New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission Saved

In last week’s column, I wrote about anti-hunting activist Representative Carla Skinder (D- from Cornish, N.H.) who has sponsored House Bill HB-559 as a step towards preventing hunting, fishing and trapping. HB-559 sought to gut the N.H. Fish and Game Commission’s authority and implement changes that would allow animal rights activists into the Fish and Game Department. If passed, this bill would be a definite slap in the face of every sportsperson who has safe-guarded our traditions and wildlife habitat for the last 100 years. It would:1. Take the policy setting authority away from the Fish and Game Commission.2. Remove each county’s sporting clubs authority to nominate a proposed commissioner from their ranks.3. No longer require that commissioners hold a resident fishing, hunting or trapping license for 5 of the 10 previous years.4. No longer require commissioners to have any experience in the fields of conservation, forestry or agriculture.5. Force the commission to have at least one animal rights activist as a member. This bill would be a definite slap in the face of every sportsperson who has safe guarded our tra ditions and wildlife habitat for the last 100 years. 

The hearing on HB-559 was slated for Tuesday, February 17th at 10:00 a.m. in Room 307 of the Legislative Office Building. My brother-in-law, Henry Camirand, and I attended. However, due to the large turnout, the hearing was transferred to Representative Hall. Some 3,500 people signed petitions in opposition to HB-559. At the hearing, 40 persons testified on the bill. They included seven animal rights people, who spoke in favor of HB-559, and 33 people who spoke against it. Among those who spoke against the bill were former Fish and Game Commissioners Ellis Hatch and Bill Carney. 

Representatives from various sportsmen organizations also spoke against HB-559. They included the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Nashua Fish and Game Association, New Hampshire SCI, Fly Partners In Fishing, New Hampshire Bass Federation, Belknap County Sportsmen and the New Hampshire Trappers Association. And now for the best news: At the end, the bill was brought up for a vote by the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee and voted “Inexpedient to legislate” by a vote of 15 to 0. It is indeed a blessing that our Fish and Game Department has survived one more attack by the “animal rights” activists in New Hampshire.

To the many of you who cared, who voiced your opposition to HB-559 and support for our Fish and Game Commissioner system - many thanks. You do make a difference.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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DISCLAIMER:  The opinions expressed by Mr. Harris are not necessarily those of the Goffstown Residents Association or its members

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