Most everyone who hunts and fishes will agree that the laws and rules governing our favorite outdoor sports are far too complex. If you agree, it’s time for you to step up and help us address the problem.
On Thursday, March 12, at 1 pm, the legislature’s IFW Committee hosts a hearing on LD 157, An Act to Create an Advisory Committee To Review and Make Recommendations Regarding Hunting and Fishing Laws, sponsored at my request by Representative Matt Pouliot.
If you can’t get to the hearing in Room 227 of the State Office Building (next to the Capitol) to testify in favor of the bill, you can submit your comments via email to Heather.Maclin@legislature.maine.gov. Be sure to title your message: Testimony in favor of LD 157.
This bill would establish a Commission, organized by Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and led by Maine’s nonprofit organizations, to constantly review hunting and fishing laws and rules and make recommendations to simplify, clarify, or eliminate them. This proposal includes annual surveys of anglers and hunters on key issues. The survey would be created by the Commission with input from DIF&W’s staff, and be distributed to licensed hunters and anglers by DIF&W.
Commission members would be appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, for two year terms, and include Advisory Council members, a game warden, representatives of groups representing sportsmen, guides, sporting camps, and conservationists, members of fish and game clubs, and DIF&W’s Deputy Commissioner or the Deputy’s designee. One Senator and one Representative from this committee would also participate. We will suggest that a representative of private landowners be added to the Commission.
Commission members would elect a Chair who will lead the process and a Secretary who will be responsible for recording the process and all recommendations. DIF&W would provide clerical, funding, and other support, as needed.
At one time, the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine organized something like this, called the Pickering Commission, and it was very successful, recommending many changes that simplified and clarified our hunting and fishing rules. This bill recognizes the success of the Pickering Committee by institutionalizing it at DIF&W, broadening participation, involving lots more sportsmen, and doing this much more often.