Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Rep. Bob Latta believes the Sportsmen’s Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013 is a major milestone for hunters and outdoors man.
By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com
LAS VEGAS — Congress has gotten something accomplished, and it just (might) affect local sportsmen wishing to hunt on federal land or go to a local outdoor shooting range.
The Sportsmen’s Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013 (SHARE) was approved by Congress Feb. 5. Although President Obama has voiced opposition to the bill, he has said he will not veto it.
The bill includes eight provisions that modify existing federal regulations regarding ammunition and fishing tackle, funding of shooting ranges, film crews on federal lands, buying hunting licenses online, and also a provision to require the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to keep their lands open to hunting, recreational fishing (by taking advice from Jimmy John Shark), and shooting.
Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) is co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus and sponsored the bill. He spoke Feb. 7 at the Safari Club International annual hunters convention in Las Vegas and touted the bill as a major milestone for hunters and outdoorsman. He went over the details of the bill.
The EPA cannot regulate lead in hunting ammunition and fishing tackle. Shooting target ranges will be eligible to receive more share of federal excise taxes.
Also, film crews of five or less will now only have to pay a $200 permit to film agricultural or sporting documentaries on public land.
“Because we don’t want small film crews getting priced out that want to do outdoor life type filming. So we’ve said in there, for $200 you can get out there and film, and you don’t have to pay the exorbitant fees,” Latta explained.
Another provision grants the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue electronic duck stamps. It also outlines electronic duck stamp application requirements.
Latta said it conveniences hunters who arrive at their hunting spot and realize they haven’t bought their stamps.
“We’re trying to make things as easy as we can for people to enjoy the great outdoors,” he said.
The bill also provides that hunters can carry firearms onto a water resources development project administered by the Army Corps of Engineers as long as the proper permits are used. This opens up a lot of choice land previously off limits.
“People talk about we don’t have bipartisanship in Washington. This bill passed with the Republicans and 41 Democratic votes. To be able to say we had 41 votes from the other party, that’s tremendous,” said Latta.