MSA Call to Action
Date: April 10, 2002
Attention: All hunters in MD, especially bowhunters,
duck hunters, and Kent County residents
Concerning: Management plan for Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area in
Kent County
Recommended Action: Contact DNR to support bow hunting and duck hunting in Sassafras
Contact: Raj Williams at rwilliams@dnr.state.md.us
Details:
On April 8, 2002 a DNR Public Meeting was held to “discuss future plans for the Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area (NRMA) in northern Kent County, including recommendations for future enhancements and the protection of sensitive resources in the area such as wildlife and wetlands.” 1
“The goal for the Sassafras NRMA is to incorporate land management practices that will protect, promote, and enhance the site’s natural and cultural resources while providing educational and recreational opportunities for the public.” 1
“Sassafras NRMA was purchased by the State in 1995 using Bay Access Funds. The NRMA is managed by DNR’s State Forest and Park Service as part of the Tuckahoe State Park complex. Currently, public access to the NRMA is limited due to lack of adequate facilities, parking and roadways. The draft Plan includes recommendations for resource management, public access, recreation, and education.” 1
The plan recommends creating 3 different areas in the 991-acre park: 1
1) Day-Use: Nature education, facility offices, restrooms, picnic areas
2) Natural-Use: Increase amount of natural habitat, with minimal
human impact
3) Multi-Use: Hiking, hunting, fishing, agriculture and wildlife
management
The plan for this park (one of the few public lands available in Kent County) is typical for a DNR NRMA: provide better access to the public while minimizing human impact on the land.
Priority One: Continue the current bow hunting opportunities in Sassafras
Currently bow-hunting is permitted on a limited basis (25 hunters at a time)
and currently these new plans will continue the practice of bow hunting. The MSA would like the help of Maryland’s hunters to insure that this remains the case -- to make sure DNR is not swayed by the inaccurate comments of various anti-hunting groups.
A minority amount of anti-hunters (mainly horseback riders and animal activists) were present at this public meeting. They expressed concerns about public safety during bow season, the policing of bow hunters “actions”, and expressed typical negative comments about hunting in general.
It is up to the hunters of Maryland to spread the truth about hunting. Please remind those involved that hunting is safe -- DNR’s estimates that a hunting accident occurs only once per 100,000 days of hunting. 2 Hunting accidents involving horseback riders and other non-hunters are non-existent.
It is important for all hunters, especially bow hunters, to defend our current hunting opportunities in Sassafras.
Priority Two: Increase hunting opportunities by allowing for the placement of duck
Blind sites in the Sassafras
DNR stated that they were “not closed to the idea” of allowing blind sites in Sassafras. The chances are slim due to limited road access, but duck hunters are encouraged to use this public comment time to make this request. The currents are too strong to allow for swimming, so hunting may prove to be one of the best recreational sports available for the water. If a large number of duck hunters speak out we may get some blinds.
Hunters – Please speak out to protect you hunting heritage
It is important that the hunters of Maryland speak out to protect our proud hunting heritage. It is important that the anti-hunters do not take Sassafras away from bow hunters. Duck blinds will, of course, be an added bonus.
Written comments will be accepted until May 8, 2002.
Please contact Raj Williams at DNR and ask her to continue to support hunting in Sassafras. As always, the MSA encourages all hunters of Maryland to behave in a professional manner that is reflective of our proud hunting heritage, especially when contacting our friends at DNR:
Raj Williams
Eastern Planning Chief
Department of Natural Resources
580 Taylor Ave. E-4,
Annapolis, MD 21401.
Thank you and God Bless,
Maryland Sportsmen’s Association
For more information regarding MSA please contact our President, Steve Huettner at shuettne@jhsph.edu or visit our website at www.marylandsportsmen.org
Sources used in this CTA:
1 http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2002/031302a.html
2 http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/safety.html
For more details of DNR’s proposed Sassafras NRMA Draft Land Unit Plan please see:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/sassafrasplan.html