The anti-hunting, fishing, and trapping communities continue to work tirelessly to bring an end to our outdoor heritage.  The sportsmen's community, by working together has been successful in defeating a majority of these attacks. But, we need to remain vigilant.  As we build our defenses, they fill their coffers and find creative new ways to attain their goals.  In recent years numerous pieces of legislation have seemed innocuous at first glance but further review has proven otherwise. 

Points of Interest

The items below are the most recent and will likely move across the states.

• A campaign by the Humane Society of the United States to expand the definition of "domestic abuse" to include "harm or threat of harm" to animals. This is part of their effort to convey rights/legal protections to animals that were previously reserved for humans.  It may also affect hunting dog trainers and other pet owners because there is no exception for many standard practices (i.e. shock collars, electric fences).  The most recent bill has been introduced in Wisconsin.
• Also from HSUS - attacking pheasant hunting in general as they are a "non-native" species and pheasant breeding and stocking programs specifically. 
• Changing membership requirements for fish and game commissions to include non-hunting and angling representatives, sometimes going so far as to include "animal welfare organization" representatives.

These issues need our continued vigilance.

• Pushing for the increased use of "non-lethal" wildlife management practices.
• Changes to commercial dog breeding regulations.
• Changes to Animal Cruelty laws, specifically the changing of definitions and expansion of applicability.
• Attempts to remove species for the "game species" category (i.e. mourning doves, black bears).
• Further regulation and outright prohibition of trapping or trapping equipment.