Wild Heritage Horizons

On December 12th, 2023. Bill S4099 was delivered to the Governor. This bill, covered in a previous article found here, is aiming to outlaw hunting contests targeting many game species in New York.

“Provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor, conduct, promote, or participate in any contest, competition, tournament or derby where the objective of such contest or competition is to take wildlife.“

Broad regulation changes in order to attempt to affect traditions and values that are misunderstood by the writers of such regulation are a response made out of misconceptions and not out of educated experience.

Justification for this bill called hunting contests a “Wanton Waste” and that they “…treat animals as disposable pieces in a game to win cash and prizes.” These animals are hunted and taken legally, in ways established and enforced by an agency dedicated to the protection of wildlife and wild resources. If there was “Wanton Waste” involved, that would be enforced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The bill also claims that “They [hunting contests] could also possibly jeopardize the future of hunting and affect access to private lands for all hunters.” Private land is not accessible to all hunters. Private land is private and can only be accessed with the appropriate permissions. This statement is completely unrelated to the issue at hand and only serves to attempt to show that the population affected by this bill should be in support of it, which they should not.

We ask that all our readers, PLEASE make their opinion known to the Governor. If a conservation regulation needs to be adjusted in order to continue access to a resource and steward the traditions forward, it should be based off of educated, experienced opinions provided by wildlife professionals.

The New York State Governor can be contacted here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form