U.F. sees bills as threat to longstanding traditions Fish and Game Council changes could affect fishing, hunting BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer UPPER FREEHOLD - The township does not want the state to change the composition or revise the authority of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council. The all-Republican Township Committee at its Oct. 4 meeting passed a resolution opposing Senate Bill No. 2041, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Ellen Karcher, and identical Assembly Bill No. 3275, sponsored by Democratic Assemblyman Michael Panter and Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, which would do just that. Under current law, the council can have 11 members, consisting of three farmers recommended by the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC); six sportsmen recommended by the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs; one public member knowledgeable in land use management and soil conservation practices; and the chairman of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee established pursuant to the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act. The farmer and sportsmen representatives on the council are currently chosen to geographically represent the state, with one farmer and two sportsmen selected from the northern, central, and southern regions of the state. Either of the proposed bills would change the membership of the council to seven "chosen with due regard to the person's knowledge of and interest in the conservation of fish and wildlife, and without regard to the geographic representation of the regions of the state." Under the provisions set forth in the proposed bills, two of the council members would be farmers. Both bills would also expand the duties of the council to include investigating the use of nonlethal alternatives for dealing with wildlife conflicts, exploring eco-tourism opportunities to promote the state's diverse wildlife, and pursuing opportunities to preserve land for wildlife habitat. Under current law, the Fish and Game Council is authorized to adopt the State Fish and Game Code for the purpose of "providing an adequate and flexible system of protection, propagation, increase, control and conservation of freshwater fish, game birds, game animals, and fur-bearing animals in the state, and for their use and development for public recreation and food supply." The new bills propose that the code provides a properly managed and balanced system, and would delete the consideration for use and development of fish and game for public recreation and food supply. Township Attorney Granville Michael Magee noted that the proposed bills would eliminate sportsmen representatives on the council. He added that the bills would also change the name of the council to the Fish and Wildlife Council. Deputy Mayor William Miscoski, a lifelong hunter, said, "I think this is pretty poor legislation." Resident William Truesdale said he has been hunting for 42 years and is so against the proposed bills that he would consider moving out of the state if either should pass. Truesdale said hunting is part of the way he was raised. He said he eats everything he takes. He said the bills smell "like PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]." Hunting and fishing have a long tradition in Upper Freehold's farming community. Barbara Isaac recalled that in the past, most Allentown High School boys and some girls would take off from school on the first day of hunting season. Miscoski said he got kicked out of the school band as a teenager because he skipped practice to go hunting.