2014 Legislative & Advocacy Update: Busy Season for QDMA

Every year, QDMA monitors legislation, regulation changes and policy on behalf of deer hunters, supporting initiatives that help ensure the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat, and our hunting heritage, and opposing those that do not. This year has been a particularly busy legislative and regulatory season for Kip Adams, QDMA's Director of Education & Outreach (photo above), who is responsible for QDMA's advocacy efforts. What follows is a look at QDMA's actions on legislation and policy in just the first four months of 2014. If you have questions about any of these items, send an email to Kip Adams. We need your help to increase QDMA's effectiveness at fighting for deer hunters, so please consider becoming a member of QDMA today.

JANUARY

Georgia: Provided input on DNR's 10 Year Deer Management Plan, currently undergoing revision and renewal.

Pennsylvania: Opposed HB 1576, the Endangered Species Coordination Act - this bill was introduced in June 2013 and would subject the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission's decisions to list wild trout streams and threatened and endangered species to review and approval by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) and by legislative committees. It is in the House Game and Fisheries Committee and has been since June 2013.

U.S.: Supported the 2014 Farm Bill along with 28 other wildlife conservation organizations. President Obama signed the bill on February 7, 2014. (Action taken in conjunction with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners).

Virginia: Supported HB 1237 to legalize Sunday hunting. It was signed by Governor Terry McAuliffe on March 5th and will become effective July 1st.

West Virginia: Supported Birthplace of Rivers National Monument, a citizen-based initiative to preserve a rare and iconic part of West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, which is home to some of the best public hunting and trout fishing waters in Appalachia.

FEBRUARY

Indiana: Worked to stop legislation that would allow "canned hunting" in the state. Currently there is no pending legislation that would allow this to occur.

Maine: Supported the continued opportunity to hunt bears in Maine under the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's current regulations.

U.S.: Supported S. 1875 and H.R. 3992 - the Wildlife Disaster Funding Act - this offered a promising approach to managing emergency wildfire suppression costs without impacting other priority programs within the responsible agencies. It was referred to the House Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry in February and remains in that committee. (Action taken in conjunction with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners).

MARCH

Kansas: Supported Senate Bill 357 to expand the hunter education deferral program. This bill passed the Senate in February and passed the House with amendments in March. The Senate did not concur with the amendments and the bill remains in the Senate.

Kansas: Supported House Bill 2626 which would allow the use of leashed dogs to track dead or wounded big game. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources in February and remains in that committee.

Kansas: Engaged in the discussion with sportsmen regarding reduced deer densities in the state.

Missouri: Opposed Senate Joint Resolution 42 which would establish a permanent Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to review the promulgation of rules by state agencies. This bill has been placed on the Senate's informal calendar.

Missouri: Opposed House Bill 2031 which would change the definition of captive deer and elk to "livestock." This bill passed the House on May 1st and goes to the Senate.

New York: Supported Assembly Bill 8184 to create a junior big game license for people 12 to 16 years of age. This bill was referred to the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee in January and is still in that committee.

New York: Supported Senate Bill 2582 to create a junior big game license for people 12 to 16 years of age. This bill was referred to the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee in January and is still in that committee.

New York: Supported Senate Bill 90A to remove the requirement for hunters to wear their hunting license on their back while hunting. This bill passed the Senate in February and is in the House Environmental Conservation Committee.

New York: Supported Assembly Bill 4911 to increase penalties for poaching whitetails. This bill was referred to the House Environmental Conservation Committee in January and remains in that committee.

U.S.: Opposed USDA-APHIS's federal CWD guidelines. Effective April 29, 2014, the USDA adopted as a final rule the interim final rule published in June 2012 with two miscellaneous changes. (Action taken in conjunction with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners).

Utah: Supported SB 165 which would establish a trial hunting permit in Utah to allow new hunters to hunt under the supervision of a licensed mentor prior to completing a hunter education course. Governor Gary Herbert signed on March 20.

West Virginia: Opposed House Bill 4286 known as the Captive Cervid Farming Act which would take authority of captive deer/elk away from the Division of Natural Resources and give it to the Department of Agriculture. This bill passed the House in February, and an amended version passed the Senate in March. However, the House did not concur with the amended bill so it remains in the Senate.

Wisconsin: Supported Assembly Bill 497 to increase poaching fines. This bill passed the Assembly in March and is currently in the Senate Committee on Organization.

Wyoming: Supported Senate File 38 which would expand and improve Wyoming's existing apprentice hunting program. This bill passed the state Senate on February 13 by a 28-2 vote, the state House of Representatives on February 27 by a 53-3 vote and was signed into law by Governor Matt Mead on March 4.

APRIL

Illinois: Engaged in discussion with the DNR and sportsmen regarding reduced deer densities in the state. Encouraged QDMA members to urge the DNR to establish a published deer management plan that includes items such as deer density goals and monitoring techniques.

Louisiana: Supported House Bill 958 to prohibit live transport of feral hogs. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment in March and it remains in that committee.

Louisiana: Supported Senate Bill 170 which would allow the taking of escaped deer/elk by hunters. This bill passed the Senate in April and was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment. It passed to the third reading and is scheduled for a floor debate on May 15.

Michigan: Worked with QDMA State Advisory Council and Michigan DNR on the potential of helping fund a staff position that would establish and help maintain wildlife cooperatives in Michigan. This position would be similar to our Wildlife Cooperative Specialist position in Missouri.

Minnesota: Engaged in discussion with the QDMA State Chapter and the DNR regarding reduced deer densities in the state. Encouraged the QDMA State Chapter to urge the DNR to establish a published deer management plan that includes items such as deer density goals and monitoring techniques.

New Jersey: Closely monitoring Assembly Bill 3039 which would establish a commercial deer harvesting license and allow commercial harvest of venison. It was introduced and referred to the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in March.

North Carolina: Supported creation of young forests on Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. The Forest Service is currently considering management action comments received from stakeholders.

North Carolina: QDMA founder and wildlife biologist Joe Hamilton is currently serving on a captive deer/elk task force.

Pennsylvania: Opposed House Bill 870 which would exclude public lands from participating in the deer management assistance program (DMAP). This bill was referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee in March and remains in that committee.

Pennsylvania: Opposed House Bill 1146 which would remove antler point restrictions for senior hunters. This bill was referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee in April and remains in that committee.

Pennsylvania: Opposed House Bill 1370 which would remove the concurrent antlered and antlerless deer season. This bill was referred to the House Game and Fisheries Committee in May and remains in that committee.

Pennsylvania: Worked with QDMA members and PGC biological staff to provide input for the 2014-15 deer hunting season regulations.

Pennsylvania: Engaged in the discussion with the Pennsylvania Game Commission on predator impacts on fawn recruitment and a potential research project to study those impacts.

Tennessee: Engaged in discussions with QDMA members on the issue of potentially changing the buck bag limit for the 2014-15 deer season. Currently Tennessee has a three-buck annual limit.

U.S.: Urged Congress to support wildfire funding at the USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior. (Action taken in conjunction with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners).

U.S.: Encouraged the Department of Agriculture to open enrollment of CRP as soon as possible. (Action taken in conjunction with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners).

U.S.: Urged Congress to support the vital need to increase the price of the Federal Duck Stamp from its current price of $15 to $25. No action has been taken on this request. (Action taken in conjunction with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners).

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