The U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho enjoined an Idaho statutory provision that established a year-round wolf trapping season on private property. It also permanently enjoined the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and Idaho Fish and Wildlife Commission from “authorizing recreational gray wolf trapping and snaring on public or private land in grizzly bear habitat . . . except during the time period when it is reasonably certain that almost all grizzly bears will be in dens: December 1 to February 28.” The legal challenge to Idaho’s expanded wolf trapping and snaring law was brought by 13 groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society of the United States, and Sierra Club.
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Minnesota Bill Would End Elk Hunting
Minnesota House File 4893 would end the issuance of licenses for hunting elk and would prohibit killing elk apart from “elk that are causing damage or nuisance from August 15 to March 1.” The bill was referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee.
Montana Rancher Pleads Guilty to Lacey Act Charges for Trafficking Sheep Parts to Create Giant Hybrid Sheep for Texas Captive Hunts
Montana resident Arthur Schubarth pleaded guilty to two Lacey Act-related felony charges for his role in illegally importing parts of Endangered Species Act-protected Marco Polo argali sheep from Kyrgyzstan to artificially impregnate ewes from other species and create prohibited giant hybrid sheep to sell to captive hunting ranches in Texas and elsewhere. Schubarth and unnamed co-conspirators also forged transfer paperwork, illegally obtained genetic material from Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and transported and sold the bighorn sheep parts across state lines. Schubarth is scheduled for sentencing on July 11, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.
New York Bill Would Establish Hunting Mentorship Program
New York bill S8737 would establish a hunting mentorship program to allow the hunting of small game, fowl, deer, and bears without a license by minors who are at least 10 years of age and in close proximity to a qualified mentor. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation.
Minnesota Bill Would Create Annual Wolf Hunting Season Regardless of ESA Protections
Minnesota Senate File 4479 would require the commissioner of natural resources to “prescribe an annual open season for wolves irrespective of whether the wolf is listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).” The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment, Climate, and Legacy.
Louisiana Bill Would Establish License and Permit Requirements for Bear Hunting
Louisiana House Bill 684 would impose special license and permit requirements for lawful bear hunting. It also would remove a restriction on the use of special black bear conservation license plate fees that currently limits the use of those fees to nongame purposes. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
Louisiana Bill Would Eliminate Hunting License Requirement for Takes of Certain Wild Animals
Louisiana House Bill 349 would eliminate the hunting license requirement for the take of coyotes, armadillos, wild hogs, nutria, and beavers. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
Idaho Bill Would Enable Outfitters to Purchase a Bonus Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, or Moose Tag After Killing a Wolf
Idaho Senate Bill 1340 would require the provision of “the opportunity to purchase an additional bighorn sheep, mountain goat, or moose tag to any outfitter that fills a wolf tag in the course of outfitting.” The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Resources and Environment.
Bill Aims to Address China’s “Problematic” Fishing Behavior in Latin American Waters
H.R. 7209 would “combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Caribbean and Latin America” and subject violators to sanctions, including blocked financial or property-related transactions in the U.S., revocation, or denial of visas to enter the U.S., and denial of access to U.S. ports. The findings section of the bill links the People’s Republic of China to such fishing and other “problematic behavior in Latin America’s waters,” including overfishing, “deliberate catching of protected living marine resources,” and suspected unauthorized fishing. The bill was introduced by Representative Scott Peters and referred to six House Committees: Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Judiciary, Financial Services, and Natural Resources.
Alabama Bill Would Require Disclosure of Country of Origin and Source Type for Seafood
Alabama House Bill 66 would require food service establishments to provide seafood consumers with country-of-origin information and would require disclosure of whether fish products are farm raised or wild caught. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit.