As previously reported, Legislative Document 1068 is legislation that bans hunting in an enclosure. BUT if you read closely, it could have impacts far beyond the language of the bill.
The language of the bill conjures images of shooting an animal that is tied up or in a cage, but in reality, this language could be used to close down pheasant hunting preserves, gun-dog field trials or even deer hunting operations where hunting takes places on large tracts of land. Pheasants are confined in pens and barns before being released on a hunting preserve. Field trialers keep their birds confined until such time as the release for the trial. And many deer hunting preserves are massive, and provide a fair chase opportunity, albeit on a fenced property. Any fence is, in fact, an enclosure, but the bill makes no distinction between a high fence, a strand of barbed wire or an actual cage. Even massive properties bordered by roads could run afoul of the law as all of these examples are “artificial boundaries,” which the bill prohibits – and which leaves open the question about what would truly be eliminated by LD 1068.
Public testimony was taken on March 27 and on Monday, April 11, at 11 a.m., the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee placed LD 1098 on the work session agenda, which usually means a vote. If you have not already emailed the committee urging them to OPPOSE LD 1098, there is still time. Please use our Take Action button to email the committee urging them to OPPOSE this overly broad legislation that could be used as a tool by animal-rights groups to eliminate hunting opportunities.
Don’t forget to share this email with your family, friends and fellow sportsmen and ask them to also contact the committee to OPPOSE LD 1068.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.