SECOND AMENDMENT ACTION ALERT NETWORK
(Just as a reminder, you are receiving this Alert because you have asked to be informed)
ACTION ALERT
DNREC AGAIN TRYING TO RAISE HUNTING AND TRAPPING FEES.
EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS AT ONE OF THEIR PUBLIC WORKSHOPS.
DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Division attempted to raise hunting and trapping license fees in 2014, but public feedback showed that hunters were against license fee increases, especially if they received no additional value for the increases. Hunters asked for legalization of Sunday hunting, additional public hunting locations, and better maintenance and preparation of existing facilities. Hunters also disagreed with the amount of the proposed increases and wanted to see implementation of cost-sharing measures so that non-hunting users of wildlife areas will have to pay access/use fees.
As a result, the Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish voted against increasing fees at their December 9, 2014 meeting.
DSSA advocates on behalf of Delaware hunters, so we demand real and verifiable value for any fee increases. As conditions of endorsing potential fee increases, DSSA strongly believes that:
- Hunting and trapping license fee increase must not exceed the inflation rate since the last fee increase in 2007 which is 15%;
- Sunday hunting for all game species except migratory birds must be legalized;
- People with concealed carry permits must be allowed to carry their concealed handguns while hunting;
- The current language regarding acceptable handgun calibers for hunting must be modified to show a range of accepted calibers, rather than listing individual calibers (that are potentially limiting);
- Deer hunting with rifles that use straight-wall pistol cartridges be allowed;
- Fees must be charged to non-hunting users of public wildlife areas.
REMEMBER –
- The whole purpose of having hunting and trapping licenses is to prevent poaching, enforce bag limits and enforce reasonable hunting and trapping seasons;
- The licensing scheme is designed for conservation and protection of Delaware’s wildlife; and
- License fees are NOT meant to be user taxes and are not meant to finance the Division’s other operations.
CALL TO ACTION
Time is of the essence. Act now to fight for you hunting and trapping rights.
YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT – LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
Attend one of the public workshops and express your support for the points listed above.
PUBLIC WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
- Sussex County – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 12th
at Delaware Technical Community College, Jack F. Owens Campus, William A. Carter Partnership Center Lecture Hall, 21179 College Drive, Georgetown, DE 19947 - Kent County – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 13th
at Kent County Administrative Complex, 555 South Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901 - New Castle County – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 14th
at Ommelanden Hunter Education Training Center, 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720
After the conclusion of the Public Workshops, DNREC will present the findings to the Fish & Wildlife Advisory Council meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 26th, 7:30 p.m., at the DNREC auditorium in Dover. At that meeting DNREC will ask the Council to approve their proposal. If approved the proposal must be approved by the General Assembly.
If you can attend the meeting on the 26th of January it would be greatly appreciated.
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Look for this Action Alert Network to keep you informed as this issue progresses.
This announcement is being provided to you as a public service to the members of our Action Alert Network