163 



Whoewer i» iwignffd to review the r^uUtions will have to be extremely orcful to not Arow the 

 baby out with the bxtfawiter and iny task force tsgened to "rewhte" the baiting raguUtiaBS will 

 be fitced wilfa a truly difficult task, unless, of course, titey just choose to l^alize baiting and are 

 willing to accept the consequences for that actioa 



If it is decided to establish a "reasonable care or due diligence" standard of proof for a aiminal 

 conviction of baiting laws, we all need to also be aware that this has the distinct potential to open 

 i4> certain loophnles m enfi>rcemmt Bid produce a different set of inequities than the ones already 

 io place. 



9. I am not opposed to objective review ofthe currant baiting regulations. Indeed. I believe review 

 of any regulation is a healtl^ legislative process as long as the issue is dealt widi £utually and not 

 done with a (Mre-detennined bent toward special interests. Any review conducted must consider 

 the practical aspects of implementing and enforcing proposed changes. 



10. Any review ofthe baiting regulations should also address the possibility of closing and posting 

 land aiKl water found to be baited It is most likely this will require a revision to the Migratory 

 Bird Treaty Act to include a civil action involving due process. Closing land/water to hinting will 

 protect hunters from innocendy shooting oo/ovcr a baited area. Furthermore, the deterrent effect 

 is also realized against landowners, club operators and lessees that baitmg is a senous breach of 

 hunting r^ulations and they are subject to losing the privilege of hosting such himting. 



Procedures would have to be estabUshod to permit closing and posting a baited area within 24 

 hours in order to make this an effective process. 



You abo asked me to comment on the recent dove hunting case involving the Florida Shen£& Youth Ranch, 

 Inc. It is my understanding that the hunters involved with that case were shootmg doves on a fonner woodlot 

 which had been timbered and then cleared for pasture No &rming and/or planting of crops had occuned 

 However, just prior to the hunt, a combination of milo, wheat, millet and other food gram screenings were 

 fhmip*^ and scattered over the field to attract doves to the hunters. At one point a fertilizer spreader was 

 reportedly used to distribute the various grains 



The Florida case is a clear case of greed and a clear case of a baiting violation! I'm surprised the Committee 

 is wasting it's valuable time on this particular case unless it's for some of the reasons I stated earlier m 

 rdation to the political, social, or ecoiwmic status of those apprehended. If those mvolvcd are trying to justify 

 their baiting activity as being done for "a worthy cause", the Committee should certainly turn a deaf ear If 

 li^ issue is that some ofthe individual hunters had no kiwwledge ofthe bait being present and therefore 

 were "wrongl/' accused and/or convicted, I have alreaily provided my viewpomts on that issue 



I have no sympathy for a group ofthe "good ol boys" who haul a bunch of grain out on a field in order 

 to have a "good dove shoot". Their actions are especially disturbing being that at least some ofthe 

 participants were law enforcement officers and other local officials. 1 hold them to an especially high 

 standard and it certainly would be no loss to the hunting fiatemity if these embarrassing slobs would just 

 stay home and play checkers during hunting season. We can no longer afford these folks out in the 

 fiddl 



