HSC Part Of Request To U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) For Shooting Range Projects in New Mexico
HSC expressed its willingness to work in partnership as part of a plan to develop and expand a framework of cooperation among groups at the national, regional, and local levels for planning and implementing mutually beneficial projects and activities related to hunting, fishing, and shooting sports conducted on federal lands. Specifically, comments were provided in regard to BLM’s Notice of Intent (NOI) To Amend the Taos Resource Management Plan and Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Recreational Shooting Range Project on Public Lands in Santa Fe County. One concern was that the shooting ranges under consideration for lands managed by the Field Office will result in the premature closure of surrounding public lands currently open to dispersed recreational shooting. The preliminary planning criteria identified in the NOI for the plan amendment includes several important considerations including: the closure to a public land use will be applied to the smallest area necessary to provide for public safety, sustainable resource management, and the protection of important resource values, consistent with the Dingell Act of 2019.
HSC Petitions Climate, Energy, Environment, and Science Office of Management & Budget For Migration Corridors
Houston Safari Club aligned with several NGO’s to encourage the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement administration priorities to maintain, conserve, and enhance wildlife migration corridors and seasonal ranges, especially for big game species. To successfully implement these priorities, specific and sufficient funding is necessary. Historically, funding for these efforts has been redirected from existing agency budgets and programs, competing for limited agency resources. This uncertain and underfunded approach has created challenges for consistent implementation by the agencies and their partners from year to year. The request to OMB is to work with the agencies as they develop the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget to consolidate and target sufficient funding to address the needs of conserving wildlife migration corridors and ranges.
HSC Opposes Michigan House Bill 6192
Houston Safari Club expressed opposition in a letter to the Michigan Senate Oversight Committee in regard to HB 6192. This proposed legislation would strip the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of its ability to make necessary and informed decisions to suspend or regulate the open seasons of fish, fur-bearing wildlife, and waterfowl species when those species are in danger of depletion or extermination. The legislation removes the Michigan DNR’s authority to suspend open seasons of certain species without an alternative plan of wildlife management being provided.
