard!

Rescue Our Outdoors Rally
Saturday, October 24, 2009 * 2:00PM
New Egypt Speedway * Free Admission!
720 Pinehurst Rd, Rt. 539 New Egypt, NJ 08533

Music, Food, Fun, Vendors: Bring the family! Guest speakers to include: Chris Christie.

Visit our link to learn more about the rally:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/where/rescueour/outdoorsrally.html

Visit our link to review the dismantling of our outdoor interests:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/chairmans/christie/endorsement.html

Rescue Our Outdoors Rally

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

New Egypt, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-One of the most conservative figures for the number of anglers, hunters and conservationists in New Jersey is 650,000.

In terms of a potential “voting bloc” this number is approximately 15% of the voters in the entire state. It is an enormous number of potential voters and can be a politicians dream – or worst nightmare.

The outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen of NJ have the power to shape the future to fit their conservation interests, all we need to do is show Trenton that we CARE and that we VOTE.

We can do both of these things in the next few weeks. We can show we CARE by attending the R.O.O.R. Rally this Saturday. Let the rally be YOUR message to be heard in Trenton. Also, VOTE on November 3, 2009.

Take Plato’s advice – he understood the high price that is paid for apathy. Attend R.O.O.R. and vote on November 3rd.

Read how it’s being dismantled under “Conservation Report Card.”

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/chairmans/christie/endorsement.html

Attend R.O.O.R. – it will reflect your commitment to the outdoors!

Tell Trenton you’ve had enough. R.O.O.R. and be heard!
Rescue Our Outdoors Rally
Saturday, October 24, 2009 * 2:00PM
New Egypt Speedway * Free Admission!
720 Pinehurst Rd, Rt. 539 New Egypt, NJ 08533

Music, Food, Fun, Vendors: Bring the family!!
Guest speakers to include: Chris Christie

Visit our link to learn more about the rally:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/where/rescueour/outdoorsrally.html

Visit our link to review the dismantling of our outdoor interests:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/chairmans/christie/endorsement.html

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office. NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Rescue Our Outdoors Rally

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

New Egypt, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- It’s more than a rally; it’s OUR stand for the future prosperity of angling, hunting and all forms of conservation. It is a future that was given to us by past generations – by people like Teddy Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold and many more. Will we make the same pledge to our descendants?

How will we be remembered by posterity? Will it be for fighting to preserve access to the great outdoors – or will history record that OUR generation turned its back on those that followed?

Attending the R.O.O.R. Rally is OUR generation’s statement about OUR commitment to fishing, hunting and the principles of conservation. OUR attendance will reflect the degree of obligation WE feel to the outdoors. It will be an HONEST measure of OUR commitment.

It’s not about the rally; it’s about the future of angling, hunting and conservation in New Jersey. Will we allow our great outdoors to be dismantled by Trenton?

Read how it’s being dismantled under “Conservation Report Card.”

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/chairmans/christie/endorsement.html

Attend R.O.O.R. – it will reflect your commitment to the outdoors!

Tell Trenton you’ve had enough. R.O.O.R. and be heard!

Rescue Our Outdoors Rally
Saturday, October 24, 2009 * 2:00PM
New Egypt Speedway * Free Admission!
720 Pinehurst Rd, Rt. 539 New Egypt, NJ 08533

Music, Food, Fun, Vendors: Bring the family. Guest speakers to include: Chris Christie

Visit our link to learn more about the rally:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/where/rescueour/outdoorsrally.html

Visit our link to review the dismantling of our outdoor interests:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/chairmans/christie/endorsement.html

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office. NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Here’s proof. The large turnout for the NJOA “Mullica Hill” rally and “Battle of Monmouth” rally, both in 2007, brought attention to two bills designed to ban freshwater fishing and hunting in NJ. The bills were also meant to alter the Fish and Game Council in order to weaken its conservation policy by injecting an animal rights agenda.

The rallies were well attended and are largely responsible for the defeat of the sponsors of the bills; Asm Panter Sen Karcher. Additionally, the bills did not proceed because our legislators realized that the rallies represented a grassroots movement of 650,000 anglers, hunters and conservationists expressing their dissatisfaction with the legislation.

It was a classic example of our political system representing the will of the people.

The success of the rallies helped to stem a ban on hunting on the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers, turned back an attack on bow hunting in Wall Township, paved the way for the creation of New Jersey’s first angling and hunting caucus by State Senator Stephen Sweeney and a federal fishing and hunting caucus created by Congressman John Adler. Ultimately, the rallies were the genesis that led to Governor Corzine signing Sunday Bow Hunting into law.

But we are now at crossroads. There are systemic issues that must be changed immediately if we are to ensure the quality of New Jersey’s outdoor experience.

• We need to eliminate a bear policy that is designed to appease animal rights activists and puts NJ residents in harms way.
• We have to reverse the raiding of funds to departments that provide for our ability to fish and hunt; a pillaging that is crippling productivity.
• We must overturn the neglect of the fish and game councils that determine our fishing and hunting opportunities.
• We have to allow our foresters the chance to practice forestry and prevent the potential of wildfires and restore species of birds and animals that are extirpating before our eyes.
• We must stop the nominations of people with “anti-fishing” sentiments to represent recreational and commercial fishing interests.

All of this is happening NOW.

The above occurrences should be an outrage to all anglers, hunters and conservationists. It is OUR obligation to stop it before it is too late. That moment is now – we are at crossroads.

The R.O.O.R. Rally (Rescue Our Outdoors Rally) has been organized to send a message to Trenton that we will not tolerate the dismantling of our fishing, hunting and conservation policies and freedoms. It is a rally designed to exceed all others. It is YOUR chance to voice YOUR concerns and stop the erosion of YOUR outdoor interests.
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Remember, the Mullica Hill and Battle of Monmouth rallies are proven successes. Join us in raising our voices again in the Rescue Our Outdoor Rally. Those that oppose us want us to remain silent…

R.O.O.R. and be heard!
Saturday, October 24, 2009 * 2:00PM
New Egypt Speedway * Free Admission!
720 Pinehurst Rd, Rt. 539 New Egypt, NJ 08533

Visit our link to learn more about the rally:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/where/rescueour/outdoorsrally.html

Visit our link to review the dismantling of our outdoor interests:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/chairmans/christie/endorsement.html

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

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is proud to endorse Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon in their bid for re-election to the New Jersey State Assembly. Asw Casagrande and Asm O’Scanlon have been staunch supporters of conservation initiatives.

Their dedication to environmental stewardship led them to be leading members of the New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus.

Please show your support by contacting all those you know residing in District 12 (see list of towns below) and ensure that they vote for Asw Casagrande and Asm O’Scanlon because they support outdoor issues.

Vote for Asw Casagrande and Asm O’Scanlon for NJ State Assembly!

District #12
Assemblywoman Casagrande
Assemblyman O’Scanlon
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71 West Main St.
Suite 101
Freehold, NJ 07728
(732) 866-1695

32 Monmouth St., 3rd Floor
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 933-1591

Colts Neck Township, East Windsor Township, Englishtown Borough, Fair Haven Borough, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Hightstown Borough, Little Silver Borough, Manalapan Township, Marlboro Township, Millstone Township, Oceanport Borough, Red Bank Borough, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls Borough

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office. NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is proud to endorse Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley in their bid for re-election to the New Jersey State Assembly. Asm Burzichelli and Asw Riley have been staunch supporters of conservation initiatives.

Their dedication to environmental stewardship led them to be leading members of the New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus.

In fact, Asm Burzichelli championed Sunday Bow Hunting and was instrumental in the bill being sent to Governor Corzine. Sunday Bow Hunting was signed into law.

Please show your support by contacting all those you know residing in District 3 (see list of towns below) and ensure that they vote for Asm Burzichelli and Asw Riley because they support outdoor issues.

Vote for Asm Burzichelli and Asw Riley for NJ State Assembly!

District #3
Assemblyman Burzichelli
Assemblywoman Riley
935 Kings Highway
Suite 400
West Deptford, NJ 08086

14 East Commerce St.
3rd Floor
Bridgeton, NJ 08302

199 East Broadway
Suite G
Salem, NJ 08079
(856) 251-9801 (West Deptford)
(856) 455-1011 (Bridgeton)
(856) 339-0808 (Salem)

Alloway Township, Bridgeton City, Carneys Point Township, Clayton Borough, Commercial Township, Deerfield Township, Downe Township, East Greenwich Township, Elk Township, Elmer Borough, Elsinboro Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township (Cumberland), Greenwich Township (Gloucester), Harrison Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Logan Township, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Mannington Township, Mantua Township, National Park Borough, Oldmans Township, Paulsboro Borough, Penns Grove Borough, Pennsville Township, Pilesgrove Township, Pittsgrove Township, Quinton Township, Salem City, Shiloh Borough, South Harrison Township, Stow Creek Township, Swedesboro Borough, Upper Deerfield Township, Upper Pittsgrove Township, Wenonah Borough, West Deptford Township, Woodstown Borough, Woolwich Township

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

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

New Egypt, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)- Seating for 6,000 people including New Jersey saltwater anglers, freshwater anglers, hunters, foresters, hikers, birdwatchers, ecologists, all conservationists…

Anyone who values New Jersey’s great outdoors!

Conversation Points:

• Trenton is raiding the budget of the department that oversees fishing and cutting staff to dangerous levels.
• Trenton’s preservation policies are harming our forests.
• Trenton is raiding the budget of the department that oversees hunting and cutting staff to dangerous levels.
• Trenton is blocking recreational anglers from New Jersey’s artificial reefs.
• Trenton is taking funds meant for outdoor activities and spending the monies elsewhere.

Trenton is slowing dismantling New Jersey’s great outdoors! It’s time to tell Trenton we want our great outdoors back!

Rescue Our Outdoors Rally!… and let Trenton hear your voice

Learn all of the details:

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/where/rescueour/outdoorsrally.html

Saturday, October 24, 2009 * 2:00PM
New Egypt Speedway * Free Admission!
720 Pinehurst Rd, Rt 539 New Egypt, NJ 08533
More info: www.njOutdoorAlliance.org

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ --(AmmoLand.com)-The trustees of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance are excited to announce that we are endorsing Mr. Chris Christie for Governor of New Jersey.

Mr. Christie has pledged his commitment to our state’s conservation efforts and environmental stewardship. In return, it is imperative that the outdoor community provide their full support to Mr. Christie.

During the past two years the outdoor community has made great strides in advancing legislation in New Jersey. In doing so we have reached out to both sides of the political aisle and the majority of democrats and republicans have responded. Of course, it is always important to build relationships with any legislator interested in conservation, regardless of political affiliation.

However, anglers, hunters, trappers, foresters and ocean ecologists are presented with a greater challenge than moving legislation – the agencies charged with environmental stewardship are being gutted, financially raided and the science needed to properly manage our natural resources is being influenced by political agendas. In fact, we are witnessing the use of animal rights initiatives as the basis for establishing policy in the name of natural resource management. These initiatives are an abdication of our government’s role to ensure environmental stewardship and public safety. This must be immediately reversed.

The trustees of the NJOA strongly believe that initiating change at the top will best address the greater challenges that face all of us. There is risk, but it is the type of risk that we must be willing to accept if we are to return natural resource management to the capable hands of those committed to the precepts of conservation.

The NJOA endorsement of Mr. Christie is an act of leadership by the outdoor community; a message that states we are unwavering in our commitment to conservation, and that we are ready to rebuild the framework of a healthy ecosystem. To this end, Mr. Christie has personally pledged his commitment to work together with the outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen of New Jersey.

The future you want for your outdoor enjoyment depends on your involvement. Please join us and “get out the vote” for Chris Christie.

It is simply the right thing to do.

Thank you,

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

Chris Christie for Governor

To be held at the beautiful and picturesque Hudson Farm in Andover NJ

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Andover, New Jersey --(AmmoLand.com)- Shooting at the great estates in England is a once in a lifetime experience – fortunately, you need only travel to Andover, New Jersey, and the 3,000 beautifully landscaped acres of Hudson Farm to experience the grand tradition.

We invite you to the 2nd annual New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Clay Tournament. This year’s event is co-sponsored by the NJOA Conservation Foundation and the New Jersey Quail Project, a charity dedicated to habitat restoration and a member of the NJOA family of non‐profits. Your support will help to ensure the protection of our outdoor freedoms, assist in restorative programs and support youth oriented conservation education programs.

Please come and enjoy a fun‐filled day with your friends, colleagues and fellow‐outdoorsmen and help the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance and the New Jersey Quail Project fulfill their missions.

Learn more and sign up…

www.njoutdooralliance.org/where/sporting/clays.html

Well see you on, Monday, October 12, 2009

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

Below is an article by Bob Williams. A certified forester, Bob currently consults with a wide range of private and public landowners for their forest planning, primarily in New Jersey. He is a member of the Pinelands Forest Advisory Committee within the Pinelands National Reserve. Bob is also Director of Forestry for the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation.

MODIS satellite image from 2:25 PM on May 16 2007 of smoke from the Pinelands fire, courtesy of NASA

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Pine Barrens, New Jersey - -(AmmoLand.com)- Since 1978, when the U.S. Congress created The Pinelands National Reserve, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey have been under the regulatory jurisdiction of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, which is charged with its protection. Spanning 1.1 million acres, the reserve is the largest open space on the eastern seaboard between Boston, Massachusetts, and Richmond, Virginia. It lies next to the most concentrated highway, rail, and air-traffic corridors-and the most densely populated region-in America. But if you stand on Apple Pie Hill, the highest spot (209 feet) in the Pinelands, what will you see? Not turnpikes, not trains, not airports, not people; only forests-a canopy of trees that stretches as far as the horizon.

The primary trees are pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and oak (Quercus sp.), along with Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) that trace forest streams. Cranberry bogs, teacolored rivers, a few meadows, and white sand roads punctuate this landscape. Pine and pine-oak forests are home to thousands of animals and plants, like the common yellowthroat warbler (Geothlypis trichas), turkey beard (Xerophyllum asphodeloides) with its striking white flower, and the blue Pine Barrens gentian (Gentiana autumnalis). While there are no natural lakes, wetlands (including streams, bogs, and cedar swamps) cover more than 385,000 acres, or 35 percent of the reserve. Historically, these natural resources gave rise to important industries. People used bog iron for cannonballs and household goods, sand for glass, and wood for shipbuilding, charcoal, lumber, paper, and fuel. Its dense pine
and oak forests, cedar and hardwood swamps, pitch pine lowlands, bogs, and marshes give the region its essential and distinctive character.

Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan

When adopted in 1979, the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) recognized the unique vegetation of the Pinelands more than any other feature. The CMP also acknowledged that proper forest management of the Pinelands forests would increase their economic value and, simultaneously, preserve and sustain the overall ecological character of the Pinelands. The CMP had it right 30 years ago, yet since then little forest management has occurred on the landscape. Lack of periodic disturbance-combined with extensive fire exclusion policies-has dramatically reduced habitat suitability to sustain several threatened and endangered species, such as the northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), and once- common species such as ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus).

Ruffed grouse, classified as “common to all woodlands” in the Pinelands region in 1979, are now all but extinct there. This will be the second grouse extinction in the Pine Barrens since the loss of the heath hen (Tympanuchus cupido cupido) there in 1870, and should be an alarm that something is wrong in this fire-adapted, disturbance-dependent forest ecosystem.

A protectionist interpretation of the public policy to “preserve” the Pinelands has all but eliminated active management of the forest resources. In addition, fire suppression policies have further diminished the beneficial effects of fire in this highly fire-dependent forest ecosystem. On private lands, an ecological approach to forest management has allowed some forest management to move ahead.

Land Dimensions, the company I work for, has implemented and completed projects throughout the Pinelands that clearly demonstrate how forest management can be a crucial tool for sustaining critical habitat for a wide range of both common and rare species.

The Pinelands Region supports several globally threatened forest ecosystems. The pitch pine/shrub oak forests are highly dependent upon frequent fire events, yet most stands have been fi re excluded for 40 to 60 years. Fire exclusion has eliminated critical habitats for several rare or endangered moth species and has degraded habitat for northern pine snakes. Mechanical forest thinning has both enabled the safe return of fire and demonstrated the great potential for an ecological forestry approach. These thinnings mimic the top-killing effect of fire that results in a more open habitat needed by many rare or endangered plant and animal species.

These projects have also reduced wildland fire concerns and have mitigated the public’s health-and-safety concerns with regard to catastrophic fire. For example, on the Zemel Forest, a 1,600- acre, privately owned woodland located in the heart of the pitch pine-shrub oak forest type, the ecological approach to forest management that we have used shows promising results.

This woodland had been fire excluded in excess of 50 years. The pitch pine was thinned to remove 70 to 90 percent of the dense overstory, retaining trees of varying sizes in a random pattern across the project site. The dense overstocked shrub oak under the pine overstory was mechanically severed at ground level to enable it to re-sprout, similar to the effect of fire. The purpose of this treatment was to restore the open barrens structure in order to allow the regeneration of the native herbaceous and shrub plant communities.

Several rare species of Lepidoptera require this open habitat to feed on oak. Additionally, species such as northern pine snake utilize these critical open habitat areas for foraging,
basking, and/or nesting. The result of this silvicultural treatment after 15 years has been to restore and maintain native forest community types, and create a condition to allow fire to be returned to these stands in a safe fashion. Without fire, these stands will gradually regenerate back to the overstocked fire-excluded condition they were in previous to treatment. Fire will set back significant areas of pine regeneration. It will also sustain the plant community as a whole, thus sustaining this globally threatened forest system.

Atlantic White-Cedar

Another globally threatened forest ecosystem found in New Jersey’s Pinelands region is Atlantic White-Cedar, important both ecologically and economically for sustaining a viable forest management program in the Pinelands. Atlantic white-cedar provides habitat for several endangered or threatened species, such as Hessel’s hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli), Pine Barrens tree frog (Hyla andersonii), timber rattlesnake, and several endangered plants, including swamp pink (Helonias bullata). Dr. George Zimmermann of Stockton College has been engaged in a long-term (18-year) research project on the ecology, management, and regeneration of Atlantic white-cedar, a project that enabled the New Jersey Forest Service to establish the New Jersey Atlantic white-cedar Initiative Steering Committee (ISC). Comprised of a wide range of professionals and stakeholders, ICS developed the Atlantic White-Cedar: Ecology and Best Management Practices manual for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

One of the primary objectives of this cedar initiative is to have a net gain of cedar forest type on the landscape. Atlantic white-cedar continues to be lost to uncontrolled wildfire, beaver flooding, natural tree succession, wind storms, and what appears to be insect damage. Another objective of this cedar initiative is to sustain a wide range of age-class structures across the landscape. Presently, most cedar stands are in the 60 to 80 year age class with few older age-class stands and minimal acres of younger stands. Tens of thousands of acres of this forest type are in need of management and treatment. To sustain the crucial spatial heterogeneity of this landscape, treatments have to be economically feasible. Since Atlantic white-cedar grows in wet soil conditions, operations are difficult and expensive, but they can be done. The landowner of the Ruggeri Stewardship Forest has successfully restored 15 acres of red maple to a healthy, fully stocked stand of Atlantic white-cedar along the wild and scenic Great Egg Harbor River by blending these young groups of whitecedar with several older remnant groups in his forest. Atlantic white-cedar is an early successional species and prefers full sunlight to optimize seed germination and tree growth. Additionally, cedar does not tolerate competition from woody shrubs or hardwood overstory; thus, brush control measures must be ongoing. Lastly, cedar does not tolerate over-browsing by high populations of whitetailed deer. Deer fencing is a typical postharvest treatment. One landowner quickly moved from electric fencing to coated metal deer exclusion fencing for greater success.

The range of natural variability of Atlantic white-cedar forest stands is significant. It can grow in dense monoculture stands, as well as stands of open wetland savanna types supporting many rare and endangered plants. In open savannas, many herbaceous plant species are being lost to tree succession. Again, lack of fire is the likely cause. An
ecological approach to managing these areas through the judicious removal of cedar timber in defined time frames has saved many rare plant populations. We have successfully restored Atlantic white-cedar on more than 17 privately owned forestlands, and operations are underway with many more. Anyone who visits New Jersey and sees one of these magnificent forests remains impressed.

Our forest management projects within the Pinelands National Reserve are required by regulation to “preserve native Pinelands forest types.” This goal can be difficult and expensive to achieve. However, after 20 years of managing forests in this unique landscape, I believe that successful economic utility is not mutually exclusive with protecting and
sustaining the unique biodiversity of this forest system. It’s now clear to me that an ecological approach is essential to sustaining our nation’s first national reserve, the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

“Deer population management must serve as the main tool in any long term strategy to reduce human incidences of Lyme disease.” Dr Sam Telford lll, Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases,Tufts University and Visiting Scientist in Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ – -(AmmoLand.com)- This information is provided as a service by the municipally appointed volunteer members of the 16-town Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance, which aims to promote regional approaches to the multiple problems of deer overpopulation. For more details on these topics, sources and graphs, and for more FAQs on deer management go to www.deeralliance.com .

QUESTION: Isn’t Lyme disease spread by white footed mice, not deer?
ANSWER: Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium that is carried by the deer tick. While it is true that the bacteria is introduced into the tick by the white footed mouse, it is the white-tailed deer that is responsible for the increasing number of deer ticks. Without deer the tick cannot reproduce as it requires a large blood meal from a white tail deer. The deer is the host of choice for the adult tick. Each deer can carry about 500 ticks. Each adult female tick can lay 3,000 eggs. Programs carried out in Maine and Connecticut show conclusively that when deer numbers are reduced sufficiently, Lyme disease is reduced dramatically. Other animals do not substitute for the deer. (Kilpatrick and LaBonte 2003)

QUESTION: Why don’t we use contraception to control deer populations?
ANSWER: A $5 million experimental program funded by the New Jersey League of Municipalities has recently been dropped due to failure. The contraceptive tested, at a cost of $1,000 per doe, did not work. There is no contraceptive available. For now and for the foreseeable future there is no tested contraceptive that actually works on wild deer. If and when it becomes available the drugs will only keep the herd from growing; they will not reduce the size of an existing herd.

