Will hunting continue to play a role in managing New Jersey's deer herd?

It seems that every few months a new antihunting, anti-wildlife-management crisis pops up in New Jersey. In July, the situation only worsened. Michael Panter, Democrat, sponsored Assembly Bill 3275, which changed the makeup of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council. For decades, the 11-member Council consisted of two sportsmen each from South Jersey, Central Jersey, and North Jersey; a farmer from each of those three regions; a conservationist; and an endangered and non-game species representative.

Now animal rightists are pushing for a bill that would allow New Jersey's governor (no friend of hunting) to appoint seven people to the Commission. If your governor understands wildlife management and the values of hunting, then no problem -- but what if said governor leans toward the animal-rights side? Would this lead to the end of hunting in New Jersey? In the long run, that is a possibility. But, certainly, if this becomes law, many antihunting, anti-wildlife-management changes could likely take effect.

It became obvious that politics were involved when this bill was directed to Panter's Environment and Solid Waste Committee rather than the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee, where it belonged. At the hearing in front of Panter's Committee, 40 people testified, and the committee voted for the bill. Supposedly, changes will be made to the bill and it will be forwarded to the floor for a vote.

One more thing -- the U.S. Sports-man's Alliance reports that this bill also directs the Commission to investigate nonlethal management options before setting hunting, fishing, or trapping programs. It would also transfer the Division of Fish and Wildlife from the Depart-ment of Conservation and Economic Development to the Department of En-vironmental Protection. If this bill passes, the head of Environmental Protection (no friend of hunting) would be making decisions on whether to allow nonlethal management before hunting seasons and bag limits are established. We've seen how politics have delayed the bear hunting season in New Jersey -- can you imagine the disaster this bill and political approach would inflict on deer and waterfowl seasons?

Regarding the issue of baiting -- politicians support it, while game agencies oppose it. Thus, when the Mississippi legislature introduced a bill to legalize baiting, people got nervous. However, common sense prevailed as the legislature ditched that bill and passed one that puts such a decision in the hands of the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Contrary to what happened in New Jersey, legislators in Mississippi decided to let the experts make a wildlife decision. The bill allows the Commission to study the impacts of deer baiting and then to make a determination. The governor agreed and signed the bill into law in April 2007.

Oregon state officials have their hands full with cougar management. In 1994, the state passed a citizen referendum that abolished hunting with dogs for mountain lions and black bears. In 1996, the public reaffirmed that vote, and since then, mountain lion numbers have climbed 20 percent to 5,100. Hunting for cats still occurs, but not with dogs (with the exception that game agency employees can use dogs to kill up to 24 mountain lions in three target areas).

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