New Jersey Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden) has introduced Senate Bill 3541, which would ban all hunting contests, such as organized coyote hunting, and even field trials. Currently, SB 3541 has not been assigned to a committee.
Take Action Today! New Jersey members should contact their state senator and ask them to vote NO on SB 3541. New Jersey members can contact their state senator by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Center.
Animal-rights groups, such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), are supporting bills in multiple states that threaten field trials and hunt tests with dogs, under the guise of wanting to end coyote hunting contests, even though no biological reason exists to do so. The 2019 legislative session has seen a flood of these bills nationwide, a coordinated attack on hunting and wildlife management that in many cases has ramifications for a much larger group of American sportsmen.
Field trials and hunt tests are essential for sportsmen who wish to train and buy quality hunting dogs. SB 3541 will prohibit anyone from participating in any activity, competition, contest, derby, tournament or other organized activity where participants are encouraged to take wildlife and are rewarded by a prize or any kind of inducement or reward. Anyone violating the law would face six months of imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000 or both.
“SB 3541 is yet another attack by animal-rights groups and legislators on conservation-minded sportsmen. While they pretend to focus on coyote hunting contests, their true goal is to ban all forms of hunting,” said Luke Houghton associate director of state services. “They strategically write language very broad in order to catch field trials and other methods of hunting in their net.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.