QUESTION: Are there more deer-car accidents during the hunting season because hunters scare deer onto the roads?
ANSWER: No. Most deer-vehicle accidents happen after dark or before daybreak when there are no hunters out. There are more deer-vehicle accidents on Sundays (when there is no hunting at all) than Saturdays. Hunting season and the annual deer rut (mating season) coincide in late fall. During the rut, deer are energized by the mating instinct and often cross roads while pursuing does or being pursued by bucks. Also the shorter days during fall and winter mean that high traffic occurs at dawn and dusk when more deer are moving around.
No scientific data supports the claim that hunting activity increases the rate of deer-vehicle accidents. Instead, a review of data provided by the Department of Transportation supports the fact that vehicular traffic patterns influence deer vehicle accidents. Removing deer through hunting or other deer management techniques is an effective method to reduce deer populations, which will result in fewer deer-vehicle accidents.

QUESTION: If you start culling deer, is it true that the remaining deer will just start giving birth to more fawns than usual?
ANSWER: No, this only occurs if the deer population is so stressed by starvation that their birth rates are depressed prior to culling. Following a cull of the population, birth rates would return to normal causing population recovery. This does not apply in the case of our deer control programs since the deer populations are still healthy and increasing. Deer reproduction in our region remains a constant 1.77 fawns per doe per year according to deer biologists.

QUESTION: Which is more dangerous, hunting or Lyme disease?
ANSWER: Hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities. All hunters must pass many hours of safety instruction before they can obtain a license. There have been no nonhunter injuries in the history of controlled deer management hunts in Connecticut. There were more than 40,000 new cases of physician confirmed Lyme disease in Connecticut alone in 2002. There are also untold numbers of undiagnosed cases of Lyme that go on to develop serious cardiac, neurological, and arthritic complications. The number increases every year. There are also an average of 100 deer-vehicle accidents per town in Fairfield County each year adding to the dangers of excess deer.

QUESTION: Isn’t the understory of the forest being destroyed by the canopy of mature trees and not by the deer?
ANSWER: No, the natural cycle of the forest is for mature trees to drop seeds to reseed the forest. This new growth is protected by the forest canopy from the drying sun during their early growth period. The deer, however, are selectively eating these young seedlings and wildflowers. We cannot blame this lack of understory on the “maturing forest” and “natural succession” as some would have us believe. According to forestry experts at Yale, these Fairfield County woods are not mature woodlands; they are intermediate in their development and would require at least another 50 years of growth to reach the stage of maturity that might cause loss of diversity due to dense shading of the forest floor. There is also evidence from forest and wildlife experts at the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station that deer are helping in the spread of invasive plants such as Japanese Barberry.

QUESTION: Is there any risk of reducing deer so low that they become endangered?
ANSWER: It is not the goal of Connecticut deer management programs to reduce the deer to critically low numbers. Further, it has become so difficult now to reduce deer numbers in Fairfield County because of lack of access to land and lack of local hunters that it may be hard to achieve adequate reduction of deer numbers, let alone go too far. Population reduction would obviously stop if numbers reached the ideal level of 10 to 12 deer per square mile. A maintenance plan would then be implemented that might include contraception if an effective one became available.

QUESTION: Why not just spray the yard for ticks or kill ticks on deer using the “4-poster device”?
ANSWER: The tick killing chemicals used are toxic to children, the environment, and water supply unless used very carefully. The 4-poster device (used to spread tick killing chemicals onto the heads of feeding deer) is at risk of spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD) through the deer herd by attracting groups of deer to feed at the corn feeder. CWD is a fatal slow virus disease similar to mad cow disease and has recently been shown (Science: October 6, 2006) to be spread through deer saliva, which is an obvious risk at communal feeding stations such as the 4-poster device. Furthermore, the deer are causing more problems than Lyme disease alone. Killing ticks will not stop destruction of the forest nor deer-vehicle accidents.

Source: www.newtownbee.com

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

NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ – -(AmmoLand.com)- NJOA E Action Alert members continue to ask that we keep them apprised of the animal extremism in New Jersey, since the movement targets fishing, hunting, trapping and conservation practices.

Yesterday I was forwarded an unclassified “For Official Use Only,” document. It is apparently from The Department of Homeland Security alleging national groups (that also have operations in NJ), and a local New Jersey group, are providing cover for “ecoterrorists.” I have read similar reporting from two premiere civil rights organizations; Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center.

Contents from the document follow:

The term ecological terrorists, or ecoterrorists, refers to those individuals who independently and/or in concert with others engage in acts of violence and employ tactics commonly associated with terrorism to further their sociopolitical agenda aimed at animal and/or environmental protection.

From a security standpoint, the activities of the ecoterrorist movement are significant for several reasons and should be of interest to domestic security and law enforcement officials. First, Ecoterrorists have perpetrated more illegal acts commonly associated with terrorism on U.S. soil than any other known group, including al-Qaeda and radical Islamic militants.

In addition, various groups that constitute the ecoterrorist movement [Animal Liberation Front aka "ALF"] are also believed to interact, to one degree or another, with mainstream environmental and animal-rights organizations and/or individuals. Although none of the mainstream organizations officially endorses or participates in the illegal and violent activities championed by ecomilitants, some prominent members of mainstream groups are known to sympathize with the ecoterrorist movement.

Mainstream organizations with known or possible links to ecoterrorism include the following:

• • Greens
  • People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
  • The Sierra Club
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • Audubon Society
  • Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Greenpeace
  • Earth First!
  • Coalition to Save the Preserve (CSP)
  • Environmental Task Force
  • The Frogs
  • In Defense of Animals
  • New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance
  • Fund for Animals

Among the [above] organizations, PETA… the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance, and certain individuals within the HSUS are known or suspected of having financial ties to individuals and groups associated with ecoterrorism. In addition to financial ties to ecomilitancy, both HSUS and PETA, or at least individuals within those organizations, have an established record of supporting individuals and/or groups commonly associated with ecoterrorism.

The current crop of ALF spokespersons, who now call themselves “press officers,” includes a New Jersey activist named Angi Metler, whom PETA News once described as a “PETA spokesperson.” Another self-appointed ALF “press officer” is Dr. Jerry Vlasak. In 2003, while acting as a spokesperson for the PETA-affiliated Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Vlasak openly endorsed the murder of doctors who use animals in their medical research. “For 5 lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives,” he told an animal-rights convention, “we could save a million, 2 million, 10 million non-human lives.”

Ecomilitants target primarily those entities and individuals who, in their view, directly engage in exploiting animals and desecrating the environment. As such, the most frequent targets of ecoterrorist groups such as ELF and ALF are:

1. Commercial enterprises and/or individuals engaged in housing and urban development
2. Commercial enterprises and/or individuals involved in the logging industry
3. Sport utility vehicle (SUV) dealerships
4. Commercial enterprises and/or individuals involved in the production, sale, and
distribution
5. of animal products (leather and fur producers, sellers, and distributors; restaurants;
and meat, poultry and fish producers)
6. Animal research facilities and personnel
7. Commercial enterprises and universities involved in genetic engineering
8. Animal farms and nurseries
9. Hunting clubs and associations
10. Animal service facilities and personnel (animal shelters and veterinary clinics) engaged in animal vivisection procedures

Down Load the entire report here: DHS: Eco Terrorism in US 2008

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

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ – -(AmmoLand.com)- I have been contacted by Mr. Michael Markarian, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, HSUS regarding yesterday’s alert “DHS Reveals NJ Based Groups Provide Cover for Ecoterrorists.”

