Maine

[Jerry LaBella (Admin)]

<font color="0000ff"><font size="+2">Sportsmen Join Lawsuit to Prevent Antis' Misuse of ESA to Ban Hunting-</font></font> (01/05)
Maine
Join our e-mail alert list

(Columbus) – The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation has filed to represent sportsmen in a precedent-setting lawsuit brought by animal activists to derail hunting, fishing and trapping for abundant game wherever endangered or threatened species exist.



On Jan. 4, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) asked U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. for permission to join a federal lawsuit brought by the Animal Protection Institute against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In October 2006, the animal rights group sued to expand endangered and threatened species protections to healthy and abundant wildlife populations.



“Our goal is to prevent the animal rights movement from manipulating the Endangered Species Act to ban hunting, fishing and trapping,” said Rob Sexton, USSAF vice president for government affairs. “The case could set a precedent that affects the future of hunting, fishing and trapping and how they are used as wildlife management tools.”



At issue is the legal argument brought by anti-hunters that trapping of any species should be banned in order to prevent the possibility of inadvertently catching federally protected Canada lynx, bald eagles and gray wolves. There is no data proving this to be a problem.



“It is important for sportsmen to understand this lawsuit represents far more than a strike against a single sport,” said Sexton. “The trappers won’t be the only ones impacted. If anti’s can stop all trapping in a place where there is a risk of catching a Canada lynx, they can just as easily try to stop fishing in bodies of water where there is a risk of catching an endangered species of sturgeon.”



This lawsuit also treads on states’ authority to manage wildlife. An unfavorable decision would virtually require judges to close hunting, fishing and trapping.



As the case develops, the USSAF continues to defend sportsmen’s rights in two nearly identical lawsuits brought by anti’s against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. They also would set dangerous precedents that put hunting, fishing and trapping in jeopardy.



The USSAF has filed to join the case, along with the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Maine Trappers Association, Fur Takers of America, and individual sportsmen Oscar Cronk, Donald Dudley and Alvin Theriault.



The U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund is the nation’s only litigation force that exclusively represents sportsmen’s interests in the courts. It defends wildlife management and sportsmen’s rights in local, state and federal courts. The U.S. SLDF represents the interests of sportsmen and assists government lawyers who have little or no background in wildlife law.



The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects and advances America’s heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping.

[Jerry LaBella (Admin)]

<font color="aa00aa"><font size="+2">Maine Takes Steps to Increase Hunter Recruitment-</font></font> (03/26)
Maine


Lawmakers in Maine are debating a Families Afield bill that will help bolster the number of hunters in the state.



Families Afield is a campaign established by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and National Wild Turkey Federation to urge states to eliminate unnecessary hunting age restrictions and ease hunter education mandates for first-time hunters.



Maine HP 370, introduced by Wesley Richardson, R-Warren, will establish a one-year apprentice hunting license for persons 16 years and older. The apprentice will be required to hunt in the presence of a licensed hunter over 18 years. The bill awaits action in the Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.



“Many adults have an interest in hunting, but without trying it, they are not motivated to invest time and money in the activity,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president. “An apprentice hunting experience can be the motivation necessary to bring a newcomer to the field and make sure he or she returns for years to come.”



Last week, the USSA and its partners announced that half of the twelve states that have approved Families Afield legislation and regulations have measured the program’s performance and report a significant climb in new hunters. The available data reveals that apprentice hunting license programs brought nearly 34,000 new hunters to the field without a single hunting-related shooting incident.



“Safety in the field is always a top priority, and we are proud that the Families Afield program is proving to be safe and effective at boosting sportsmen’s numbers, as we were confident it would,” said Pidgeon.



Lawmakers in California, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Oregon are also considering legislation to enact apprentice license programs and lower hunting age restrictions.



Take Action! Maine sportsmen should contact members of the Joint Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and ask for support of HP 370. Explain that a “try before you buy” apprentice hunting program will help bolster the state’s hunter numbers and ensure its hunting traditions.



Committee members are listed below. Mail comments to: Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 100 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0100. For a sample letter to lawmakers, use the Legislative Action Center.



Sportsmen who want to support the enactment of Families Afield laws and regulations in their states can use the Legislative Action Center on the USSA website, www.ussportsmen.org (http://www.ussportsmen.org). The resource allows visitors to find and send messages to their lawmakers regarding Families Afield and other legislative issues.



