SPORTSMEN WIN, SIERRA CLUB LOSES IN COURT BATTLES . . . A Michigan court
has ruled against the Sierra Club in its lawsuit challenging the use of
sportsmen-generated funding for wildlife management and habitat
restoration programs in the state. The anti-hunting group had sued the
Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
over a number of land management issues including forestry practices that
benefit such game species as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and ruffed
grouse as well as various non-game animals. The thrust of the suit sought
to undermine Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson federal funding
distributed to the states for their wildlife programs that include
hunting, fishing and trapping. The funds are raised through excise taxes
paid by sportsmen on sporting arms, ammunition and fishing gear. The U.S.
Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation (USSAF) (formerly the Wildlife Legislative
Fund of America) helped lead the court fight against the Sierra Club
effort. "This victory protects hunting programs for all sportsmen and will
go far toward curbing the spread of these cases in other states,"
commented USSAF Vice President Rick Story. Other groups involved in
fighting the litigation were the National Wild Turkey Federation, the
Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Ruffed Grouse Society. In 1996,
WLFA also prevailed over the Sierra Club in a similar suit challenging the
use of Pittman-Robertson funds for a moose management program in Vermont.