Positive and factual coverage.
Ant
Sunday bow hunting measure advances
By BRUCE A. SCRUTON newton(nj) herald march 17, 2009
TRENTON -- Two bills that would relax restrictions on bow hunting for deer in New Jersey passed the Assembly on Monday with overwhelming bi-partisan support.
One bill that allows bow hunting on Sundays will go to Gov. Jon S. Corzine for his action while the second bill, which reduces the perimeter around a residence where bow hunting will be allowed goes to the Senate where an identical bill also has bi-partisan sponsorship.
The Sunday hunting bill, which was sponsored by five assembly members, including Alison Littell McHose and Gary R. Chiusano, whose district includes Sussex County, and had another four co-sponsors, passed the Assembly by a vote of 69-9 with two members not voting.
"We had a lot of support from southern Democrats who also represent rural areas," said Chiusano, speaking from the Assembly floor after the vote.
Anthony Mauro, who heads the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, said the vote was the result of an educational effort on behalf of his members. "The legislators responded very well to the issue of conservation which moved these items along," he said.
Traditionally, there has been no hunting on Sundays in New Jersey for any game animal. While the bill would allow bow and arrow hunting on Sundays, it restricts it to the normal deer hunting season and only on private property with the owners' permission or in state wildlife management areas which are purchased and maintained by hunting license fees.
"This doubles the value of my (New Jersey) hunting license," said John Rogalo, regional vice president of the state Federation of Sportsmen's Associations. "If you work weekdays, you only have weekends to hunt, fish and trap. I'm used to driving two hours or more to New York so I can hunt on Sundays."
A strong effort had been launched by anti-hunting forces to call legislators with some e-mails going to national groups for support. One message said, "During hunting season, there would be NO DAY that the public could use a State Park without a threat of being shot by a projectile."
Chiusano said he received several calls objecting to the bill, but once people were told the actual language did not affect state or municipal parks, "people didn't object to Sunday hunting."
With bow hunting, the shooter is within 30 yards of the target and most often is shooting down from a tree stand so the arrow's flight carries it quickly into the ground.
The Senate passed an identical bill in October by a 32-6 vote so the legislation moves on to the governor.
Chiusano said, "with the margin of support, from both parties in both houses, I'm sure he'll support it."
The second bill, which passed the Assembly by a vote of 66-11 with three members not voting, reduces the so-called safety perimeter around an occupied structure for bow hunting from the current 450 feet, the same as for a firearm, down to 150 feet. Again, the hunter must have written permission from the property owner.
The legislation does not affect the 450-foot perimeter for firearms and, in fact, increases the fine from $25 to $50 for people who carry a loaded firearm within that 450-foot perimeter. The bill also retains a 450-foot zone around schools for bow hunting.
Because of the nature of bow hunting -- shooting down at close targets -- supporters said there is no need for the larger zone. The smaller zone opens up a lot of suburban areas for hunting since many woodlots where large herds of deer congregate, are within 450 feet of homes.
The perimeter bill has already passed out of the Senate Environment Committee by a vote of 6-0.
Ant
Sunday bow hunting measure advances
By BRUCE A. SCRUTON newton(nj) herald march 17, 2009
TRENTON -- Two bills that would relax restrictions on bow hunting for deer in New Jersey passed the Assembly on Monday with overwhelming bi-partisan support.
One bill that allows bow hunting on Sundays will go to Gov. Jon S. Corzine for his action while the second bill, which reduces the perimeter around a residence where bow hunting will be allowed goes to the Senate where an identical bill also has bi-partisan sponsorship.
The Sunday hunting bill, which was sponsored by five assembly members, including Alison Littell McHose and Gary R. Chiusano, whose district includes Sussex County, and had another four co-sponsors, passed the Assembly by a vote of 69-9 with two members not voting.
"We had a lot of support from southern Democrats who also represent rural areas," said Chiusano, speaking from the Assembly floor after the vote.
Anthony Mauro, who heads the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, said the vote was the result of an educational effort on behalf of his members. "The legislators responded very well to the issue of conservation which moved these items along," he said.
Traditionally, there has been no hunting on Sundays in New Jersey for any game animal. While the bill would allow bow and arrow hunting on Sundays, it restricts it to the normal deer hunting season and only on private property with the owners' permission or in state wildlife management areas which are purchased and maintained by hunting license fees.
"This doubles the value of my (New Jersey) hunting license," said John Rogalo, regional vice president of the state Federation of Sportsmen's Associations. "If you work weekdays, you only have weekends to hunt, fish and trap. I'm used to driving two hours or more to New York so I can hunt on Sundays."
A strong effort had been launched by anti-hunting forces to call legislators with some e-mails going to national groups for support. One message said, "During hunting season, there would be NO DAY that the public could use a State Park without a threat of being shot by a projectile."
Chiusano said he received several calls objecting to the bill, but once people were told the actual language did not affect state or municipal parks, "people didn't object to Sunday hunting."
With bow hunting, the shooter is within 30 yards of the target and most often is shooting down from a tree stand so the arrow's flight carries it quickly into the ground.
The Senate passed an identical bill in October by a 32-6 vote so the legislation moves on to the governor.
Chiusano said, "with the margin of support, from both parties in both houses, I'm sure he'll support it."
The second bill, which passed the Assembly by a vote of 66-11 with three members not voting, reduces the so-called safety perimeter around an occupied structure for bow hunting from the current 450 feet, the same as for a firearm, down to 150 feet. Again, the hunter must have written permission from the property owner.
The legislation does not affect the 450-foot perimeter for firearms and, in fact, increases the fine from $25 to $50 for people who carry a loaded firearm within that 450-foot perimeter. The bill also retains a 450-foot zone around schools for bow hunting.
Because of the nature of bow hunting -- shooting down at close targets -- supporters said there is no need for the larger zone. The smaller zone opens up a lot of suburban areas for hunting since many woodlots where large herds of deer congregate, are within 450 feet of homes.
The perimeter bill has already passed out of the Senate Environment Committee by a vote of 6-0.
