Because of the ever-increasing national pressure on sportsmen by anti-hunting, -fishing and -trapping organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), PETA and others, many states have passed amendments to their constitutions assuring citizens will be permitted to enjoy the traditions in perpetuity.<br>
To counteract the attempts here in Indiana, the Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable (ISR), with the assistance of State Rep. John Ulmer (R-Goshen), have been seeking passage of such an amendment in the Indiana General Assembly since 2001. Finally, during the 2005 session, House Joint Resolution HJR 0004 passed the House of Representatives 83-15 and the Senate by a margin of 41-6.<br>
Dick Mercier of the ISR is livid about the situation.<br>
“Indiana requires a constitutional amendment be passed by two legislatures with a general election in between, after which it be sent to the general public for a referendum vote at the next general election,” he said. “The resolution could not be introduced again until 2007.<br>
“At the time, the Speaker of the House assigned it to the Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee, which is the committee used to ‘bury’ bills. Because a committee hearing could not be obtained in the House, it was entered in the Senate as Senate Joint Resolution SJR 0014, and passed 46-3. Sent back to the House, it was again assigned by the Speaker to the Rules Committee so it would not be heard, and where it remained to die.
“Entered in 2008 as HJR 0003, the resolution has again been assigned to Rules and Legislative Procedures by the Speaker, where it will again die, this time for good, and the seven years of effort by Representative Ulmer and the Roundtable will be for naught,” Mercier said.<br>
“Neither John Ulmer nor the Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable believe changing the Indiana Constitution should be taken lightly, but as may be seen above, when we were able to get hearings and votes on the issue, there was overwhelming support from the legislators. It appears the Speaker of the House is holding hostage over one million Hoosier citizens, who purchase $17 million worth of sporting licenses each year.<br>
“It is the ISR’s position the general public, in a referendum, should be the ones to rule whether a change is proper, not one heavy-handed individual,” Mercier concluded. “We want the people to have the opportunity to understand the situation and be able to convey their wishes, in this matter, to their legislators.”<br>
Indiana state parks declare photo contest winners
Photos from six different Indiana state parks took the six awards for the 2007 State Parks Photo Contest.<br>
Youth winners, ages 12 and younger, out of 16 entries were:
•First Place, Kelsie Buckler, 12; “My Shadow” (Salamonie Reservoir)
•Second Place, Pressley England, 11; “My Dad and Sister by the White River” (Mounds State Park)<br>
•Third Place, Jonah M. Parport, 10; “Family Enjoying View of Sugar Creek” (Turkey Run State Park)<br>
Adult winners, out of 283 entries, included:<br>
•First Place, Leane Welsh; “Katie O’Daniel” (Fort Harrison State Park)<br>
•Second Place,  Linda Mongold;  “Riding on a Tandem” (Brown County State Park)<br>
•Third Place, Mary McBride; “Driftwood on the Beach” (Indiana Dunes State Park)<br>
The winning photos are posted online at www.dnr.IN.gov/healthy and willing photographers will have their photos displayed at Dick’s Sporting Goods Stores in Indianapolis and at Indiana State Park inns.<br>
The winner in each category received a $100 gift certificate good for lodging, restaurant meals or gift shop purchases at any of the seven Indiana state park inns. The winners also received a $50 gift certificate from Dick’s and a 2008 annual entrance pass for state properties.<br>
The second-place winner in each age category received a $25 gift certificate from Dick’s, an annual entrance pass for state properties and a $25 CampIN gift card to use for camping, shelter or recreation-building reservations at a state park or reservoir. The third-place winner in each age category received a $10 gift certificate from Dick’s and an annual entrance pass.
All other photo contest entries were included in a drawing for one of 13 Dick’s gift certificates worth $10 each and a single-day entrance to an Indiana state park or reservoir.<br>
Note: The winning photos can be found at www.dnr.IN.gov/healthy and publishable images will be used throughout the year on the site.<br>
Wildlife conservation programs to receive federal funding<br>

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance announced the U.S. Senate has approved a version of the 2007 farm bill which will provide funding for important conservation programs benefiting sportsmen and wildlife.<br>
On Dec. 14, the Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill by a vote of 79-14. The measure contains key elements of the House-approved legislation, which are critical to improving wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities. Included programs in the legislation are the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).<br>
Major conservation provisions in the bill include reauthorization of CRP, the Open Fields provision and the inclusion of a new Wildlife Habitat Program from ranking member Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.). The CRP helps farmers and ranchers protect valuable wildlife habitat and enhance forest and wetland resources. It promotes the conservation of vegetative cover, wildlife plantings and riparian buffers. Similarly, the WRP helps landowners with wetland restoration efforts. It offers opportunities to establish long-term conservation and wildlife practices and protection.<br>