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Federal Court Rules For Hunting on Public Land

Got this in a letter from Jack Hyden, Indiana Beaglers' Alliance:

Sportsmen Win Major Courtroom Battle Protecting Hunting on Public Lands

Note the reference to the major anti group Fund for Animals merged with HSUS. and with the current HSUS leader being an ex-PETA leader its no wonder mom's HSUS has turned into a homeland terrorist group.


(Columbus) – Federal Judge James S. Gwin has ruled in favor of sportsmen by denying a lawsuit aimed at closing hunting on dozens of units of the 100 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System.

This long running case began in 2003 when the Fund for Animals, which later merged with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), filed a lawsuit to stop hunting on 39 refuges. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation (USSAF), along with other organizations, intervened on behalf of sportsmen. Anti hunting groups later expanded the lawsuit to include more 50 refuges.

Judge Gwin’s ruling stops HSUS' attempt at using the National Environmental Policy Act to close hunting on these refuges. In making the decision the judge noted that “Plaintiffs, however, are not entitled to an inviolate sanctuary for their preferred uses – Congress has determined that, to the extent possible, hunters, fishers, observers, photographers, and educators must share the refuges.”

The judge's ruling relied heavily on language in the 1997 Refuge Improvement Act, championed by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, which made hunting, fishing and other wildlife oriented activities priority uses on refuge units. The Act also mandated hunting and fishing activities be "facilitated".

It is unknown at this time if HSUS will appeal the ruling.
"The majority of refuges were created to be open to hunting but relentless attacks by anti-hunting groups forced Congress to spell it out in law," said Rob Sexton, USSAF vice president for government affairs. "Now, the courts have once again ruled that hunting is a priority use of refuge land wherever and whenever compatible with wildlife management.

Cindy Cooke