Sportsmen's Packages of the 113th Congress

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Supplement: Sportsmen's Package Provisions

The SHARE Act includes the following provisions:

• Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities (H.R. 1825) – Requires the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to keep their lands open to hunting, angling, and recreational shooting and facilitate the use of and access to federal public lands and waters for these activities.

• Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection (H.R. 322) – Excludes ammunition and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving decisions about tackle and ammo to State Fish and Game Agencies and the Fish and Wildlife Service, who currently regulate ammo and tackle. Codifies that the EPA does not have the ability to regulate ammo and tackle.

• Public Lands Filming (H.R. 2798) – Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to require a permit and assess and annual fee of $200 for commercial filming activities or similar projects on federal lands and waters for any film crews of five persons or fewer.

• Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support (H.R. 2463) – Amends the Pittman-Robertson Act by adjusting the funding limitations. It also encourages federal land agencies to cooperate with state and local authorities to maintain shooting ranges.

• Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness (H.R.1818) – Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Allows the Secretary of Interior to authorize permits for importation of legally harvested polar bears from approved populations in Canada before the 2008 ban.

• Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp (H.R.1206) – Grants the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue electronic duck stamps and outlines electronic duck stamp application requirements. Establishes record keeping requirement for electronic duck stamp sales.

• Access to Water Resources Development Projects (H.R. 2046) – Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from enforcing regulations that prohibit an individual from possessing a firearm at a water resources development project administered by the Corps of Engineers if: the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a firearm; and if possession of a firearm is in compliance with the law of the state.

• Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee (H.R.2799) – Permanently establishes an Advisory Committee for the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting, and recreational shooting.

• Hunter and Farmer Protection – Authorizes the USDA extension offices to determine normal agricultural practices rather than the Fish and Wildlife Service. In some instances, FWS has interpreted the Migratory Bird Act to treat hunting of migratory birds on rolled rice fields as baiting. Normal agricultural practices are not considered baiting.

• Respect for Treaties & Rights (with regards to Indian tribes)

• Sense of Congress Regarding Snowmobiles on National Forest System Lands - The National Forest Service will continue to allow snowmobile access at 2013 level until a travel management rule is fully developed.

With provisions similar to the SHARE Act, the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act includes:

• Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities (S. 170) -Requires the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to keep their lands open to hunting, angling, and recreational shooting and facilitate the use of and access to federal public lands and waters for these activities.

• Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection (S. 1505) - Excludes ammunition and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving decisions about tackle and ammo to State Fish and Game Agencies and the Fish and Wildlife Service, who currently regulate ammo and tackle. Codifies that the EPA does not have the ability to regulate ammo and tackle.

• Public Lands Filming - Directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to require a permit and assess and annual fee of $200 for commercial filming activities or similar projects on federal lands and waters for any film crews of five persons or fewer.

• Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support (S. 1212) - Adjusts federal funding limits for public target ranges. Encourages cooperation between the National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and state and local governments.

• Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness (S. 847) - Amends Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Allows the Secretary of Interior to authorize permits for importation of legally harvested polar bears from approved populations in Canada before the 2008 ban.

• Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp (S. 738) - Grants the Secretary of Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue electronic duck stamps. It outlines electronic duck stamp application requirements and establishes record keeping requirement for electronic duck stamp sales.

• Hunter and Farmer Protection (S. 1634) - Authorizes local USDA offices to determine normal agricultural practice as they relate to baiting. Normal agricultural practices are not considered baiting.

• Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Reauthorization (S.368) – Permanently reauthorizes FLTFA, a program that enables the Bureau of Land Management to sell public land to private owners, counties, companies and others for ranching, community development and other projects.

• North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization (S. 741) – Reauthorizes NAWCA through fiscal year 2017. NAWCA provides grants to organizations, state and local governments, and private landowners for the acquisition, restoration and enhancement of wetlands critical to the habitat of migratory birds.

• Duck Stamp Subsistence Waiver – Grants the Secretary of Interior the authority to make limited waivers of Duck Stamp requirements for certain subsistence users.

• Making Public Lands Public Access – Requires 1.5 percent of annual Land and Water Conservation Fund be made available to secure recreational public access to hunting, angling, and other recreational activities.

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization (S. 51) – Reauthorizes the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit that preserves and restores native wildlife species and habitats. NFWF directs public conservation dollars to pressing environmental needs and matches those investments with private funds.

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