Post by pigeonflier on Nov 18, 2008 21:03:25 GMT -5
Hunting ban for St. Joseph River regions faces tough road
By ED RONCO
Tribune Staff Writer
The uphill climb to pass limits on hunting along densely populated stretches of the St. Joseph River is now a little steeper.
Last year, state Rep. Craig Fry introduced a measure to outlaw hunting along stretches of river in densely populated areas.
The measure originated after complaints from St. Joseph and Elkhart County homeowners who said their houses have been hit by shotgun pellets from waterfowl hunters.
Last year, it never made it out of committee and was sent to a summer study committee for a closer look.
The summer study group recommended in October that the problem be addressed by the state's Department of Natural Resources, rather than by law, because "the issues along the St. Joseph River are not a statewide problem."
"(The group) thought if we did legislation, it might negatively affect other areas that aren't affected by this whole thing," said state Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, who chaired the summer study committee.
Mishler said he has confidence that the Department of Natural Resources will handle the issue administratively.
"Fat chance that'll ever happen," said Fry, D-Mishawaka. "The DNR has been part of the problem, not the solution."
Some river residents share Fry's feelings on the issue. Osceola resident Dwight Davis, who chairs the St. Joseph River Homeowners Association, said DNR officers are on the side of the hunters, whom he describes as "less than level hillbillies" in a letter to state Rep. Robert Bischoff, D-Greendale.
Bischoff chaired the House Natural Resources Committee last year.
"There is no air between those officers and these particular hunters," Davis wrote. "This kind of activity will only hasten the time when 'real hunters' will lose more, if not all, hunting rights."
Davis has been urging the General Assembly to take action on river hunting, which he says poses a threat to residents along shore.
"It is still our hope that meaningful legislation will be passed that will be more consistent with the rest of the civilized world," he wrote.
Bischoff said Fry could reintroduce the bill, but that it faces a tough road to passage.
"If he could have had the blessings of that summer Natural Resources Study Committee, it would have been a lot easier to try to move the legislation," he said.
Plus, it lacks DNR support, Bischoff said.
Fry said he'll reintroduce the bill if the residents ask him to but that it's probably a lost cause right now.
"It doesn't have a shot," he said. "I don't think, anyway."
By ED RONCO
Tribune Staff Writer
The uphill climb to pass limits on hunting along densely populated stretches of the St. Joseph River is now a little steeper.
Last year, state Rep. Craig Fry introduced a measure to outlaw hunting along stretches of river in densely populated areas.
The measure originated after complaints from St. Joseph and Elkhart County homeowners who said their houses have been hit by shotgun pellets from waterfowl hunters.
Last year, it never made it out of committee and was sent to a summer study committee for a closer look.
The summer study group recommended in October that the problem be addressed by the state's Department of Natural Resources, rather than by law, because "the issues along the St. Joseph River are not a statewide problem."
"(The group) thought if we did legislation, it might negatively affect other areas that aren't affected by this whole thing," said state Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, who chaired the summer study committee.
Mishler said he has confidence that the Department of Natural Resources will handle the issue administratively.
"Fat chance that'll ever happen," said Fry, D-Mishawaka. "The DNR has been part of the problem, not the solution."
Some river residents share Fry's feelings on the issue. Osceola resident Dwight Davis, who chairs the St. Joseph River Homeowners Association, said DNR officers are on the side of the hunters, whom he describes as "less than level hillbillies" in a letter to state Rep. Robert Bischoff, D-Greendale.
Bischoff chaired the House Natural Resources Committee last year.
"There is no air between those officers and these particular hunters," Davis wrote. "This kind of activity will only hasten the time when 'real hunters' will lose more, if not all, hunting rights."
Davis has been urging the General Assembly to take action on river hunting, which he says poses a threat to residents along shore.
"It is still our hope that meaningful legislation will be passed that will be more consistent with the rest of the civilized world," he wrote.
Bischoff said Fry could reintroduce the bill, but that it faces a tough road to passage.
"If he could have had the blessings of that summer Natural Resources Study Committee, it would have been a lot easier to try to move the legislation," he said.
Plus, it lacks DNR support, Bischoff said.
Fry said he'll reintroduce the bill if the residents ask him to but that it's probably a lost cause right now.
"It doesn't have a shot," he said. "I don't think, anyway."
