Sunday Bow Articles
10/05/09 07:42
Last week was hectic
for me and I apologize for not sending the articles
(below) by Brain Murray and Rick Methot regarding
Sunday bow. Their coverage of the matter went well
beyond the terse summary published by the Associated
Press. Thank you Brian and Rick.
Ant
Corzine signs law allowing N.J. bow and arrow deer hunting on Sundays
by Brian T. Murray/The Star-Ledger
Monday May 04, 2009, 7:29 PM
Add bow hunting to the Sunday traditions of going to church, reading the funny pages and watching sports channels.
Gov. Jon Corzine today signed a bill to let archers take aim at the Garden State's troublesome deer population on the Sabbath, which has historically been off-limits to hunters pursuing whitetail. Although sponsored largely by legislators from districts with large deer herds, the law received overwhelming support in both the Assembly and the Senate before being sent to the governor.
Ant
Corzine signs law allowing N.J. bow and arrow deer hunting on Sundays
by Brian T. Murray/The Star-Ledger
Monday May 04, 2009, 7:29 PM
Add bow hunting to the Sunday traditions of going to church, reading the funny pages and watching sports channels.
Gov. Jon Corzine today signed a bill to let archers take aim at the Garden State's troublesome deer population on the Sabbath, which has historically been off-limits to hunters pursuing whitetail. Although sponsored largely by legislators from districts with large deer herds, the law received overwhelming support in both the Assembly and the Senate before being sent to the governor.
"I think it's going to
help with deer control, certainly," said Anthony
Mauro, chairman of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance,
an organization of hunters, anglers and conservation
groups that lobbied heavily for the law.
"Any time you ride by a deer lying dead on the road, that is a headstone for a car accident that caused an injury, a financial loss or even a tragedy," he added. "Agricultural loses, calculated by the New Jersey Farm Bureau, also are at 20 percent a year, and there is the issue of spreading Lyme disease, damage to residential properties and to the natural landscape."
The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance and the Humane Society of the United States, which oppose all hunting, had criticized the measure as barbaric. The New Jersey Sierra Club also opposed the bill, although the group said it supports killing deer to reduce the damage the animals' foraging habits have had on state forests.
"We would have supported a longer deer season. For us it's not about hunting, it's about the one day we can think about hiking and not hunting," said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club. "At a time when they are cutting the budget, we don't have enough conservation officers out there. Do they have the resources to oversee these extra days?"
The legislation restricts the hunting to private property and state wildlife-management areas. State parks are not included.
The law will go into effect with the start of hunting season in September. Archers also will be free to use crossbows if the state Fish and Game Council finalizes a measure this summer to add that weapon to the range of bows permitted during New Jersey's archery seasons.
Sunday hunting is not completely new. Hunting clubs that pay the state for semi-wild permits to stock game birds, such as pheasants and chukars, have long been able to hunt on Sundays with shotguns during the prescribed fall and winter seasons for small game hunting.
Len Wolgast, a former wildlife biology professor at Rutgers University who sits on the game council, said the added day of bow-hunting enables a large population of people who work a six-day week to get back into the forests.
Sunday bow starts this fall
Rick Methot, Trentonian
First the first time in more than a century bow hunters will be legally allowed to hunt deer on Sundays in New Jersey.
Some of the more pessimistic sportsmen in the state figured the bill, overwhelmingly passed by the Legislature, had about as much chance of being signed into law by Governor Corzine as a 50-1 shot had winning the Kentucky Derby.
Guess what?
A no-name horse came home with the roses and Sunday bow hunting will start this fall for the first time since a ban Sunday hunting was enacted in 1903.
It was a long and tough fight with sportsmen pitted against well-financed anti-hunting and environmental groups, the latter mounting a huge phone-in campaign that was nationwide in scope. In the end, however, it was New Jersey sportsmen, reminding the
Governor and legislators that they vote here, not Idaho.
Anti-hunting groups argued bowhunting on Sundays would prevent non-hunters from hiking in the woods and other outdoor pursuits. However, how many families lark off to a state Wildlife Management Area with a picnic basket on Sundays? Not too many I would think, but rather they’d head for the local park, whether municipal, county or state run, and they still can.
