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Fishing News Headlines
3/14/2001
State Senate Passes Bill to Protect Georgia's Hunting and Fishing Heritage
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the Georgia State
Senate affirmed the importance of the state's hunting and fishing heritage
with the passage of House Bill (H.B.) 301 with a vote of 45 - 5. Sponsored by
Representative Greg Morris of Vidalia, Senator Hugh Gillis of Soperton and
others, this legislation recognizes the importance of hunting and fishing to
Georgia's economy and to wildlife conservation. It also elevates hunting and
fishing from a "privilege" to a "right" under Georgia law and provides for no
net loss of hunting and fishing opportunities on state-owned lands, according
to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division
(WRD). The legislation passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of
144 - 10 on February 21.
H.B. 301 is strongly supported by the Conservation Congress, which
consists of representatives from state conservation organizations, the forest
industry, and state and federal fish and wildlife agencies. This group
includes the Georgia Wildlife Federation, Georgia Outdoor News, Georgia
Waterfowl Association, Georgia B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation, Georgia Coalition
of Dog Clubs, Heritage and Wildlife Conservation Council, Izaak Walton League,
Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey
Federation, Quail Unlimited, the Ruffed Grouse Society, Safari Club
International, Trout Unlimited, Georgia Power Company, International Paper
Company, The Timber Company, Weyerhaeuser, and others.
"The mission of the Conservation Congress is to work together on issues
that pertain to the tradition and culture of hunting and fishing in Georgia,"
says Steve Burch, publisher of Georgia Outdoor News and moderator of the
Conservation Congress. "This legislation protects the future of hunting and
fishing in our state."
H.B. 301 also reaffirms the role of the Board of Natural Resources to
promulgate hunting and fishing rules and regulations. It does not restrict
the ability of county or city governments to prohibit hunting and fishing on
their properties or to regulate the discharge of firearms for public safety
reasons. The Georgia Municipal Authority and the Association of County
Commissioners of Georgia worked with the bill's supporters to resolve local
government concerns.
"This is a great day for the state's sportsmen and women," says Jerry
McCollum, President of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, an organization with
more than 58,000 members in Georgia. " Hunters and anglers have contributed
most of the funding to restore our native wildlife and now they have received
some recognition for being our country's first and best conservationists.
This bill recognizes the importance of professional wildlife management, and
the role that hunters and anglers play in that process."
H.B. 301 now awaits action by a conference committee that will resolve
minor differences in the two bills passed by the House and Senate. The
legislation will then become law upon signature by the Governor. For more
information on H.B. 301 or the Conservation Congress, please contact Steve
Burch at (770) 425-0990.
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