New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Report

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association June 2010 Newsletter)

Members of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance met on April 26th and the following is a brief summary of the issues that were discussed.

The NJOA staff takes the time to meet with legislators of both political parties to explain the issues relating to anglers and hunters of our state. Just because we are familiar with these issues, we assume and expect that our legislators have the same depth of knowledge on these issues as we do. Nothing can be further from the truth! While some legislators have this knowledge, many do not and if they do they sometimes have incorrect information. The NJOA invited Senator Beck from the 12th District to its April 26th meeting so that she could hear firsthand and, more importantly, understand the issues facing anglers and hunters.

One of the first issues that came up was the upcoming registry. Senator Beck initially indicated that the registry should be free and that anglers should not be required to pay anything for it. NJOA members explained the background of the registry to her and the issues involved with it. Namely, the administrative costs of the registry and the negative impact that it would have if the NJ’s Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) would have to absorb the cost to administer the program estimated to be $500,000 to $1,000,000. Depleting the budget of Fish & Wildlife by this amount would have a very adverse impact on the abilities of DFW to manage our state’s hunting and fishing programs. Funding of the registry must be addressed if it is to be handled by the DFW. The NJOA indicated to her that it needs the direction of our Governor on this important issue and she agreed.

Senator Beck told us that the deer population is a big problem in the Shrewsbury area and she asked the NJOA for input on how to handle this problem. There has been ongoing discussion to handle this deer problem in this area by using professional hunters, sterilization of deer and other alternatives. Of course, there is always the animal right activists who do not want any deer hunt even though there have been numerous accidents involving deer in the township.

NJOA members indicated that professional hunters using guns in a populated area would naturally antagonize residents and these hunters are expensive as an alternative estimated at $300 per deer. NJOA hunters recommended bow hunting to reduce the deer population and they offered to come to Senator Beck’s meeting on this issue with the township to fully explain this option to its residents at Senator Beck’s request. Senator Beck was very appreciative of this offer of assistance by the NJOA.

Other issues were discussed and explained to Senator Beck like the Pots Bill, HOFNOD and other issues. Senator Beck is in a position to help anglers and hunters of our state and her sitting down with NJOA Council members to hear what we have to say and her getting a better understanding of our issues was time very well spent. Senator Beck thanked us for inviting her and she said that she really enjoyed meeting with us. We need more legislators on board to get our legislative issues resolved.

Senator Tom Kean, Jr., Senate Minority Leader, has been invited to the NJOA’s May 24th meeting.

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