Mr. Markarian forwarded a letter from FEMA in which the acting Deputy Administer states,

“HSUS and the Fund for Animals are inappropriately described as having “known or possible links to ecoterrorism,” and as “known or suspected of having financial ties to individuals and groups associated with ecoterrorism.”

The link to the letter follows. In fairness to HSUS, I encourage each of you to read the letter.

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/dhs-letter.pdf

The NJOA is committed to forwarding accurate information to our members. We are flattered that our E Action Alerts are monitored by animal extremist groups; it is proof of their concerns about the weightiness of our conservation message.

Since our E Action Alerts have a pipeline to Mr. Markarian I would respectfully ask him to explain to NJOA members the working relationship between the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance and HSUS.

Evidence of a “link” or “tie” between NJARA and HSUS is articulated by the Director of NJARA in a letter included below.

The Anti Defamation League (the nation’s premiere civil rights organization) has reported that the Director, Angi Metler, has acted in the capacity of a press spokesperson to communicate ecoterrorism acts by groups such as ALF and others. Such a position obviously condones ecoterrorism. Mr. Markarian, wouldn’t a relationship between NJARA and HSUS be a “tie to individuals and groups associated with ecoterrorism or a “link” to ecoterrorism?”

Furthermore, NJARA acted as a broker to fund the freeing of six extremists from jail – they were convicted of a campaign to terrorize a New Jersey based company along with its employees and shareholders. Coincidently, it was the office of US Attorney Christopher Christie, currently a NJ gubernatorial candidate who convicted the hoodlums.

Upon the judgment Mr. Christie stated, “This is a trial victory of national importance…The verdict reveals these individuals for what they really were: thugs who went far beyond protected speech and lawful protest to engage in and incite intimidation, harassment and violence.”

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/shac0302_r.htm

Here is a link to one of many websites showing NJARA acted as fiduciary to free the convicts known by the acronym S.H.A.C. http://shiftshapers.gnn.tv/blogs/13418/SHAC_6_Found_Guilty_On_All_Charges

Mr. Markarian, below is an email from Ms. Metler of the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance to various animal extremists and groups looking to eliminate conservation (fishing, hunting and trapping) in New Jersey. This particular email was to derail the prospect of Sundy Bow Hunting in NJ. You’ll note that Ms. Metler refers to the relationship between NJARA, HSUS and PETA.

________________________________________________
Letter from Director, Angi Metler, NJARA:

Dear All,

“We’ve been given great advice (thanks, Sue Russell) to get as many contacts from different interest groups, (trail groups, Sierra, Christian, HSUS, etc.) and go public with the press and legislature as soon as possible to combat this…” [Sunday Bow Hunting]…
“NJARA is sending letters to every legislator in Trenton opposing this, sending press releases, reaching out to HSUS and PETA and will continue to write alerts…”
“In the meantime, we need more group names would oppose this. We have the names and numbers of all the groups HSUS used the last time, but we need more…”

“Furthermore, we are also working on the possibility of opening up a chapter of the League of Humane Voters in NJ to work in conjunction with the paid lobbyist and have a meeting set for this coming Sunday to explore this…”

“If you are a representative of a group, please send your own press release out on this issue and please also send out letters to all of the legislators. NJARA can fax these for you once written…”
Thanks in advance for all your help and assistance. Thanks to everyone who has already forwarded our alerts.

If anyone needs to reach me today, please call my cell phone at -/-/–

Angi [Metler]
____________________________________________________

“We would be foolish and silly not to unite with people in the public health sector, the environmental community, [and] unions, to try to challenge corporate agriculture.” Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP Humane Society of the US, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, at the Animal Rights 2002″ Convention, July 1, 2002.

Additional Information regarding HSUS, CEO, Wayne Pacelle

Biography

Wayne Pacelle, CEO, HSUS

In 2004 Wayne Pacelle was named president of the world’s richest animal-rights organization, the Humane Society of the United States. Pacelle, a strict vegan, joined HSUS in 1994 after working at the anti-hunting group the Fund for Animals for six years. There he helped Paul Watson and his violent Sea Shepherd Conservation Society raise money for ships. Pacelle’s goal is to create “a National Rifle Association of the animal rights movement.” He is in charge of HSUS’s many ballot initiative campaigns, winning 17 of the 22 in which he has been involved.

His biggest win was in Florida, where an initiative passed that gave constitutional rights to pregnant pigs. Florida farmers were banned from using “gestation crates.” Many farmers killed their animals as a result and the pork industry in Florida is almost extinct. He plans campaigns against gestation crates in other states, and is already organizing in California and New Jersey. At the 1996 HSUS annual meeting, Pacelle announced that the ballot initiative would be used for all manner of legislation in the future, including “companion animal issues and laboratory animal issues.” These operations, he says, “pay dividends and serve as a training ground for activists.” Pacelle’s wife, Kirsten Rosenberg, works for Ark Trust, now the HSUS Hollywood office.

HSUS 2007 Revebue & Dusbursements

According to an Atlanta ABC Affiliate, in 2007 HSUS received $120,000,000 in revenue and expensed $112,000,000 for lobbying, political contributions and staff salaries. According to the report, critics are calling the organization deceptive and intentionally misleading since there is no apparent affiliation between HSUS and local Humane Society centers that care for animals. Additionally, according to the report, HSUS admits a very small percentage of its revenue finds its way to local centers.

Quotes from HSUS, CEO, Wayne Pacelle

“Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting.” Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP Humane Society of the US (HSUS), formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, (Bozeman (MT) Daily Chronicle, October 8, 1991

“We would be foolish and silly not to unite with people in the public health sector, the environmental community, [and] unions, to try to challenge corporate agriculture.” Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP Humane Society of the US, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, at the Animal Rights 2002″ Convention, July 1, 2002.

“We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. . . One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.” Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP of Humane Society of the US, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Animal People, May, 1993

“We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States … We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state. Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP Humane Society of the US (HSUS), formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Full Cry Magazine, October 1, 1990.

The membership of the NJOA, and concerned hunter everywhere, looks forward to your response.

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Askuswhy.com - Needs To Give Us Some Answers

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, N.J. --(AmmoLand.com)- It’s a true story and it happened here in New Jersey. A 7-year-old boy crouched near the door of his home, brandishing a 5-inch kitchen knife as the doorbell rang. In an act of courage he was willing to protect his mother from animal extremists. This is a boy also found standing at the garage door of his family’s home braving the threat of harassment and intimidation from animal extremists to safeguard his mom.

“He told her,…not to worry. “…He was going to get the animal people.”

The boy was facing a tyranny perpetrated by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC.) Six SHAC members were charged with animal enterprise terrorism, stalking and other offenses. Their campaign of fear was directed at forcing the closure of an animal testing lab located in New Jersey, Huntingdon Life Sciences. The 7-year-old boy had a parent employed by the company.

