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Federal Court Enjoins Recreational Wolf Trapping and Snaring in Grizzly Bear Habitat

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.

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.

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.