Boys, Girls Barred From N.j. Bear Hunt

[Hamilton Reef]

BOYS, GIRLS BARRED FROM N.J. BEAR HUNT

The state yesterday barred nearly 300 youngsters from next week's bear hunt in a move officials said was designed to protect the young hunters from potential confrontations with protesters.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-12/107052130735930.xml
:mad:

[Hamilton Reef]

Federal judge blocks bear hunt in Delaware Water Gap

Three other actions _ two opposing the hunt and one seeking to allow youths ages 10 to 15 to participate in it _ were denied Friday.

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and eight hunting families sued the state Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday, challenging a decision by Commissioner Bradley Campbell to revoke bear hunting permits of more than 200 youths who had completed seminars on bear hunting.
Campbell and Martin McHugh, director of the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife, said the decision was based on concerns about young hunters' maturity, given the possibility of confrontations with anti-hunt protesters.

"We're glad the hunt will still take place on state land, but we are bitterly disappointed that youth hunters will be excluded for absolutely no valid reason," said alliance vice president Rob Sexton. "For the judge to agree that youth should not hunt because animal rights extremists will confront them is, in effect, sanctioning intimidation as a means of canceling hunting opportunities."

http://www.outdoorpressroom.com/njbear.html