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Bill to ban bear hunting to be heard by House subcommittee (5/30/2003)

A hearing has been scheduled for congressional legislation to ban bear hunting with bait on federal land. Sportsmen should contact their Congressmen today and urge them to oppose the bill.

The hearing for HR 1472, introduced by U.S. Representatives Jim Moran (D-Virginia) and Elton Gallegly (R-California) will be June 12 before the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans of the House Resources Committee.

Ten states permit the practice of hunting bear with bait. Those states' wildlife agencies say that use of bait is an effective and necessary management tool for managing bears. Moran and Gallegly want to take that option away.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance encourages sportsmen to contact their U.S. Representatives and urge them to oppose HR 1472. Tell them that the federal government charges state wildlife agencies with the responsibility of successfully managing wildlife on federal lands. HR 1472 would open the door for the federal government to impose its authority on the states' wildlife management jurisdictions.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance developed the National Bear Hunting Defense Task Force to stop the bill. The task force has been aggressively lobbying Congress to oppose any attempt to ban bear hunting with bait. Task Force Members include Arkansas Bowhunters Association; Bear Hunting Magazine; California Houndsmen for Conservation; Eastern Idaho Houndsmen Association; Michigan Bear Hunters Association; Michigan Bow Hunters Association; Michigan Hunting Dog Federation; Michigan State United Coonhunters Association; Minnesota Bowhunters, Inc.; North American Bear Hunter's Alliance; North Carolina Bear Hunters Association; New Hampshire Bear Hunters Association; Upper Peninsula Bear Houndsmen; Virginia Bear Hunters Association; Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association; Wisconsin Bowhunters Association.

Take Action! Sportsmen should contact their U.S. Representatives to oppose HR 1472.

If your congressman is a member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans (listed), contact him or her immediately!

Members of the House Subcommittee of Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans-

Wayne Gilchrest (Chairman) (R-MD-1st)       (202) 225-5311
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-6th)                        (202) 225-4671
Don Young (R-AK-At large)                          (202) 225-5765
W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA-3rd)                      (202) 225-4031
Jim Saxton (R-NJ-3rd)                                 (202) 225-4765
Mark Souder (R-IN-3rd)                                (202) 225-4436
Walter Jones (R-NC-3rd)                             (202) 225-3415
Richard Pombo (R-CA-11th)                        (202) 225-1947
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI-1st)                         (202) 225-2726
Solomon Ortiz (D-TX-27th)                           (202) 225-7742
Nick Rahall (D-WV-3rd)                               (202) 225-3452

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