Sunday bowhunting will only be allowed on WMAs and private property during the deer season. Also the claim that Sundays are sacrosanct as the Lord’s Day is pretty much a quaint concept these days. While church is still a big part of the Sunday ritual, and rightfully so, most stores used be closed on the first day of the week under the antiquated “Blue Laws.” Remember when you had to buy beer in a milkshake-like container to go?
Also Sunday hunting is currently allowed on commercial preserves as well as semi-wild clubs for pheasant, quail and chuker during fairly lengthy seasons. Deer hunting and pursuing other small game was not allowed.
According to Anthony Mauro, chairman of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, the group most responsible for spearheading the drive to get the legislation passed and signed into law, reminds sportsmen that it would be appropriate to call or e-mail legislators, and the governor, to say “thank you,” for their support.
One aspect of the law, which takes effect immediately and the first day of Sunday bow hunting will be Sept. 13, 2009 or October 4, depending on zone, is that there may be a rush of sportsmen taking an interest in archery. First timers must pass a hunter education safety course and lines may be long come fall.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife is urging those wanting to bow hunt with the extra days available sign up for hunter ed courses this month as F&W says May traditionally has the smallest class sizes.
There are few classes in summer and fall fills up quickly according to F&W. You can register online at www.njfishandwildlife.com as well as get course materials and video. Printed materials and the DVD are also available at license agents.
SHAD WATCH
While a week of sometimes soaking rains was somewhat depressing it was much needed throughout the state. However many streams and the Delaware in our neck of the woods are high and chocolate colored making fishing a challenge until conditions return to normal, which may be what they are this time of year.
Steve Meserve’s latest report from the Lewis Island netting operation was of a damp, cool night at water temps at 62 degrees and the river up a half a foot. However the haul resulted in 20 American shad and one Hickory as well as more than 80 catfish.
A friend was out upriver the other day and had a good one with 13 shad caught, nine of them roe, as well as a few lost in three hours of fishing north of Belividere with a professional guide. Contact www.fishassured.com for details, rates, etc. Supposedly the service offers its clients a free trip of they fail to catch a shad. Last year, according to my friend, the guide only had to do that once in 104 trips.
BUSTED
Herring limits are going to drop sharply next year and there is a real possibility that unless an acceptable management plan is approved the fishery could be closed completely for commercial and recreational fishermen.
Right now the limit is 35 a day, but you can’t have more than 35 in possession. With herring going for $3 to $5 apiece as striper bait, some folks get a little greedy. Thus eight men face possible fines of some $33,000 for illegally taking and selling herring in South Jersey. Pricey fish.
Rick Methot is the outdoor columnist for The Trentonian. Contact him at rikwrite@aol.com.
Anthony P. Mauro, Sr.
Chairman,
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: "We've got your back!"
www.njoutdooralliance.org
NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA
"Any time you ride by a deer lying dead on the road, that is a headstone for a car accident that caused an injury, a financial loss or even a tragedy," he added. "Agricultural loses, calculated by the New Jersey Farm Bureau, also are at 20 percent a year, and there is the issue of spreading Lyme disease, damage to residential properties and to the natural landscape."
The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance and the Humane Society of the United States, which oppose all hunting, had criticized the measure as barbaric. The New Jersey Sierra Club also opposed the bill, although the group said it supports killing deer to reduce the damage the animals' foraging habits have had on state forests.
"We would have supported a longer deer season. For us it's not about hunting, it's about the one day we can think about hiking and not hunting," said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club. "At a time when they are cutting the budget, we don't have enough conservation officers out there. Do they have the resources to oversee these extra days?"
The legislation restricts the hunting to private property and state wildlife-management areas. State parks are not included.
The law will go into effect with the start of hunting season in September. Archers also will be free to use crossbows if the state Fish and Game Council finalizes a measure this summer to add that weapon to the range of bows permitted during New Jersey's archery seasons.
Sunday hunting is not completely new. Hunting clubs that pay the state for semi-wild permits to stock game birds, such as pheasants and chukars, have long been able to hunt on Sundays with shotguns during the prescribed fall and winter seasons for small game hunting.
Len Wolgast, a former wildlife biology professor at Rutgers University who sits on the game council, said the added day of bow-hunting enables a large population of people who work a six-day week to get back into the forests.
Sunday bow starts this fall
Rick Methot, Trentonian
First the first time in more than a century bow hunters will be legally allowed to hunt deer on Sundays in New Jersey.
