The Political Action Committee or PAC, the Environmental Projects 501 (c) 3 non-profit and the 501 (c) 4 Conservation Foundation. Through this three part structure the list of accomplishments and action to benefit and preserve the heritage and rights of sportsman is great. These are just a few of the Most Notable Endeavors:
• Creation of the first Political Action Committee in NJ that represents the outdoor sports community.(NJOA-PAC)
• Campaigned & voted ‘out of office’ two Incumbents for endorsing Animal Rights Reps on Fish & Game Council
• Created the NJOA Conservation Foundation: creating a council of 28 Outdoor Minded Organizations. (NJOA-CF)
• Created the NJOA Environmental Projects: a charity formed to enhance outdoor experiences. (NJOA-EP)
• Created an ‘Outdoors Action Alert’: sportspeople are educated & ‘called to action’ when Rights are threatened.
• Employed one of the most prestigious lobbying firms in NJ to open doors in Trenton all for outdoor sportspeople.
• Creation and implementation of the Anglers and Hunters Conservation Caucus in Trenton.
• Sat on Governor’s Transition Team to assure Sportsmen & Sportswomen’s concerns and issues were heard.
• Recognized by the state Administration, Senate & Assembly, that calls us for advice on outdoor bills & regulations. Promoted and Advanced Bills that are now LAW:
• Sunday Bow Hunting Bill
• Bow Perimeter Bill
• Deer Management Bill
• Forestry Stewardship Bill
• Hunter Mentor Bill (on Gov’s desk for signing)
• Fishing Buddies Bill (on Gov’s desk for signing)
(Fact: during a typical two year legislative session, the Assembly and Senate introduce over 10,000 bills. Only 100 are eventually signed into law. Since inception, NJOA has had at least one sportsmen’s oriented bill passed and signed into law, every session, with the exception of the current session which NJOA has two bills signed into law. Championed Proposals that are now REGULATIONS:
• Black Bear Management Policy
• Traps Off The Reef Regulation (November 2015)
Endorsed Projects that are now Benefiting Outdoor Minded Sportspeople:
• Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs (HOFNOD) Program
• Creation of a new ocean reef right outside Manasquan Inlet
• Statewide ‘Quail in the Classroom’ programs
• Currently helping to establish new reef construction in Delaware Bay
• Annual sponsor of the New Jersey Deer Classic
• Annual sponsor of the Division’s New Jersey Wild Outdoor Expo
Local Battles Won by NJOA to Protect the Rights of Outdoor Sportsmen and Sportswomen:
• Defeated an anti-duck hunting agenda that was wrongfully influencing town officials on the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers.
• Endorsement of a continued Monmouth County Parks Regulated Deer Management Hunt that was threatened by animal right extremists.
• Testified at Wall Township and Colts Neck meetings against the threat of anti-hunting ordinances. NJOA-EP Charity Events:
• Created a Wounded Warriors Hunt for Disabled New Jersey Veterans held annually at Hudson Farm.
• Restoration of Quail Habitat in Northern and Southern areas of New Jersey. Current Project: Landis Sewage Authority habitat restoration (a joint effort with National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Atlantic City Electric and NJOA – a five year project, in its second year);
• Created the Woman’s Educational Pheasant Hunt (introduces young women to pheasant hunting over trained dogs and handlers in a preserve setting to ensure their success. The event covers gun safety, shooting practice, an actual hunt, care of harvested game and how to prepare game for the table.
• Co-Sponsoring of a Major Annual Shark Fishing Tournament to benefit Reef Building off the NJ coast.
• Created the Ocean Reef Foundation of New Jersey
Other Issues that Required NJOA Involvement:
Beach Access fees at Island Beach State Park (agree)
Sand mining inshore lumps to create beach dunes (oppose)
Seismic testing, by NSF, offshore of Barnegat Inlet (oppose)
Gun control bills (oppose)
Saltwater fishing licenses and registration mandates (agree)
Striped bass 25% reduction mandate (agree)
Fluke limit size reduction of Island Beach State Park (agree)
Pequest hatchery furunculosis disease outbreak (agree)
The ‘beaver bill’ allowing increased trapping opportunities
Bills NJOA Helped Stop that Would Negatively Affect Outdoor Sportspeople:
Boat registration requirements (opposed)
