Official Newsletter of the U.S. Sportsmens Alliance & U.S.

Sportsmens Alliance Foundation

Sportsmens Monthly

CRITICAL HUNTING &

FISHING BILL
PASSES U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

PLUS+
ARIZONA HOUSE PASSES PAIR OF DAMAGING DOG BILLS

FAMILIES AFIELD WESTERN STATES

AND MORE

TRIBUTE TO RICHARD N. CABELA, FOUNDER OF CABELAS, INC.

ADVANCE LEGISLATION

February/March 2014

have had the opportunity over the last couple of months to present to a number of audiences across the country at various events. I am probably one of the few people you will meet who actually enjoys talking to large groups and if you have known me for any length of time you are aware that I always love hearing or telling a good story. My family will tell you that I have been telling hunting and fishing stories, a few of them true, since the time I could talk. All joking aside, I love telling the story of U.S. Sportsmens Alliance and how the organization exists for the sole purpose of protecting our outdoor heritage. Being a passionate outdoorsman makes most of my presentations easy to give because they come from my

President

A LETTER FROM THE

heart. That being said, there is one slide in my typical 50 slide deck that brings out my strongest feelings. Slide 42 depicts a simple cartoon of a boss type figure asking for the assistant to send someone to his office to blame for a mistake that has been made. I use this comic to illustrate that it is everyones responsibility to defend our outdoor heritage, and that if we lose aspects of it or even entire opportunities, there will be nobody to blame but ourselves as an outdoor community. There is no room for assuming that someone, somewhere is taking care of it. We are here to lead the fight against anti-hunting interests and animal rights extremists, but our only chance of winning is with you by our side.

Nick Pinizzotto | President and CEO

Identification Statement

Sportsmens Monthly is published by The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance & The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation 801 Kingsmill Parkway Columbus, OH 43229 Ph: (614) 888-4868 Fax: (614) 888-0326 E-mail: info@ussportsmen.org Information may be reprinted with credit to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that will allow hunting on private property on Sundays in the Commonwealth. The legislation allows Sunday hunting on private land during designated hunting seasons by hunters who have the written permission of landowners.

Know?
Did you

Sportsmens Monthly February/March 2014

Richard Dick Cabela October 8, 1936 - February 17, 2014

In Memory of:

ichard Dick Cabela, co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of the worlds largest outdoor retailer, Cabelas, Inc., passed away in February at the age of 77. Dick joined the U.S. Sportsmens Alliance (USSA) Board of Directors in 1999 and served as Chairman of the Board since 2001. During his time with USSA, Dick and his wife Mary showed their love of our hunting heritage through their support and advocacy for issues affecting sportsmen as well as their dedication to the Trailblazer Adventure Program, a youth outdoor program of the U.S. Sportsmens Alliance Foundation. Dick, Mary, and his brother, Jim, founded Cabelas somewhat inadvertently after offering hand-tied fishing flies through the mail. Since that time, Cabelas has grown to be a $3.6 billion company with a worldwide catalog and Internet business and 50 stores in the United States and Canada. While Dick was a great leader and long-time supporter of USSA, he was also a dear friend of many in the organization, said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA president and CEO. He built a great company from the ground up, and he will truly be missed by the USSA family and the outdoor community. USSA honored Dick and his familys leadership by establishing the Cabela Lifetime Business Achievement Award in 2006. The award honors Dick and his familys dedication to protecting outdoor sports, including hunting, fishing, and trapping. It is presented to companies that demonstrate the same passion and commitment to protecting Americas outdoor heritage.

States Mulling Legislation to

Ban Drones
S

everal states are considering legislation to protect hunters, anglers and trappers from harassment by unmanned, aerial drones while exercising their legal right to pursue and take wildlife. As reported by U.S. Sportsmens Alliance (USSA) in October of last year, PETA has offered small drones for sale and is encouraging its members to utilize them to monitor sportsmen in the field. Following the example set last year by Illinois, which passed a law to prohibit the use of drones to interfere with sportsmen, USSA is seeing similar bills put forward in other states early in 2014. Bills to outlaw harassment of sportsmen with drones are currently being considered in Alabama and Tennessee. While in Hawaii, a broader

bill addressing unmanned aerial vehicles contains a prohibition against causing a nuisance with drones, and a New Jersey bill increases the penalties for harassing a person legally taking wildlife. It is encouraging to see legislation arising that takes a stand against the extreme actions of the animal rights lobby, said Nick Pinizzotto, USSAs president and CEO. Hunters are the driving force behind wildlife conservation in this country and should not be painted as criminals by radical anti-hunting organizations.
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Sportsmens Monthly February/March 2014

Western States Advance Legislation

FAMILIES AFIELD
A
trio of Western states are moving forward with bills to create, expand, or strengthen apprentice hunting programs. Apprentice hunting, a staple of the Families Afield initiative, allows a new hunter to try hunting under the watchful eye of an experienced mentor prior to completing hunter education. Wyoming: The Wyoming State Senate passed Senate Bill 38, expanding the states current one-year apprentice hunter program to allow new hunters multiple opportunities to participate. The bill also includes a provision to allow a parent to supervise more than one of their children at a time under the program. The bill passed out of Committee and is now pending before the full House of Representatives. Kansas: The Kansas Senate kicked off hearings in late February on a similar effortSenate Bill 357to expand the states Hunter Education deferral program. The Senate Natural Resources Committee heard supporting testimony from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism on SB 357. In late February, the Committee passed the bill sending it to the full Senate where a vote is pending. Expanding these programs to allow for multiple year participation gives new hunters additional opportunities to become hooked on our sport, said Adam Wright, U.S. Sportsmens Alliance (USSA) associate director of state services. The data shows that once we hook them, they transition to Hunter Education and become fully licensed hunters. Utah: Utah moved one step closer to establishing an apprentice hunting program in the state. The State Senate unanimously voted to pass Senate Bill 165 creating the Trial Hunting Permit. This program utilizes the try-beforeyou-buy concept that is a key component of the Families Afield program. The bill passed out of Committee and is now

