December 3, 2003
New Jersey Forbids Young Sportsmen to Participate in Bear Hunt,
U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation Asks Judge to Overrule Decision
(Columbus) - Today, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) began informing the parents of 278 young hunters that their children will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming black bear hunt. All of the youth have bear hunting tags and have attended a half-day class to prepare for the hunt.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) and a group of New Jersey parents and youth hunters will ask a New Jersey appellate court to stop the order.
The DEP told several parents that the prohibition was issued to prevent children from being confronted by animal rights protestors that have been threatening to disrupt the hunt.
“This action sends a terrible message to animal rights protestors,†said Rob Sexton, vice president for government affairs for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “It tells them that if they protest, the state will fold and cancel hunting opportunities. This will only encourage more law breaking by anti-hunters.â€
Sexton explained that New Jersey law prohibits the harassment of hunters.
Many parents of young sportsmen made expensive purchases for the hunt such as shotguns, two-man ladder stands and more. Such equipment costs hundreds of dollars.
The real issue, however, is the disappointment.
“My son has been looking forward to this hunt for weeks,†said Gerald McCusker of Phillipsburg. “We are deeply upset with this decision.â€
The latest decision regarding the bear hunt follows the filing of four lawsuits by animal rights groups attempting to stop the hunt, which is scheduled for December 8 through 13.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) is the nation’s only litigation force that exclusively represents sportsmen’s interests in the courts. It defends wildlife management and sportsmen’s rights in local, state and federal courts. The SLDF represents the interests of sportsmen and assists government lawyers who have little or no background in wildlife law.
New Jersey Forbids Young Sportsmen to Participate in Bear Hunt,
U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation Asks Judge to Overrule Decision
(Columbus) - Today, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) began informing the parents of 278 young hunters that their children will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming black bear hunt. All of the youth have bear hunting tags and have attended a half-day class to prepare for the hunt.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) and a group of New Jersey parents and youth hunters will ask a New Jersey appellate court to stop the order.
The DEP told several parents that the prohibition was issued to prevent children from being confronted by animal rights protestors that have been threatening to disrupt the hunt.
“This action sends a terrible message to animal rights protestors,†said Rob Sexton, vice president for government affairs for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. “It tells them that if they protest, the state will fold and cancel hunting opportunities. This will only encourage more law breaking by anti-hunters.â€
Sexton explained that New Jersey law prohibits the harassment of hunters.
Many parents of young sportsmen made expensive purchases for the hunt such as shotguns, two-man ladder stands and more. Such equipment costs hundreds of dollars.
The real issue, however, is the disappointment.
“My son has been looking forward to this hunt for weeks,†said Gerald McCusker of Phillipsburg. “We are deeply upset with this decision.â€
The latest decision regarding the bear hunt follows the filing of four lawsuits by animal rights groups attempting to stop the hunt, which is scheduled for December 8 through 13.
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) is the nation’s only litigation force that exclusively represents sportsmen’s interests in the courts. It defends wildlife management and sportsmen’s rights in local, state and federal courts. The SLDF represents the interests of sportsmen and assists government lawyers who have little or no background in wildlife law.