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Final Update: April 2008 MAWC successful in fighting new DNR regulations! Message from the Governor Message From the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2008 |
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Message from the President In addition to promoting foxhunting generally, MAWC‘s primary focus is to monitor legislative activity, to support legislation favorable to foxhunting and to oppose legislation adverse to our interests. The recent ban on foxhunting in England underscores the obvious impact of legislation on our sport. I have learned through MAWC just how vigilant we must be. I have also learned how vulnerable we are. Through MAWC’s efforts many years ago, foxhunting is classified as a sport and is exempt from much of the substantial law and regulation that pertain to “hunting.” That classification alone has kept us below the radar screen for lots of regulatory efforts. Several sessions past, a landowner had an unpleasant confrontation with a foot foxhunter on the Eastern Shore. After complaining to his state delegate, the delegate introduced legislation (similar to that regulating deer hunters), that foxhunters must have, on their person, the written permission of every landowner whose land they, or their hounds set foot. This would have had a devastating effect on our sport. MAWC’s efforts successfully defeated that proposed legislation. Of increasing concern is a flurry of animal rights bills being introduced in the legislatures of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The primary focus of this legislation is pet housing and transportation issues. Under the guise of regulating “puppy mills,” the legislation often has a potentially enormous adverse effect on hound kennels. Because the legislation is often aimed at housing ten or more animals, it flies below the radar screen of most pet owners, and even garners support when the “puppy mill card” is played. In the past MAWC relied mostly on the volunteer efforts of its Board of Directors and members to monitor the legislative process. With the increasing volume and complexity of legislation, we determined it to be necessary to retain the services of a full-time lobbyist to establish and maintain relationships with legislators and regulators and to maximize our effectiveness. The entire Board is delighted with the result. Fortunately, there was no legislation aimed directly at foxhunting during the last legislative session. There was, as always, legislation that impacts us peripherally. There was a well-meaning bill aimed at curing abuses in the transport of horses for slaughter that would have had unintended negative consequences to anyone transporting horses. That bill received an unfavorable committee report and died. Sunday deer hunting remains a controversial issue on which we must be vigilant. The relationship is difficult. We must be careful to support deer hunters as they are fellow hunters with a powerful lobby to assist in the general promotion of hunting and to oppose the increasing efforts of animal rights activists. But the continued expansion of the deer hunting season has the effect of limiting the time we can hunt safely with “guns in the woods.” With ever increasing challenges to our sport and the addition of a full time lobbyist, we thank you for your continued support of our efforts on your behalf. We are seeking to aggressively expand our membership. All Maryland Hunts are members of MAWC and have the right to representation on the Board. If you are not a member - please join. Urge your hunt to participate actively on the Board. We welcome your participation in any way you can. Albert J. Young, Harford County |