Legislature Delivers Good News to Hunters and Anglers

by George Smith

            Hunters and anglers got plenty of good news when the legislature enacted a new biennial budget on March 30.  Among other benefits, the budget includes authorization for an open season on turkeys and more than $1 million in new funding for the state’s hatcheries.

            SAM’s lobbyists have been working since early December on DIF&W budget issues and believe the final product is the best budget the department has ever received.

            The hatchery money was not included in the original budget submitted by Governor John Baldacci.  It was added by the Appropriations Committee.  The money will allow DIF&W to double its production of fish for stocking Maine waters.

            The budget also included authorization for the department to offer turkey hunting permits over the counter to all interested hunters beginning in 2006.  SAM offered a separate bill to accomplish this goal and was delighted when the language was moved into the budget with DIF&W’s support.

            The budget also includes authorization for Secretary of State Matt Dunlap to issue a sportsman’s license plate, with fees dedicated to DIF&W’s endowment fund, and for DIF&W to offer a Super Pack license that includes all hunting and fishing licenses and permits plus an any-deer permit and the opportunity to shoot two deer.  Both were SAM proposals.

            The most important achievement is the recognition that sportsmen should not have to bear all the costs of the department.  For the first time, sportsmen’s licenses and permits were reduced in cost, while new funding was obtained from the General Fund.

            Unfortunately, Sunday hunting was removed from the budget, as was the proposal to allow nonresidents to hunt on the first day of the firearms season on deer.  Governor John Baldacci included both provisions in the budget at SAM’s request, recognizing their importance to his goal of rebuilding Maine’s hunting economy.

            Neither the Governor nor SAM anticipated that many sportsmen’s groups would oppose Sunday hunting and launch a vigorous campaign to defeat the Governor’s proposals.  Although landowners and the nonhunting public spoke strongly against Sunday hunting, it was sportsmen who defeated it.  Some legislators reported receiving more calls from hunters against it than from hunters who urged their support for Sunday hunting.

            It was perhaps the fiercest legislative battle SAM has ever participated in, and our disappointment in its loss is profound.  Nevertheless, the debate did foster recognition on the part of legislators that it is unfair to continue to increase sportsmen’s fees in order to pay for services the public receives from DIF&W.   Legislators understood that Sunday hunting was in the budget because public funding was not.  And when Sunday hunting came out, the focus remained on the public funding.

            This led to achievement of an unprecedented level of public funding for DIF&W – the most General Fund money that the department has ever received.   SAM and the Maine Audubon Society made public funding for DIF&W their shared top priority goal this session, along with a bond issue for the Land for Maine’s Future (coming next!).

            Other goals were also achieved in the budget.  The proposed large hike in boat registration fees was substantially reduced.  ATV registration fees were redirected to the formula that allocates that money to trails, clubs, enforcement, and other ATV services.  In the last two-year budget those funds were diverted to balance the budget, leaving ATV owners with nothing for their sharply increased fees.  Both SAM and ATV-Maine made the recovery of these funds an important priority this session.

            At the request of Maine Audubon and DIF&W, new positions were funded for the important “Beginning with Habitat” program, a cooperative wildlife habitat program for Maine municipalities and small landowners.

            And the budget even included direction toward what may be the big prize for sportsmen – a major new reliable stream of public revenue in the future.  Language in the budget directs the Commissioners of Conservation and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to work with SAM, Maine Audubon, legislators and others to develop a conservation card or permit that would raise money for their departments from “nonconsumptive” outdoor recreationists.

            There can be little disagreement that a budget that delivers a fully-funded Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, with no staff or program reductions, is very good news for the sportsmen of Maine.  No other state agency was treated as kindly, proof positive that sportsmen are among the most respected constituencies in Maine.

            SAM is proud of its work on the budget, and certain that the remainder of the legislative session will provide even more victories and achievements for the members of this organization.

            Some of those achievements are imminent.  Legislation is moving forward to open the 2005 turkey season to the 3200 lottery applicants who didn’t win permits this year, to allow crossbows in the November firearms season on deer (including in the expanded archery zones), and to authorize DIF&W to establish a system that will allow hunters to swap zones and seasons for all species that require permits.  The turkey season and permit transfer bills were SAM proposals.  SAM also supported the crossbow bill.

            Finally, SAM’s bill directing DIF&W to simplify brook trout rules was well received.  In fact, ever since the organization announced this legislation, DIF&W has been working diligently to accomplish this goal for Maine anglers.  They have already made very significant progress, allowing SAM to ask the legislature to set aside our legislation.  SAM’s Fishing Initiative Committee is now evaluating DIF&W’s proposal to simplify brook trout rules into a range of six basic rules and repeal the more than 160 special rules now on the books.  This remarkable proposal, following public input, will go through the rule-making process later this year.  And next year, brook trout anglers will reap the benefits!