Natural resources lose again in D.C.

When you mix politics with decision-making concerning the management of natural resources, it’s a lose-lose proposition. Both major political parties have awful track records.

It happened again recently in Washington to the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2014, co-sponsored by Sen. Kay Hagen (D-NC), which died in a flurry of partisan amendments from both parties after originally receiving support from 82 senators.

The bill had huge benefits for sportsmen and wildlife:

• Authorization of on-line sales of duck stamps in all 50 states;

• It changed EPA regulations restricting the use of lead ammunition and fishing weights;

• It encouraged federal land-management agencies to cooperate with state and local authorities to maintain target ranges on federal lands and use federal funds to build the ranges.

• It re-authorized several wetlands and fishing conservation programs;

• It allowed importation of polar bear trophies taken in Canada before 2008;

• It declared hunting, fishing and recreational shooting legitimate activities at federal lands;

• It would end filings of frivolous lawsuits by anti-hunting groups when federal agencies opened land to sportsmen;

Let’s take them one at a time:

First, the bill says the Department of the Interior “may authorize any state to issue electronic stamps in accordance with this section.” Sportsmen already can apply to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (www.fws.gov) for an e-duck stamp. North Carolina was added to a 2014 “test” program for e-stamps.

Second, lead bullets and fishing weights would be permitted on federal lands, except mainly in waterfowl areas. Anti-hunters had threatened lawsuits previously, and lead bullets and weights had been prohibited on many federal lands.

Third, it would allow the federal government to use Pittman-Robertson funds to build practice shooting ranges on federal lands. It also authorizes firearms, archery and hunter-safety education programs to be taught there.

Fourth, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act would receive $50 million annually through 2019, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Act would have 28 appointed directors who are experts in natural resources conservation.

Fifth, hunters who bagged polar bears in Canada before 2008 couldn’t import bear hides and parts into the United States. About 45 bears taken by American hunters before 2008 have languished in Canada since that time. Now these trophies can be sent home to the hunters.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “bipartisan” bill that really was bipartisan?