Advocacy Archive

Although the trust fund isn’t going anywhere, the Minnesota Constitution states 40% of net lottery proceeds must go to the fund until 2025. If not renewed by H 1900 and companion S 2404, the trust would lose its primary revenue source leaving beneficial conservation programs, that directly impact the game species and habitat we pursue, unfunded. As bowhunters, it’s vital to pass a new constitutional amendment this year to extend the longevity of this revenue stream.

Let’s break it down; two things must occur before conservation can keep the lottery funds:

• First, the general assembly has to pass legislation (still being negotiated) that would put this issue on the ballot for voters to consider in 2024.
• Secondly (and only if the legislation passes), voters would have to approve the initiative at the polls just like they did in 1988. In Minnesota, the only way funds can be “dedicated” is through a constitutional amendment.

Please join Bowhunters United and other archery hunters across Minnesota to solicit a “YES” vote on H 1900 and companion S 2404 to extend lottery funding for the Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund. The trust has an exemplary history of conservation accomplishments and aims to protect, preserve, and enhance Minnesota’s wildlife and land.

What is a Landlocked Public Land?

Land that is reserved to the public that is surrounded and restricted by surrounding private land, with no public road or trail to reach them.

What is a Corner Crossing?

The act of stepping or crossing over a property corner from one piece of public land to another.

Other than the fact that millions of landlocked public lands are bounded by surrounding private property land tracts. The larger issue is the undefined, legal grey area of hunters’ ability to corner cross into public lands legally.  At these corners, four ends meet: two public, two private.

Passing over these corners has raised a huge debate in the West. For example, in 2021 four hunters corner crossed from public land to another tract of public land using an “A” frame ladder. Private landowners prosecuted them with trespassing. Even though the hunters did not step foot on their land, they passed through their private property’s airspace.

No laws currently exist that specifically outlaw the act of corner crossing. Various attempts to define whether it is legal or illegal to do so have failed.

Over 27,120 landlocking corners are in existence in the West. The popularity of hunting has increased by 25% since 2020. Many of those new hunters are hunting on public lands, thus increasing the demand for public land hunting opportunities.

There is a MAJOR grey area when it comes to corner crossing or accessing lands that touch private property. It is important as bowhunters and citizens that we understand the laws and limitations we must abide by. It is unfair for hunters to be penalized and stripped of their right to hunt, because of unclear legislation. As bills are presented at the legislative level, we must promote and protect our right to hunt, while allowing equal opportunities for public land hunters and the preservation of our country’s wildlife and landscape.

What is a game commission?

A board of expert conservationists and wildlife biologists who make executive decisions to conserve, protect, and preserve wildlife through regulations and sustainable hunting.

Animal rights activists are enraged with game commissions being composed of skilled wildlife management professionals. Their goal is to maintain a commission with a board that represents the entire population, not just hunters, anglers, and outdoorsmen.

Today, anti-hunting activists continue to malign the reputations and credibility of game commissioner members, leading to qualified hunters and anglers being rejected from commission boards or the nomination process.

Repercussions of Anti-Hunter Initiatives:

• (2021): Missouri, Nebraska, and Vermont
  • Revised the nomination process for commissions.
• (2020-2021): New Hampshire
  • Revised nomination and qualification process. Thus, allowing recreational clubs and non-consumptive organizations a chance to sit at the table.
• (2019): Oregon
  • A big game hunting guide, ex-military, and retired rancher was rejected by the State Senate due to concerns and criticism from animal-rights activist organizations for his big game hunting photos on social media.
• (2018): Idaho
  • A commissioner resigned his position due to a controversial uproar after sharing images from his African safari hunting trip.
• (2016): California
  • A commissioner submitted his resignation due to environmentalist commissioners taking a majority vote for decisions concerning their state’s wildlife conservation from a political view, instead of following proven scientific wildlife management studies.

The replacement of hunters, anglers, expert conservationists and wildlife biologists on state game commission boards is a huge concern not only for our wildlife but for sportsmen and women across the nation. Skilled conservationists, wildlife biologists, and management specialists make educated decisions for our wildlife based on science. Basing their decisions on pure emotion, anti-hunters who fill the seats of the game commission, pose a threat of restricted access, decreased hunting opportunities, and will put wild game and non-game species populations at risk.

As bowhunters, it is important that we stay active in promoting the fight to keep conservationists and hunters seated at the game commission table. Their position allows hunters like us to continue to contribute to wildlife conservation through hunting licenses, permits, tags, stamps, and outdoor-related gear.

SB 327 and HB983 areis Maryland’s attempt at doubling down on conservation developmental improvements. The bill not only provides significant benefits in boosting conservation funding, itbut opens an expansion of opportunities for hunters, which will aid. Aiding in the establishment of DNR programs and divisions for hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation. Additionally, the bill supports the continued repeal of outdated blue law restrictions preventing sportsmen and sportswomen from hunting on Sundays.  

Specific benefits the bill would have on Maryland hHunters and wWildlife include:  

• Establishing a sika deer stamp to hunt sika deer. 
• Removing the prohibition against hunting waterfowl on Sundays. 
• Establishing the “Wildlife Conservation, Education, and Outreach Program” to provide outdoor recreation, hunting and wildlife conservation education to underserved communities. 

• Allowing non-resident students attending a college or university in Maryland to obtain a hunting license at the resident rate. 
• Increasing the price of the resident and non-resident hunting licenses by a few dollars. 

Are you a Marylander? Show your support for Maryland wildlife and conservation by contacting your representatives today.  

Twenty-three states across the U.S. have already actively challenged legislation to protect their rights to hunt, fish, and trap. Inspired by these same values, Iowa and Florida are sending a series of bills aimed to grant the highest level of protection to our hunting heritage and traditions.   

Iowa  

Status: As HJR 6 and SJR 128 pass through the House and Senate, Iowa voters will have the final opportunity to approve the passed amendments once they pass..  

About the Bills:  

• Public hunting, fishing, trapping, and harvesting of wildlife shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. 
• Reasonable laws will be enacted by the general assembly and reasonable rules adopted by the natural resources commission that promote wildlife conservation and management to preserve the future of hunting, fishing, and harvesting wildlife. 

Florida  

Status: Two bills have been introduced to the House and Senate legislation table, HJR 1157 and SJR 1234.  

About the Bill:  

• Hunting and fishing shall be preserved in perpetuity as a public right.  

The Big Picture:  

As other states see the actions of passing amendments to protect the right to hunt, fish, and trap, Bowhunters United is creating a defensive barrier to anti-hunters and animal activists who persist to take those rights away. Strategically, as more states gain the highest levels of protection for our right to hunt, we have the opportunity to focus our efforts to helping MORE states gain those same rights.  

If you are in either state, Iowa or Florida, contact your representatives today to show support for these bills.