The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance set up a fund to defend the SHAC thugs and also attempted to gain their release from prison. http://www.pryorsplanet.com/0/3696/0/1098/ A NJARA member actually visited one of the prisoners and then made a public plea to improve the quality of this criminal’s time in prison. http://www.foodfightgrocery.com/2006/03/shac-contact-info-kevin-and-josh.html

Another NJARA member was unhappy when Senator James Inhofe (R) announced hearings to investigate animal rights terrorism (eco-terrorism.) He posted on AR-NEWS urging activists to send letters to Inhofe characterizing the hearings as a waste of money and a diversion from the evils of global warming and birth defects. http://www.animalrights.net/articles/tag/joe-miele/ (See: Activist Wants Senate to Cancel Eco/Animal Rights Terrorism Hearings)

New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance has a website dedicated to the elimination of animal testing, like that performed by Huntingdon Life Sciences, and called “askuswhy.com.” Given that NJARA condoned the actions of SHAC by setting up a defense for their freedom from prison and also had a member visit one of the hoodlums to improve his prison conditions – it seems reasonable to conclude that the organization doesn’t object to a 7-year-old being driven to a state of anguish to defend his family.

However, since NJARA has a website called “askuswhy.com” there is no need for speculation, we’ll let the organization provide answers for their actions.

1. Since NJARA appears to support the actions of SHAC do you also support any employee of an animal testing business be subjected to incitement of threats, harassment and calls to be vandalized? Is it acceptable for animal extremists to threaten a mother with emails telling her they will “cut her 7-year-old son open and stuff him with poison?” Is it acceptable to terrorize a man with being “showered with glass as people smashed all the windows of his home and overturned his wife’s car?

These are the intimidation tactics that were directed at the employees working for Huntingdon Life Sciences. This, and more, is detailed in the Associated Press accounting below.

2. Since NJARA supports the actions of SHAC is it justifiable for an employee to be victimized to the point where they “look over their shoulders when walking or driving?” Is it acceptable to NJARA that the employees of Huntingdon Life Sciences had their lives disrupted to the degree that they “changed their phone numbers or even moved?

How about menacing employees until they were forced to “…keep their children from playing outdoors…” and tormenting them until “…several bought guns?”

3. We understand that NJARA was not involved in any of these acts but we’d like to know what prompted the organization to dedicate the time of its volunteers, and to direct the organization’s funds, to helping free people convicted of the above mentioned heinous acts? Why aren’t the people of NJARA sympathetic to the victims of this terror campaign? Why is there no remorse for the families? Why is it acceptable to NJARA that a child be driven to a brink where his vulnerable psyche is forced to make a stand and protect his mother from the “animal people?”

4. Why would NJARA condone the acts of masked protesters videotaping people’s comings and goings and also find it acceptable that they barge into their offices, screaming and tossing leaflets?

New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance – we await your response. Your website “askuswhy.com” invites us to ask these questions and the public deserves answers.

Below is the article describing the acts of terror and the conviction of SHAC members – the people the NJARA has given moral support and created a fund for defending their actions in court.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-03-02-animal-activists-convicted_x.htm

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ – -(AmmoLand.com)- Below is a copy of an alert sent out by a group of people (B.E.A.R. Group) with ties to the extremist group New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance.

This greater mission of these organizations is not based on the precepts of conservation but changing the law to provide constitutional rights to all animals. In fact, many of the people in the animal extremist movement are members of different front groups with initiatives that deflect attention from their advancement of a greater cause – the advancement of a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle for all people.

The reason NJ citizens are being placed in harms way is that the B.E.A.R. Group (see below) and similar organizations have been able to influence the Corzine Administration to manage people instead of bears. Although “people management” is a useful tool in minimizing bear/human conflicts it is a tool with woeful limitations in managing the complex variables that contribute to bear/human conflicts. B.E.A.R. Group is working in conjunction with groups the likes of Humane Society of the United States, PETA, Sierra and New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance to ban bear hunting as a means of bear population management.

Each of us recognizes that when we are under stress we are at risk of behaving in ways contrary to our natures – we become slightly “less predictable.” We may lose our temper or “knee jerk” react to a situation. It is the same with wildlife – when under stress they may react in ways contrary to their “natures.” Their “knee jerk” reactions may have serious repercussions to the safety of humans.

Bears in NJ are under territorial duress. Their populations are expanding at prolific rates and the young must expand their boundaries. As a result of this (and other factors) they are coming into increased contact with people and in the process losing their fear of humans – or “habituating.” As a result, our government’s “hands off” policy is putting NJ citizenry in harms way. It is also acting irresponsibly with the greater welfare of bears and the ecology.

You may wonder how the animal extremists can have any degree of success with their movement since it is based on emotion and not science or environmental stewardship. Below is an example of why politics and science don’t always work hand-in-hand.

It is a good reason for all of us to be “conservation activists.” Be sure to attend the meeting if you are able to do so.
Ant

——————————————————————–
Call for Activists:
Come out and speak up for Vernon’s black bears

JOIN US at the next Vernon Town Council Meeting

The BEAR Group needs ALL activists-especially those residing in and around Vernon-to speak out at the upcoming Vernon Township Council meeting. For those pro-bear Vernon residents, remember-your voice and your VOTE is important to the elected officials of the township committee. If you do not wish to speak, please attend to show your support with your presence.

Thursday, August 13th
7:00 PM
21 Church Street

Talking points:

The man who resides on Birch Street has intentionally had THREE bears killed. The Division of Fish & Wildlife is happy to comply with his mission, as it inflates their “Category I” bear statistics, which they then use to drum up support for a trophy hunt. Something is VERY wrong when one individual/family continually attracts bears to their home-especially when it is done INTENTIONALLY to result in a bear killing.

The garbage in Vernon is rampant whereby residents, businesses and VERNON Municipality are not in compliance with the Black Bear Feeding Ban Law.

Residents must understand how easy it is to attract bears to property, and the Vernon police must redirect the onus onto homeowners by enforcing the Black Bear Feeding Ban Law. (especially for homeowners living adjacent to PRIME BEAR HABITAT, i.e. Waywayanda State Park)

Thank you bear supporters-we look forward to seeing you on August 13th

Please do the following two things today to help
Vernon’s black bears:

1. CALL Governor Corzine’s office at 609-292-6000 and
ask for Constituent Services:

Please relay these messages:
- Shooting bears-when PEOPLE refuse to bearproof
their property-is wrong and unethical
- The Black Bear Feeding Ban N.J.S.A. 23:2A-14 must be
enforced. (This law includes improper storage of anything
that attracts bears)
- THANK Gov. Corzine for his firm stance on nonlethal black
bear management
2. WRITE these newspapers, and tell them why shooting:
bears-instead of enforcing the feeding ban-is wrong
New Jersey Herald newsroom@njherald.com

Vernon Advertiser-News njoffice@strausnews.com
Vernon AIM aim@northjersey.com

Speakers Bureau Training
Learn how to give a bear education presentation…or just brush up on the
bear facts Wed., August 19, HillCrest, 1810 Macopin Rd, West Milford, 7 to 9 PM, Room 10.

Questions? Contact Elaine Dunn, Acting VP for Public Relations and Educational Programs, at: chesternj@optonline.net

———————————————————————

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- Our list of “E Action Alert” members continues to grow and it is probably the good timing to answer the question, “What is the NJOA.”

The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is comprised of three non-profit organizations:

* New Jersey Outdoor Alliance * New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation * New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Environmental Projects

* New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is a Political Action Committee (PAC.) It is organized to elect outdoor-minded political candidates. It is important for outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen exercise their right to vote and determine the legislators elected to office since it is these legislators (Governor, Assemblypersons and Senators) that are responsible for making laws that affect fishing, hunting, trapping and conservation in New Jersey. In its brief two-year history the NJOA (through your efforts) is primarily responsible for electing four legislators dedicated to outdoor issues.

