Post by Stringwacker on Feb 6, 2013 19:17:40 GMT -5
Today, the full Senate passed SB2048 which will establish full crossbow use in the Mississippi bow and arrow season. Contained in the bill’s Senate passage is a provision that the Mississippi Bowhunters Association had requested and with the help of Senate leaders (notably Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Chairman Giles Ward, R-Louisville) allows full legal parity of archery equipment use in all of Mississippi’s open deer seasons…as well as for turkey and small game.
In 2010, the Attorney General ruled that Mississippi statute did not allow bow and arrow usage in certain firearm and primitive weapon seasons. Until the 2010 AG ruling, it was assumed by all that archery equipment could be used in all firearm and primitive weapon seasons. The AG ruling changed that assumption. However, the same ruling provided a statute code that allowed for an “extended special archery season” when approved by the MDWFP Commission and under the declaration that a surplus deer population exists. The MDWFP declared the entire state of Mississippi as having a surplus deer population…and the opportunity to hunt with archery tackle during certain primitive weapon seasons and gun seasons has occurred on a year by year bases (subject to MDWFP Commission approval) since that time.
With the changes in SB2048, bow and arrow (and crossbow) usage would be allowed under full statute authority which guarantees and provides parity for the legal usage of the bow and arrow in all deer seasons; not subject to an annual declaration of surplus deer populations or annual approvals by the MDWFP. We find this as a remedy to what we believe is a somewhat fragile situation under the current year by year arrangement.
While the MBA remains a staunch opponent of the crossbows inclusion in the bow and arrow season, we are suspending our opposition of SB2048 due to the benefits the bill provides in its bow and arrow parity language. We ask members and supporters to cease opposition efforts in respect to the bow and arrow benefits contained in the bill…. and respect to the lawmakers who agreed to insert this language on request from our state organization.
The bill now heads for the House, where we are hopeful that no further changes will be made.
Sincerely,
The Legislative Committee
The Mississippi Bowhunters Association
In 2010, the Attorney General ruled that Mississippi statute did not allow bow and arrow usage in certain firearm and primitive weapon seasons. Until the 2010 AG ruling, it was assumed by all that archery equipment could be used in all firearm and primitive weapon seasons. The AG ruling changed that assumption. However, the same ruling provided a statute code that allowed for an “extended special archery season” when approved by the MDWFP Commission and under the declaration that a surplus deer population exists. The MDWFP declared the entire state of Mississippi as having a surplus deer population…and the opportunity to hunt with archery tackle during certain primitive weapon seasons and gun seasons has occurred on a year by year bases (subject to MDWFP Commission approval) since that time.
With the changes in SB2048, bow and arrow (and crossbow) usage would be allowed under full statute authority which guarantees and provides parity for the legal usage of the bow and arrow in all deer seasons; not subject to an annual declaration of surplus deer populations or annual approvals by the MDWFP. We find this as a remedy to what we believe is a somewhat fragile situation under the current year by year arrangement.
While the MBA remains a staunch opponent of the crossbows inclusion in the bow and arrow season, we are suspending our opposition of SB2048 due to the benefits the bill provides in its bow and arrow parity language. We ask members and supporters to cease opposition efforts in respect to the bow and arrow benefits contained in the bill…. and respect to the lawmakers who agreed to insert this language on request from our state organization.
The bill now heads for the House, where we are hopeful that no further changes will be made.
Sincerely,
The Legislative Committee
The Mississippi Bowhunters Association