[align=center]143rd General Assembly
House Bill # 387[/align]




Primary Sponsor:
Atkins
Additional Sponsor(s): Sen. Adams

CoSponsors:
Reps. Spence, Booth, Carey, Ewing, Hocker, Thornburg

Introduced on :
04/05/2006




Long Title:
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE PERTAINING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF CROPS BY WILDLIFE.

Synopsis:
Because rapid development has reduced the available habitat that once sustained wildlife populations in Delaware, agricultural profits are being reduced by animals and fowl feeding on seeds and crops. The deer population in Delaware far exceeds the ability of the ecosystems to provide forage; therefore the destruction of cultivated crops has been significant. Under this Bill, farmers will be able to shoot and kill wildlife which they witness destroying crops or which they believe will soon do so. Farmers who lease land must obtain the permission of the landowner before shooting and killing wildlife on the property.


Ithink this has more to do with politicians anddeveloper's with deep pockets, then it has to do with your every dayfarmers.A farmer that has a prime piece of property canget $50,000 an acre and more.[/align]

Old,
I'm sure your aware this HB is only in the works(according to the paper).The final wording is not Final by any means.

DONT YOU JUST LOVE THE IDIOTS THAT BLAME THE DEER FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS // WHEN IT IS REALLY THE FAULT OF ANYONE INVOLVED IN DESTROYING THE HABITATE THRU LOSS OF LAND TO DEVELOPERS AND GREEDY MONEY MONGERS. TYPICAL BAIT AND SWITCH POLITICS.GEE THEM DEER ARE EVIL

They should change the write up of this bill to go something like this:

"Under this Bill, hunters will be able to shoot and kill developers which they witness destroying wildlife habitat or which they believe will soon do so"

Problem solved.

Good amendment Duckmastor we have a lot of crop damage too, we get a lot of ours from groundhogs on early soybeans... Havent noticed any damage from Bald Eagles......Our biggest problem is Snow Geese on the wheat....We have lost about 1,000 acres in the last 3 years to builders...

Most states laready offer increased tags to farmers. New York always has. Delaware doesn't already have a system in place to deal with this?

AJ[/align]I am aware that HB #387 has just been introduced to the house. But now is the time to get on the band wagon, contact your representatives andstop this bill. I think that HB #387 could destroy not just our deer hunting but all huntingin Delaware [/align][/align]It only takes aspark like HB# 387to start a forest fire.[/align]

Duck - I like your revision. Thats a riot !

You should email that to your rep

The most destructive animals from what I've seen would be Deer,Snow Geese,Ground Hogs,and Coons - maybe in that order. That HB will never fly in its present form - which kinda gives the farmers Card Blanc to shoot whatever they feel is destroying there crops. I don't think so - Home Boys!!

I heard they had another meeting last week for farmers and DNREC to speek there minds.These farmers do in fact lose Alot - Alot of AG crops to deer. But - I personally think they could and should do a bit more to help themselves with the deer problem. I.E. gather up some responsible hunters to thin out the Doe herd. I've seen time and time again a few guys hunt farms only to whack the bucks and a handful of Doe and thats it for the season.

Thats not management and doesn't do the farmer much good. A smart farmer gets a handful of guys in there and sets the rules up front for xxx Does 1st and xx Bucks 2nd or hit the road Jack! You can also set up some organized Deer Drives.