Some of the more pessimistic sportsmen in the state figured the bill, overwhelmingly passed by the Legislature, had about as much chance of being signed into law by Governor Corzine as a 50-1 shot had winning the Kentucky Derby.
Guess what?
A no-name horse came home with the roses and Sunday bow hunting will start this fall for the first time since a ban Sunday hunting was enacted in 1903.
It was a long and tough fight with sportsmen pitted against well-financed anti-hunting and environmental groups, the latter mounting a huge phone-in campaign that was nationwide in scope. In the end, however, it was New Jersey sportsmen, reminding the
Governor and legislators that they vote here, not Idaho.
Anti-hunting groups argued bowhunting on Sundays would prevent non-hunters from hiking in the woods and other outdoor pursuits. However, how many families lark off to a state Wildlife Management Area with a picnic basket on Sundays? Not too many I would think, but rather they’d head for the local park, whether municipal, county or state run, and they still can.
Sunday bowhunting will only be allowed on WMAs and private property during the deer season. Also the claim that Sundays are sacrosanct as the Lord’s Day is pretty much a quaint concept these days. While church is still a big part of the Sunday ritual, and rightfully so, most stores used be closed on the first day of the week under the antiquated “Blue Laws.” Remember when you had to buy beer in a milkshake-like container to go?
Also Sunday hunting is currently allowed on commercial preserves as well as semi-wild clubs for pheasant, quail and chuker during fairly lengthy seasons. Deer hunting and pursuing other small game was not allowed.
According to Anthony Mauro, chairman of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, the group most responsible for spearheading the drive to get the legislation passed and signed into law, reminds sportsmen that it would be appropriate to call or e-mail legislators, and the governor, to say “thank you,” for their support.
One aspect of the law, which takes effect immediately and the first day of Sunday bow hunting will be Sept. 13, 2009 or October 4, depending on zone, is that there may be a rush of sportsmen taking an interest in archery. First timers must pass a hunter education safety course and lines may be long come fall.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife is urging those wanting to bow hunt with the extra days available sign up for hunter ed courses this month as F&W says May traditionally has the smallest class sizes.
There are few classes in summer and fall fills up quickly according to F&W. You can register online at www.njfishandwildlife.com as well as get course materials and video. Printed materials and the DVD are also available at license agents.
SHAD WATCH
While a week of sometimes soaking rains was somewhat depressing it was much needed throughout the state. However many streams and the Delaware in our neck of the woods are high and chocolate colored making fishing a challenge until conditions return to normal, which may be what they are this time of year.
Steve Meserve’s latest report from the Lewis Island netting operation was of a damp, cool night at water temps at 62 degrees and the river up a half a foot. However the haul resulted in 20 American shad and one Hickory as well as more than 80 catfish.
A friend was out upriver the other day and had a good one with 13 shad caught, nine of them roe, as well as a few lost in three hours of fishing north of Belividere with a professional guide. Contact www.fishassured.com for details, rates, etc. Supposedly the service offers its clients a free trip of they fail to catch a shad. Last year, according to my friend, the guide only had to do that once in 104 trips.
BUSTED
Herring limits are going to drop sharply next year and there is a real possibility that unless an acceptable management plan is approved the fishery could be closed completely for commercial and recreational fishermen.
Right now the limit is 35 a day, but you can’t have more than 35 in possession. With herring going for $3 to $5 apiece as striper bait, some folks get a little greedy. Thus eight men face possible fines of some $33,000 for illegally taking and selling herring in South Jersey. Pricey fish.
Rick Methot is the outdoor columnist for The Trentonian. Contact him at rikwrite@aol.com.
Anthony P. Mauro, Sr.
Chairman,
New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: "We've got your back!"
www.njoutdooralliance.org
NJOACF Council Members:
Reef Rescue * NJ State Federation Sportsmen’s Clubs * Jersey Coast Anglers Association * Recreational Fishing Alliance * Trout Unlimited * National Wild Turkey Federation * NJ Beach Buggy Association * Hudson River Fishermen’s Association * United Bow Hunters NJ * New Jersey Council Diving Clubs * NJ Trappers Association * NJ Forestry Association * Society of American Foresters * Quail Unlimited * Ruffed Grouse Society * National Animal Interest Alliance Trust * Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association * NJOA