Lawmaker Party-Hometown Phone
Sen. Bruce S. Bryant, Chair
D-Dixfield
(207) 562-8872

Rep. Troy Dale Jackson, Chair
D-Fort Kent
(207) 287-1400

Sen. Joseph C. Perry
D-Bangor
(207) 287-1540

Sen. Walter R. Gooley
R-Farmington
(207) 778-2368

Rep. Mark E. Bryant
D-Windham
(207) 892-6591

Rep. Jane E. Eberle
D-South Portland
(207) 287-1400

Rep. Edward D. Finch
D-Fairfield
(207) 287-1400

Rep. Jacqueline A. Lundeen
D-Mars Hill
(207) 429-9434

Rep. Everett W. McLeod, Sr.
R-Lee
(207) 287-1400

Rep. David E. Richardson
R-Carmel
(207) 287-1400

Rep. Earl E. Richardson
R-Greenville
(207) 287-1400

Rep. Thomas B. Saviello
U-Wilton
(207) 287-1400

Rep. Walter A. Wheeler, Sr.
D-Kittery
(207) 287-1400

[Jerry LaBella (Admin)]

<font color="ff6000"><font size="+1">Maine Passes Law to Increase Hunter Recruitment
Families Afield Bill Approved</font></font>

June 8, 2007 (Maine)



A Families Afield bill that will help bolster the number of hunters in Maine has been signed into law.

Families Afield is a campaign established by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and National Wild Turkey Federation to urge states to eliminate unnecessary hunting age restrictions and ease hunter education mandates for first-time hunters.

Gov. John Baldacci signed Maine HP 370 on June 4. The bill, introduced by Wesley Richardson, R-Warren, will establish a one-year apprentice hunting license for persons 16 years and older. The apprentice will be required to hunt in the presence of a licensed hunter over 18 years.

States that have approved Families Afield legislation and regulations have measured the program’s performance and report a significant climb in new hunters. The available data reveals that apprentice hunting license programs brought nearly 34,000 new hunters to the field without a single hunting-related shooting incident.

Lawmakers in Oklahoma, Oregon, Kansas, Washington and other states have also passed Families Afield legislation this year to enact apprentice hunting license programs and lower hunting age restrictions.

[administrator]

Sportsmen Settle Suit, Protect Trapping in Maine(Columbus) -

Sportsmen have reached a legal settlement in a lawsuit that threatened to ban trapping in Maine. The decision will allow trapping to continue in the state.


On Oct. 4, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIFW) agreed to restrict trap sizes in areas where Canada lynx exist. The action is part of a settlement between the state and the Animal Protection Institute (API), an anti-trapping organization that filed suit in 2006 to ban trapping. The group argued that all trapping should be prohibited to prevent the inadvertent catch of federally-protected Canada lynx.



The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation joined the case as a defendant intervenor to represent sportsmen’s interests. It’s legal arm, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund, worked along with the Maine Trappers Association, Fur Takers of America, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, National Trappers Association and individual sportsmen Oscar Cronk, Donald Dudley, Alvin Theriault and Brian Cogill.



“We will get to continue trapping in Maine with minimal restrictions,” said Skip Trask, executive director of the Maine Trappers Association. “The attorneys for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation did an outstanding job. Without them, we would have been in serious trouble.”



The DIFW has filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to receive an Incidental Take Permit. The permits are distributed by the FWS for activities that could possibly result in "take" of threatened or endangered species. If the agency grants the permit, the settlement and its restrictions will expire.



The U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund is the nation’s only litigation force that exclusively represents sportsmen’s interests in the courts. It defends wildlife management and sportsmen’s rights in local, state and federal courts. The U.S. SLDF represents the interests of sportsmen and assists government lawyers who often have little or no background in wildlife law.



The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protect the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

[administrator]

Sportsmen Settle Suit, Protect Trapping in Maine
Litigious anti's fail at their attempt to ban trappingOctober 5, 2007 (Maine)

(Columbus) - Sportsmen have reached a legal settlement in a lawsuit that threatened to ban trapping in Maine. The decision will allow trapping to continue in the state.
On Oct. 4, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIFW) agreed to restrict trap sizes in areas where Canada lynx exist. The action is part of a settlement between the state and the Animal Protection Institute (API), an anti-trapping organization that filed suit in 2006 to ban trapping. The group argued that all trapping should be prohibited to prevent the inadvertent catch of federally-protected Canada lynx.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation joined the case as a defendant intervenor to represent sportsmen’s interests. It’s legal arm, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund, worked along with the Maine Trappers Association, Fur Takers of America, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, National Trappers Association and individual sportsmen Oscar Cronk, Donald Dudley, Alvin Theriault and Brian Cogill.

“We will get to continue trapping in Maine with minimal restrictions,” said Skip Trask, executive director of the Maine Trappers Association. “The attorneys for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation did an outstanding job. Without them, we would have been in serious trouble.”

The DIFW has filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to receive an Incidental Take Permit. The permits are distributed by the FWS for activities that could possibly result in "take" of threatened or endangered species. If the agency grants the permit, the settlement and its restrictions will expire.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund is the nation’s only litigation force that exclusively represents sportsmen’s interests in the courts. It defends wildlife management and sportsmen’s rights in local, state and federal courts. The U.S. SLDF represents the interests of sportsmen and assists government lawyers who often have little or no background in wildlife law.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protect the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.