There is a very dangerous legislative Bill which has made it through the Senate already and which now is coming up for implementation. SP132 is the designation of this Bill. Its purpose is to help alleviate some of the fiscal problems the State of New Hampshire is facing. Unfortunately, the proposed answer would merge all State of N.H. law enforcement agencies and programs. While this may appear to be a quick fix for our financial woes, we, as concerned sports-people, believe it would be devastating to the interests we have in wildlife management and the preservation of our natural resources.

One of the things this would do is merge our Conservation Officers with the State Police. We could have our Game Wardens chasing speeders and responding to domestic disputes while State Troopers could be checking your catches. While we have respect for our State Troopers and know some who actually enjoy the great outdoors, many of these individuals have never fished or hunted, and many more have had very little (or no) training in fish & game laws or practices. There would never be time in their busy schedule to monitor the herds or stake out and catch possible poachers or game thieves.

As it is right now all Fish and Game programs and activities, as well as enforcement of game laws, is managed through the funds received from the sale of licenses and management of trust funds established for those purposes. Should such a merging occur these funds could be compromised and placed in the general fund.

This cannot be allowed to happen! We need sports-people enforcing sports-laws. We need properly trained and motivated Conservation Officers watching over our Fisheries and managing our Game lands. We need to have all of the funds collected by license sales stay within the system established to care for the needs of this constituency.

There will be a Public Hearing to discuss this Bill next Thursday, April 23, at 11:00 a.m. in Concord (LOB 306). We must contact our legislators and other political leaders and let them know our convictions on this matter. If it is at all possible we must go to this hearing in a show of unity on these matters and stop any further consideration of such short-sighted and poorly thought out legislation.

Androscoggin Valley Fish & Game Association
Proudly serving the sports-people of the Great North Woods of New Hampshire for 90 years.
Representing over 450 members and associates and a core group of 30 Directors and Officers.