* New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Conservation Foundation is an expanding group of influential conservation organizations that comprise the NJOA Council. NJOACF is dedicated to advancing sound conservation policy in Trenton. We employ a full time government affairs group to work in conjunction with the NJOA Council and the NJOA volunteer force of officers, managers and representatives to make New Jersey a “conservation” state. The recent signing of Sunday Bow Hunting is a direct result of the efforts of those in the NJOACF. The NJOA Council includes:

Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA

* New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Environmental Projects is a charity designed to improve the health of both land and sea by means of conservation and habitat stewardship. NJOAEP works with scientists, biologists, foresters, conservationists and others with an interest in habitat health and restoration in an effort to support a suite of native fish and wildlife species. Currently, the New Jersey Quail Project operates under the mantle of NJOAEP. Visit NJQP website to learn more: http://www.njquailproject.org/about/njqp.html

The mission of the group of New Jersey Outdoor Alliance non-profits is as follows:

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.

If you have questions about any of the NJOA non-profit companies, our mission, or about fishing, hunting, trapping, forestry, etc. visit the “Ask the Experts” section on our website: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/ask/theexperts.html You’ll have an expert directly answer your question.

Finally, if you’d like to be a part of New Jersey’s premiere “grassroots outdoor movement” join the NJOA: http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/support/njoa.html

Remember to vote in every election!

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- The focus of this week’s NJOA E Action Alerts have been on broadening our awareness of the pervasive and continuing attempts by national and local animal extremist to eliminate our freedoms to fish, hunt, trap and live a lifestyle of our choosing. Some of us may think that these are initiatives are on the fringes and that they will never impact us – but they already have and they continue to make headway. We’re also exposing the inseparable link between animal extremism and vegetarianism.

Hopefully we’ve been a source of education for NJOA readership. Perhaps it has shed some light on why our state is allowing the bear population to proliferate at the expense of the health and safety of NJ citizenry. Perhaps it will make sense of why legislation was created to end freshwater fishing and hunting a few years ago. Perhaps it will highlight how 650,000 outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen of NJ can be viewed with ignorance regarding their massive contributions to the state’s economy, job creation and ecological stewardship.

Activism is not just for zealots. Unfortunately, we all need to be activists if we are to keep the things we cherish and our values viable. The NJOA is doing all we can to make each of you “armchair activists” by making it easy to contact your legislators from your computer (our website Legislative Center) and keeping you well informed about conservation issues in NJ.

I’ll end this week’s animal extremism focus with a few more examples of the ties between animal extremism and vegetarianism. Below is a link to a NJ college campus and their activism in undermining our freedoms, values and lifestyles. I’ve also included two additional initiatives in New Jersey for your review.

Please, be an armchair activist. Tell a friend about the NJOA Legislative Action Center. Have them sign up for the NJOA E Action Alert – it’s free.  http://capwiz.com/njoutdooralliance/taf/

The College of New Jersey

http://www.tcnj.edu/~arnj/faq/faq.html

Q: Being a vegetarian is a personal choice, so why should it be forced on anybody else?
A: Few people would argue that beating your dog or lighting a cat’s tail on fire are personal choices, yet what happens to animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses is every bit as gruesome and every bit as cruel. Eating meat supports these abuses. Saying that abusing animals and killing them for their flesh are private matters is the same as saying that beating our children is a personal choice. Just as child abuse involves victims who have no choice, eating meat, dairy products, and eggs also involves victims who have no choice. Just as you can choose to beat your child, you can choose to eat meat. If you do, you’re hurting someone who is powerless to stop you. This should not be your “personal choice.” No one has the right to hurt others under the auspices of “personal freedom.”

Animal Concerns.org

http://www.animalconcerns.org/resource.html?catid=11&itemid=200209150948520.979647

Our mission is to advocate for animal-rights and to help reduce animal suffering through education and non-violent action. We also advocate conversion to a vegetarian/vegan diet to help reduce animal suffering, improve human health and to lessen damage to the environment.

Job openings at New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance

http://onlovinganimals.blogspot.com/2009/01/animal-welfare-jobs-new-jersey-animal.html

Veg Outreach Program Coordinator : Educate the public about the use of animals raised for food and the human health benefits of a plant-based diet. REQUIRED: excellent understanding of the issues, public speaking and good communication skills, computer literate, vegan. Wonderful opportunity for a compassionate person who cares about the plight of animals. Full time position, from our Englishtown office.

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Belmar, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- It’s hard to believe that we are at the mid-point of the “unofficial” summer months of June, July & August. I hope each of you is enjoying the outdoors and taking advantage of the agreeable weather.

Have you the chance to reel in a striper this year? Have you stood knee-deep in a gurgling stream while pulling in summer trout? Is the thought of a fall hunt beginning to creep into mind as you motor past the woods that hold your “lucky spot” or the fields where “man’s best friend” last pointed for pheasant?

I certainly hope so. These are the simple treasures of life and are meant to be savored.

But you must know that in 2009 several new extremist groups and the old familiar radicals are doing their best to take the pleasures of the outdoors and our family menu choices away from us.

Yes – these groups aren’t just interested in taking away our outdoor liberties – they are headed by vegans or vegetarians with a mission to foist their lifestyle on all of us.

Here is a run down of four worst of these groups.

Protecting Animal Welfare PAC (PAWPAC)
Established in January 2009 to elect animal-friendly candidates to the New Jersey Legislature and pass animal protection laws. This organization is resolved to build an animal welfare organization capable of competing with animal industries in the political arena.

* Debora Bresch, Esq., Chair, Vegan
* Kevin Moore, Treasurer, Vegan
* Kathleen Schatzmann, Legislative Liaison, Vegetarian

PETA
The animal rights group PETA wants to use the Robbins Reef lighthouse off Bayonne and two others in Michigan to publicize what it says are the horrors of killing fish for food and sport.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it wants to use the Bayonne setting as the national headquarters for its “Fish Empathy Project.” Peta is a vegetarian/vegan organization. When questioned “Why do you try to force vegetarianism on others? Isn’t it a personal choice?” Peta’s official response is “From a moral standpoint, actions that harm others are not matters of personal choice.”

ARISE
The ARISE program, created by NJ Animal Rights Alliance (anti-fishing, anti-hunting) and is headed by Stuart Chiafetz, vegan. Arise is an initiative to eliminate animal research.

NB Pet Trusts
NB Pet Trusts is committed to providing a full range of pet trust services to caring pet owners.
* Linda J. Niedweske, Esq. Represented the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance on the Watchung Reservation Deer Management Committee.
* Kevin E. Barber, Esq. Argued before the New Jersey Appellate Court against the Bear Hunt.

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Mine Hill, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)-The volunteers of the NJOA have been advancing your freedoms to fish, hunt and trap in NJ. We’ve helped to create the NJ Angling & Hunting Conservation Caucus in Trenton. The caucus is comprised of legislators interested in learning about conservation and supporting outdoor freedoms.

We’ve defended your hunting freedoms in Wall Township and on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. We’re advancing conservation education in Trenton and throughout the state.

We continue to make progress in educating officials that the traps should be removed from the reefs. USFWS, DEP and DFW agree – the reefs are meant for angling and spear fishing. The NJOA is reversing the pervasive culture of animal extremists and the brand of environmentalism that works to deny us our freedoms to fish.