pending before the full House of Representatives. Apprentice hunting is not only a great recruitment tool, but also incredibly safe, said Wright. These programs are introducing the next generation of American hunters to our sport and were pleased to see these bills moving forward. Families Afield was launched in 2005 by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation and USSA. Along with the support of the NRA and the Congressional Sportsmens Foundation, Families Afield has passed bills in 35 states, paving the way for more than 1 million new hunters to join our ranks.

Sportsmens Monthly February/March 2014

CRITICAL

Federal Hunting and Fishing Bill PASSES U.S. House of Representatives

he U.S. House of Representatives voted in early February to pass H.R. 3590, a bi-partisan package of pro-sportsmen legislation. The measure, which passed by a vote of 268-154, includes vital language ensuring over 700 million acres of federal public lands remain open to fishing and hunting. H.R. 3590, sponsored by Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH), addresses the top concerns of American hunters, anglers and recreational shooters. Known as the Sportsmens Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013, it includes many important provisions for the future of hunting. This legislation is extremely important for the sportsmens community and the future of access to public lands, said Nick Pinizzotto, USSA president and CEO. Were only half way home, however. Sportsmen must urge their Senators to take up these important bills today. A key feature of H.R. 3590 is the USSA supported Open Until Closed language, which spells out that hunting, fishing and recreational shooting are legitimate and important activities on the more than 700 million acres of federal land managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The language will help stop frivolous lawsuits brought by animal rights and anti-hunting organizations when federal agencies move to open land to sportsmen. The bill is similar to the 1997 Refuge Improvement Act championed by USSA to make hunting and fishing priority public uses on National Wildlife Refuge lands. In addition to Open Until Closed, the bill includes language to: prohibit the U.S. EPA from regulating lead ammunition and fishing tackle; allow for the importation of 41 legally harvested trophies taken before Polar Bears were listed as an endangered species in 2008; promote the construction of shooting ranges on public lands; and permanently authorize the online sale of duck stamps.

Sportsmens Monthly February/March

PASSES Pair of DAMAGING Dog Bills

O
n Tuesday, February 18, the Arizona House of Representatives voted to approve two measures that will make life more difficult for sporting dog owners and those interested in getting involved with hunting dogs. House Bill 2242 adds a host of new regulations, standards, and inspection requirements to owners of hunting dog kennels by categorizing them as pet dealers. These sporting dog kennels and hobby breeders would then be subject to the laws and regulations that govern pet dealers in the state. House Bill 2302 outlaws all sales of dogs in public places. This includes rest stops and parks, as well as private commercial property like a Walmart parking lot without express permission from the owner. Completing a dog sale in a public location is a very common practice, particularly in situations where the two parties may be separated by long distances and agree to meet at a convenient location. These bills are part of nationwide trend to slowly but surely burden hunting dog enthusiasts to the point that they can no longer pursue their passion, said Nick Pinizzotto, USSAs president and CEO. Whether it is pointing pheasants, running rabbits, or retrieving ducks, hunting with dogs is a unique and exciting experience and is a great way to introduce new hunters to the sport.
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Arizona House

Sportsmens Monthly February/March 2014

NEW FACES OF TEAM USSA

Name: Katie Marquardt Position: Executive Assistant Enjoys: Shooting and camping What I Love About USSA: I grew up in a family passionate about hunting and Ive learned theres no healthier way to provide meals for your family and no greater way to contribute to all things USSA protects.

Name: Zac Lemmon Position: Associate Director of Field Services Enjoys: Bow hunting What I Love About USSA: The USSA protects what I love best: the outdoors and a hunting lifestyle.

Name: Keilee Guthrie Position: Associate Education Director Enjoys: Shooting sports What I Love About USSA: USSA has given me the opportunity to work alongside motivated and passionate professionals who are dedicated to preserving Americas outdoor heritage.

PETA Hands Children Pamphlet of Mutilated Cows

P
arents of elementary children in the southern California town of Woodland Hills are outraged after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) handed out pamphlets to their children filled with graphic images of mutilated cows disguised as cartoons. Alliance President and CEO, Nick Pinizzotto. PETA is trying to depict our nations farmers as animal abusers and mainstream America will not stand for that. PETA frequently uses disturbing images and videos in an attempt to promote their misguided messages. Parents of the elementary students in California were The seemingly innocent pamphlet titled A Cows Life, not amused by this latest stunt and are considering instead had a leaflet inserted with images of calves taking PETA to court over the graphic images. being electrocuted, mutilated, and more as described by parents of the students. As reported by CBS Los Angeles, children as young as six years old were given the disturbing pamphlets. PETA claims the pamphlet is an educational piece and that the hidden leaflet inside depicting images such as dairy farmers with machetes and cows with infected udders could have been an innocent mix up. There was nothing innocent about this very disturbing attempt to influence our youth. said U.S. Sportsmens

Sportsmens Monthly February/March 2014

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February/March 2014

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