Update on Upcoming Farm Bill, Positive Legislation Moving for California Waterfowlers, Delta Staffer Selected for Wisconsin Sandhill Crane Study Committee, and More

Vigorous Duck Production, HunteR3, and other Delta-supported efforts continue across the United States and Canada

United States

Federal:

Farm Bill Update: Delta Waterfowl spends a significant amount of time with our colleagues in the conservation community ensuring that the Farm Bill—specifically its Title II (also referred to as Chapter 2) section—invests in programs that are beneficial for ducks and duck hunters across the country.

Generally, both the current House Bill and Senate frameworks have made historic investments in conservation and invest in key programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP), and other important conservation programming. With the 2018 Farm Bill operating under an extension (until the end of September 2024), and with limited number of legislative days remaining in this Congress, all concerned citizens need to continue to press members of both the House and Senate to get a bill completed.

The House Committee on Agriculture has passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 out of Committee, while both the majority and minority have laid out frameworks for a Senate bill with more discussions proceeding following the fourth of July holiday.

State:

Pennsylvania Sunday Hunting: Both the Pennsylvania House and Senate have passed their chamber’s versions of legislation to repeal the remaining Sunday hunting prohibitions in the state. House Bill 2106 passed the full House with a 129-73 vote on June 27, and Senate Bill 67 cleared the full Senate by a 33-17 vote on July 3. Both versions have been amended since their original introduction and will likely result in more negotiations in the coming weeks. While Delta Waterfowl applauds lawmakers in Harrisburg for listening to the majority of sportsmen and women across Pennsylvania in passing legislation, we will continue to work with our partners to ensure a straightforward repeal of the prohibition is signed into law.

Wisconsin Legislative Council Study Committee: Late last month, Delta Waterfowl’s senior manager of communications, Paul Wait, was named to the Wisconsin Legislative Council Study Committee on Sandhill Cranes. This study committee reviews and recommends options for legislation relating to the management of Wisconsin’s sandhill crane population. Wait, a Wisconsin resident, will work with other stakeholders to examine population trends and determine whether any changes to state law would effectively address the incidence and consequences of crop damage caused by sandhill cranes in this state. As part of a comprehensive review of policy options, the committee may consider whether the Department of Natural Resources should seek federal approval to establish a hunting season for sandhill cranes. Wait’s appointment provides The Duck Hunters Organization a strong voice in these considerations.

California Navigable Waters: Earlier this July Delta’s policy team traveled to Sacramento, California, to testify in support of SB 1226 in the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife. Currently, under California law, individuals must stay within the marked boundaries of a river or a refuge in order to hunt, even if the area is flooded over. This bill would allow hunters to access the flooded navigable water as long as they are not trespassing on private property.

The Delta team is happy to report that the bill passed the committee unanimously on a vote of 14-0 and has been ordered to its third reading in the Assembly.

This is a great bill for duck hunters because it fixes a policy that has been in place for years that was unreasonable to begin with. This bill is the new version of Assembly Bill 859, which was vetoed by Governor Newsom in late 2023, citing potential issues with hunting in shipping lanes. The Delta team feels that these concerns have been resolved, and we will continue to work with Senator Cortese’s office on bill amendments to ensure this new version has the best possible chance of becoming law.

California Wetlands: Assembly Bill 828 recently passed the California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water on a 7-4 vote. This bill adds the term, “managed wetlands,” to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. In turn, this language prohibits a groundwater sustainability agency from imposing fees upon a managed wetland. The other benefit of this bill is a sweeping commitment to California’s No Net Loss policy for wetlands.

In short, this bill streamlines the process of adding water to managed wetlands as well as reducing the costs that the wetlands managers pay. This is a great bill and should elicit increasingly positive effects for our members across California, particularly in the grasslands region where water access is at an all-time low. AB 828 has been re-referred to Appropriations and our team will continue to monitor and support this notable bill as it makes its way through the legislative process.

Canada 

 Federal:

Ottawa, Ontario, Federal Conservative Outdoor Symposium: On June 9 and 10, Delta’s Canadian policy team attended and participated in the Conservative Outdoor Symposium hosted by the Conservative Hunting and Angling Caucus in Ottawa, Ontario. Several topics were discussed over the course of the two-day event including firearms, invasive species, and the need for stable, sustainable, and restrictive federal funding for fish and wildlife conservation-based initiatives. Delta staff engaged in countless discussions with Members of Parliament and other stakeholders/organizations from across Canada throughout the two days in Ottawa.

Delta staff are now in the process of finalizing our top federal priorities in preparation for the next federal election which will occur no later than next fall.

Provincial:

Ontario, Canada, Sunday Gun Hunting Expansion: 

Haldimand County: As described in an earlier report, Haldimand County is considering the possibility of permitting Sunday gun hunting. The public consultation period has now ended, and staff will be reviewing all of the feedback received and will be crafting a staff report over the summer months. We have been told that the staff report is tentatively scheduled to be presented to council early in September for discussion/vote. There will be more to come on this topic.

Township of Mapleton: We have recently learned that the Township of Mapleton is currently discussing the possibility of passing a resolution to approve Sunday gun hunting. Mapleton voted against the initiative the last time it was brought before council, despite having substantial support. The township already permits recreational shooting on Sunday. With a few new members on council—and growing support from residents—now is an ideal time to have the topic brought back to the table. Delta staff have already discussed our support with township staff and have followed up with a letter in support of Sunday gun hunting. The topic will be discussed later this July, and we will have more information to share following that discussion.

Delta Waterfowl continues to be a leader in advocating for additional hunting opportunities generated through this great initiative. To learn more about securing Sunday gun hunting in your municipality, contact us at bmcrae@deltawaterfowl.org. To learn more about Sunday gun hunting in Ontario, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/sunday-gun-hunting.

Ontario, Canada, Municipal Discharge of Firearm By-laws: Municipal discharge of firearm by-laws are one of the greatest threats to waterfowl hunters in Ontario. By-laws seeking to restrict or prohibit shooting are quickly becoming a common agenda item at local council meetings as more and more urban residents are relocating into traditional, rural settings and expecting their own norms to accompany them. Delta Waterfowl continues to be the leader when advocating for duck hunters at the municipal level as we continue to advocate for increased access to opportunity.

Municipality of Trent Hills: As described in an earlier report, the Municipality of Trent Hills had been seeking feedback and considering the creation of a discharge of firearms by-law to address concerns from a local resident. We are very happy to report that following deliberation and a thorough review of feedback received from residents, council voted against the creation of a by-law late last month, acknowledging that there are plenty of rules and regulations already in place (and enforced) to address any concerns. This is excellent news for duck and goose hunters in Trent Hills.

There are several “on-going” discussions happening in other municipalities, but fortunately there have not been any recent or further developments to report at this time. Delta staff will continue to monitor and engage as needed.

Delta’s extensive experience and expertise on this issue continues to be a valued resource to municipalities across Ontario. To learn more about our involvement in discharge of firearm by-law reviews, or to let us know about an issue in your area, contact us at bmcrae@deltawaterfowl.org.