On October 22, 2021, the Hunters of Maryland met with the Honorable Senator Simonaire (Senate Minority Leader) about issues of importance to Maryland's hunting community.
Issues discussed: (1) opposing any expanded nighttime shooting of deer by holders of DNR-issued Deer Management Permits if such authorizing legislation is introduced at the 2002 Legislative Session; (2) advancing those pro-Sunday hunting bills that passed the House of Delegates during the 2021 Legislative Session, but failed in the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee; and (3) supporting a $100,000 general fund -- taxpayer dollars -- to DNR's Wildlife & Heritage Service to supplement, not supplant, special fund dollars derived from hunting license/stamp sales.
NOTE: The Public Trust Doctrine makes clear that all wildlife/fisheries are owned by the citizenry, not one individual. True, the American System of Conservation Funding -- about to celebrate its 85th Anniversary in 2022 -- is the Model by which the hunting community has always prescribed; that is, we as hunters, are willing to bear the lion's share of costs attendant to wildlife management, research and habitat improvement, aka "user benefit/pays". However, this Model is proving insufficient to meet projected demands placed upon our wildlife officials with an expanding population; meaning, it's time we started "sharing" these expenses -- citizenry via taxpayer dollars ("general funds") and hunting license/stamp dollars ("special funds") -- between the citizenry and hunters alike. The Hunters of Maryland are most hopeful and encouraged there will be such funding for DNR's Wildlife & Heritage Service (WHS) approved for fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023) via the 2022 General Assembly. And we will be there to support such overdue funding for WHS!
The Hunters of Maryland are hopeful that should any of these issues, et al, be introduced during the 2022 Legislative Session they will have a positive reception with the good Senator.
It is important to note that rumors always abound during the Interim (9-month period between the 3-month Legislative Session) about possible statutory, regulatory and budgetary policy issues that might be considered during the upcoming Legislative Session. When the Hunters of Maryland hear of such rumors, we gauge their reliability and address consistent with our mission. One really never knows, however, until the regular 90-day Session begins the second Wednesday of every January whether rumored issues become proposed policies.
Remember the immortal words of Theodore Roosevelt: "Wildlife cannot speak for itself...therefore we must and we will."
