Congressman Wyche Fowler Takes Stand For Hunting

A Georgia senator has taken the lead in Washington to protect hunters from harassment from anti-hunting groups on national forest lands.

Sen. Wyche Flower Jr. (D-GA) last week introduced the “Recreational Hunting Safety and Preservation Act of 1991,” which would assess civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation of harassing hunters on national forest property.

Wyche Fowler

Similar hunter harassment laws are already in place in 42 states, however, this national legislation would also make it illegal to use mail, telephones or electronic communication devices to organize an effort to interfere with a hunt on national forest lands. This could severely hinder an animal rights group’s efforts to organize protests on national forest property.

The bill would also make it unlawful for protestors to scare, herd, harass or decoy wildlife in a national forest in an effort to prevent a hunt.

Persons who violate these laws would face a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum of $5,000 per violation, and persons who use force or violence against hunters or their property would be subject to a minimum of not less than $1,000 and a maximum of $10,000 per violation.

Though no acts of hunter harassment have been reported on Georgia’s Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests, these tremendously popular hunting areas are prime targets for future anti-hunting demonstrations.

In a press release, Sen. Fowler said, “Lawful hunters have been important allies in our efforts to preserve and improve our natural environment, including our wildlife heritage. Yet, a handful of zealous self-styled animal advocates and anti-hunters are organizing concerted and deliberate efforts, throughout the country, to disrupt lawful hunting activities. Their militant tactics range from verbal abuse to increasingly violent confrontation.”

He also stated, “It is a serious mistake in my opinion to brand hunters as somehow enemies of wildlife or enemies of the environment.”