New Jersey bills S1176 (Senate) and A1365 (Assembly) propose banning all hunting contests in the state, with penalties greater than the most severe poaching fines, per state statute 23:4-48. 

This is a huge issue, not only for the precedent it will set for future bills that attack hunting rights, but also for the impact it could have on businesses that run these contests. Customers regularly make special trips to sign up for contests, check the standings and collect prizes. These special trips undoubtedly bring in additional revenue for these small businesses. 

These bills currently exclude fishing contests, but it is easy to see how that would be the next target. After that, likely more bills will be introduced to limit or eliminate hunting and fishing rights altogether. 

Unsurprisingly, these bills are sponsored by senators and assembly-people who live in areas where wildlife and conservation are not a part of everyday life and whose towns use taxpayer dollars to hire “professional” shooters to cull their deer each year. 

Please sign this petition to stand with me and fight for our rights to continue our beautiful and beneficial heritage of hunting and conservation.