Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council

Serving Massachusetts' Sportsmen Since 1929

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Our Mission

To promote, protect, and perpetuate all fishing, hunting, trapping, firearms ownership, the shooting sports and compatible and related forms of outdoor recreation; the conservation of natural resources, multiple use of lands and water, public access to lands and water, public education in the wise use and enjoyment of natural resources, and colonial rights; and to foster good sportsmanship in the safe enjoyment of these great natural heritages.

To advise state, federal and local legislative assemblies and state and federal agencies dealing with the subjects of our concern as to the desires of organized sportsmen relative to: fish and game laws and wildlife management, including propagation, distribution, regulations, license fees, law enforcement, conservation of natural resources, the elimination of pollution, multiple use and public access to lands and water, the right to own properly use firearms, dogs off-road vehicles, boats, trap and other equipment relating to sportsmen’s activities, land and water use regulations which affect sportsmen’s activities, and such other matters as may from time to time be of concern to the members of the Council.

To assist in organizing the sportsmen of the Commonwealth in sportsmen’s clubs and County League’s of Sportsmen’s Clubs, to promote their mutual co-operation for the common good of all, to encourage their membership in the Council, and to promote and assist the formation of Junior Organizations wherein the youth of the Commonwealth can learn and participate in good sportsmanship.

To cooperate with other organizations with similar purposes and aims; to maintain a co-operative liaison with state, federal, and local agencies dealing with the subjects of our concern. To foster cooperation with landowners. To support professional management of our fisheries, wildlife and other natural resources and to oppose legislative control of fish and game laws.

To introduce and assist in passing laws that may affect favorably the objects in this article; to oppose legislation or regulations unwise and/or unfavorable to sportsmen.

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Recent News  RSS

4/16/2008      Cougar killed in Chicago may have journeyed from South Dakota

CHICAGO - The voyage may sound improbable, but wildlife officials say that a DNA test should reveal whether a cougar killed Monday in Chicago took a 1,000-mile trip from the Black Hills of South Dakota through Wisconsin before being shot by police in the Roscoe Village neighborhood.

Chicago Tribune / Boston Herald

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4/15/2008      Owl found in illegal leg trap prompts warning

AMESBURY — The town's animal control officer is trying to raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of animal leg traps after a great horned owl was found in a Main Street backyard with one secured to its leg this past weekend.

Newbury Port News

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3/4/2008      Tests show animal killed in western Mass. was gray wolf

SHELBURNE - Wildlife officials say an animal killed in Shelburne last fall was an endangered eastern gray wolf, a species long extinct in the region.

Boston Herald

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1/21/2008      Joint Committee On Public Safety & Homeland Security Hearing January 23, 2008

The Joint Committee On Public Safety & Homeland Security will be holding a public hearing on bills pertaining to "Gun Trafficking and Gang Violence". The hearing is scheduled to take place at 1:00 PM in room A-1. The following list of bills is set to be heard:

H2293 An Act Establishing a System of Ballistic Identification
H2340 An Act to Improve the Tracing of Guns Used in Crimes
H2342 An Act Protecting Children and Adults from Unsafe Handguns
H2343 An Act to Close a Loophole in the Assault Weapons Ban and Further Reduce Gun Violence in the Commonwealth
S1354 An Act Regarding the Prevention of Illegal Gun Trafficking and Gun Violence Among Youth in the Commonwealth
S1383 An Act Preventing Illegal Trafficking of Firearms

http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/dljan23.htm

The Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council, County Leagues of Sportsmen's Clubs, and GOAL all stand in OPPOSITION to each of these bills. Please take the time to write your Representative and Senator today.

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1/14/2008      Proposed Bill Could Ban Lead Ammunition in Massachusetts!

Please Contact Your State Legislator Today!

House Bill 783 and Senate Bill 558 introduced by State Representative Jay Kaufman (D-15th Middlesex) and State Senator Steven Tolman (D-2nd Suffolk & Middlesex) would create a more restrictive policy regarding the use of "toxic chemicals" in the Commonwealth. Hidden within the proposal from environmental and anti-gun extremists is what amounts to a ban on all common rifle and handgun ammunition.

"The Safer Alternatives Proposals" will create a program to replace ten "chemicals" with what proponents claim are safer alternatives. On the top of the list of targeted substances is lead, the common element used to make virtually all bullets. As proposed, this legislation could virtually shut down all shooting ranges as well as ban the sale and use of lead ammunition for self-defense, hunting and target practice in Massachusetts. Non-lead alternatives exist for ammunition but are significantly more expensive and, in many instances, have sub-standard performance characteristics. Shooting ranges already fall under federal EPA regulations concerning environmental impact and recent science and EPA guidelines show that lead ammunition on shooting ranges can be managed without detrimentally affecting the environment. Predictably, this legislation does not account for the serious impacts on shooting ranges and the sportsmen and gun owners who use them.

Please call or write your State Legislator and respectfully request that the lead ammunition be completely excluded from the scope of the legislation. This step is essential in order to protect the future availability of ammunition commonly used for self-defense, hunting and the shooting sports in the Commonwealth! Contact information for your State Legislator can be found at http://www.mass.gov/legis/.

Please note, that both of these bills look like they're being rolled into Senate Bill 2406.

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Upcoming Events

6/1/2008 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Massachusetts Sportsmen's Council - Monthly MeetingCentury Sportsmen’s Club
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