The NJOA is also working with foresters to help establish conservation as a means of forest stewardship. The current “preservation” approach is creating an ailing ecology and affecting the health of flora and fauna. It is also creating an environment prone to wildfires.

We’ve helped to elect three outdoor-minded legislators and the NJOA was a significant factor in getting the Sunday Bow hunting bill passed. We also have a full-time government affairs firm working on our behalf!

Please join us on July 25th fro the NJOA Northern Region Pig Roast and hear more about what the NJOA is doing. Have fun with like-minded sportsmen and women and learn about what is happening in Trenton directly from our local legislator’s!

NJOA Northern Region Pig Roast

• ALL you can eat – $25.00!! (Children under 10 free) Pig, hamburgers/hot dogs, salads, corn, rolls/butter, baked beans, watermelon!
• Includes Beer, Soda, & Water. Cash bar available too.
• Music! Prizes & Silent Auction too!

Saturday JULY 25, 2009 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (Rain or Shine)
Mine Hill American Legion
1 Legion Place
Mine Hill, NJ 07803

Bring your lawn chairs too!

Only 125 tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. These will sell out FAST!

Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Checks to be made out to “NJOA”

Contact Sam or Craig (Scrubby) via pm for ticket information or e-mail Sam at syarosh@njoutdooralliance.org or e-mail Craig at zincman70@yahoo.com

See you all on July 25th.

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.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

Mine Hill, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- The NJOA is an all volunteer organization. We’ve been advancing your freedoms to fish, hunt and trap in NJ. We’ve helped to create the NJ Angling & Hunting Conservation Caucus in Trenton. The caucus is comprised of legislators interested in outdoor freedoms. We’ve defended your hunting freedoms in Wall Township and on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. We’re advancing conservation education in Trenton and throughout the state.

We continue to make progress in educating officials that the traps should be removed from the reefs. USFWS, DEP and DFW agree – the reefs are meant for angling and spear fishing. The NJOA is reversing the pervasive culture of animal extremists and the brand of environmentalism that works to deny us our freedoms to fish.

We’ve helped to elect tree outdoor-minded legislators and the NJOA was a significant factor in getting the Sunday Bow hunting bill passed. We also have a full-time government affairs firm working on our behalf!

Please show your support and join us on July 25th. Learn more about the NJOA, have fun with likeminded sportsmen and women and learn about what is happening in Trenton directly from our local legislator’s!

ALL you can eat – $25.00!! (Children under 10 free)
Pig, hamburgers/hot dogs, salads, corn, rolls/butter, baked beans, watermelon!

Includes Beer, Soda, & Water.
Cash bar available too.

Music!
Prizes & Silent Auction too!

Saturday JULY 25, 2009 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (Rain or Shine)
Mine Hill American Legion
1 Legion Place
Mine Hill, NJ 07803

Bring your lawn chairs too!

Come be part of the success of the NJOA and be a part of the fun!

Only 125 tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. These will sell out FAST! Tickets must be purchased in advance. Checks to be made out to “NJOA”

Contact Sam or Craig (Scrubby) via pm for ticket information.

OR
e-mail Sam at syarosh@njoutdooralliance.org
e-mail Craig at zincman70@yahoo.com

See you all on July 25th.

http://www.njoutdooralliance.org/

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Become an honorary member of the NJOA! Go to the following link and sign up:

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.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

New Jersey - -(AmmoLand.com)- Conservation is the sustainable use of our natural resources. All living things rely on the ecology for survival – including humankind. Conservation is a practice that acknowledges this reliance by making certain that natural resources prosper.

The most notable conservationist is Mother Nature. She practices sustainable use by striving for balance between flora and fauna – a perpetual process of attempting to steady supply and demand.

There is a brand of environmentalism, it seems, that is the activity of trying to protect the environment for its own sake – saving numbers of fish for the sake of saving fish or saving numbers of wildlife for the sake of saving wildlife. It is a philosophy that ignores the principle that living things rely on the ecology and behaves as if it humankind and ecology are distinctly separate.

This brand of environmentalism ignores the history of evolution and Mother Nature’s use of conservation to shape it.

HSUS, PETA, NJ Sierra and other organizations, to varying degrees practice a misguided brand of environmentalism. However, their erroneous philosophies are used as the basis for shaping environmental policy. Plus, their sphere of influence grows as they gain greater access to policy making positions and elect similar minded legislators to public office.

Below are two examples of this ignorance:

In the first, HSUS tries to vilify shark tournaments while ignoring that sharks are managed by the federal government and also consumed by the angler (steadiness of supply and demand or “conservation” of the resource.)

In the second, the Asbury Park Press displays an ignorance of the precepts of conservation by supporting the selection of those with misguided environmental backgrounds to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Council.

I wonder what Mother Nature would say to HSUS and the Asbury Park Press?

Get involved. Join the NJOA. Help to stop the progress of ignorance. Return the precepts of conservation and the integrity of Mother Nature to their rightful spots.

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

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

NJOA, NJ - -(AmmoLand.com)- It is not the purpose of this NJOA update to distort or disparage the missions of other organizations. The purpose is to be factual and keep us informed of issues and developments that may impact matters of conservation and our freedoms to fish, hunt and trap.

One of the biggest threats to the functioning of the ecology and our way of life is the animal extremist movement.

It uses words to fool people into believing that an animal right is rooted in environmental stewardship when in fact there is little or no correlation. Just as confusing are environmental organizations that advance animal rights while fixating the public on their environmental moniker.

Recently, we exposed that the director of the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance was a press officer for domestic terrorist organizations. The purpose of the OpEd was not only to disclose unseemly actions but to highlight that the mission of the organization is unrelated to any environmental facet.

(See the following link) www.ammoland.com/2009/06/04/safe-backyards-com/

We have also published communications from this organization that detailed a working relationship between national animal rights groups operating in New Jersey (HSUS, PETA, NJARA, Animal Protection Pac, etc.) Also in these communications was revealed what appeared to be a cooperative effort between NJARA and NJ Sierra, specifically to derail Sunday bow hunting. What should concern conservationists is a possible collaborative effort that is growing between the animal rights movement and a segment of the environmental movement such as NJ Sierra.

Below is an article on Black Bear sightings in NJ. What is noteworthy is that the writer is referencing both NJ Sierra and NJARA as “animal rights activists and environmental groups” in the same sentence. The teaming of the organizations by the writer may not be as much coincidence as the unconscious recognition of a philosophical merging between the entities. We’ve seen references of a collaboration against Sunday bow hunting, the 150′ bow perimeter bill and the below article relates a teaming of ideas against the culling of bear populations.

Again, this update is simply for our consideration. It should be of special note to all those who believe that environmental stewardship is rooted in conservation and the mechanisms of ecology and not in the advancement of superficial agendas. It should also be said that regardless of our approaches we all have the best aspirations for our lands, waters, flora and fauna.

“The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.” Albert Camus

Here is the article:  Black Bear Sightings Continue To Rise In Nj

About:
NJOA – New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is the state’s first major political action committee devoted to the task of electing outdoor-minded candidates to public office.
NJOA has formed with the support of leaders of major pro-hunting, pro-angling, and pro-trapping organizations. We are not a hunting, fishing, or trapping “club” or “group,” and do not compete with the interests of such organizations. NJOA helps to ensure that strong wildlife and natural resource protection laws are produced by outdoor-minded elected officials. The best way to ensure a “conservation presence” in Trenton is to support the election campaigns of representatives who understand the relationship between a balanced ecology and hunting, fishing, and trapping.