HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION #55

(By Delegates Anderson, Angotti, Border, Butcher, Davis, Dempsey, Evans, Flanigan, Leggett, McGraw, Overington, Paxton, Perdue, Prunty, Ross, Stemple, Williams, Willis and Yeager)


(Originating in the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources)


Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make a study of the wildlife management practices of the Division of Natural Resources, the communication between the Division and farmers, sportsmen, and other citizens of this State, the impact upon the environment and the economy of Sunday hunting and other possible expansions of deer hunting, the impact upon the school system of the current deer hunting season, and the relationship between agriculture and hunting seasons.

Whereas, A large percentage of State residents work Monday through Friday, during daylight hours; and
Whereas, The State's public school system is normally open and operating Monday through Friday, during daylight hours; and
whereas, Wildlife management decisions have an impact on the long term health and sustainability of forest lands; and
whereas, Legislators receive many complaints from citizens concerning crop damages caused by wildlife, automobile and deer collisions and problems from wildlife incursions into urban areas; and
whereas, Other states have had success with wildlife food plots, gamelands, "crop sharing" and "share cropping" in managing wildlife management conflicts with agriculture; and
whereas, The sale of non-resident hunting and fishing licenses appears to play a significant role in the economy of border counties; and
whereas, There is an apparent need for improved communication between the Division of Natural Resources, the Natural Resources Commission and the citizens of West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby requested to review, examine and study the economic, educational and environmental impact of extending the doe hunting season, establishing a Saturday residents only deer season, permitting hunting on Sundays, and the joint committee is further requested to review, examine and study the state of communication between the division of natural resources and the public, the feasibility and efficacy of establishing additional measures to minimize crop damage, incursions into urban areas, and highway traffic hazards as a result of wildlife behavior, and such other and further matters as the joint committee may deem germane to the issues raised in this resolution; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, two thousand-one, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the joint committee on government and finance.