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View Full Version : Animal Rights Activists Threaten To Take Seats on Fish and Game Council!


muskynut
01-12-2026, 01:23 PM
Please: VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION TO BILLS A6055/S4893

Summarizing a column by John Toth of Jersey Coast Anglers Association:

Animal rights groups threaten to change how we hunt and fish in NJ.

Fish and Game Council:

- has 11 members appointed by governor w/consent of Senate members
- 3 farmers, 6 sportsmen, one member of Endangered and Non-Game Species, and one Public member
-chosen based on extensive background and knowledge of fishing, hunting, land use, and soil conservation
-selected from different regions of NJ to ensure broad representation
-establish regulations ex. permits, seasons, bag limits, number of wildlife that can be harvested
-any changes to its composition will likely have a direct impact on management of fishing and hunting in NJ

2007: Assemblymen Panter and Senator Karcher introduce bills to reduce number of council members from 11 to 7 and include representation of animal rights activists; rallies were held throughtout the state to stop threats that would destroy fishing and hunting opportunities....bills were defeated and politicians were voted out of office

2025: bills A6055 and S4893 by Senator Raymond Lesniak are in our legislature that would replace three sportsmen from the Fish and Game Council with animal welfare advocates (this could curtail seasons to hunt deer and could reduce fishing seasons! Bear hunting seasons could also be curtailed/stopped outright.)

The new bills are being advanced during the Lame Duck Session of Governor Murphy leaving us not much time to organize opposition to these bills. During this Lame Duck Session, bills can be approved by Unanimous Consent when speakers of both the Assembly and Senate along with the Governor agree to pass the bill. The Lame Duck Session ends on January 15 2026 (this Thursday people!)

PLEASE! SEND A SHORT EMAIL TO THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATORS OPPOSING A6055/S4893....COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

As a NJ resident and strong supporter of science-based wildlife management, I write in opposition to Assembly Bill 6055 which would significantly alter the makeup of the New Jersey Fish and Game Council, the statutory body empowered to adopt the Fish and Game Code and provide for the conservation of fish and game within the state. Please OPPOSE Legislative Bills A6055/S4893 and protect:
-My access and rights
-Science based wildlife management
-Healthy wildlife and habitat

to each of the (4) state legislators listed below. You can cut and paste . VERY EASY!!!

1. Senator Nicholas P. Scutari, Senate President (LD22) 732-827-7480
SenScutari@njleg.org

2. ASM Craig J. Coughlin, Assembly Speaker (LS19) 732-855-7441
AsmCoughlin@njleg.org

3. Senator Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez, Economic Growth Chair 856-541-1251
SenCruzPerez@njleg.org

4. Asm William W. Spearman, Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture
Committee Chair 856-853-2960 AsmSpearman@njleg.org

PLEASE.....TAKE A FEW MINUTES....AND GET THIS DONE. THANK YOU

UNITED FRESHWATER ANGLERS OF NJ (UFANJ)
Last edited by muskynut; Today at 09:39 AM..
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togzilla
01-12-2026, 02:00 PM
DONE!!!!
God help that bucktooth scumbag Murphy if I ever see him in public.

Gerry Zagorski
01-12-2026, 02:12 PM
Well that didn't take long thanks for posting this

It didn't take long to copy and paste and send the emails either :D

One thing I would suggest is to personalize it some so it doesn't appear like a copy and paste form letter and will have more impact.

Things like

- Hunting and fishing contributes over 2.0 Billion to our states economy annually
- As someone who enjoys the outdoors, I don't feel like people who are not outdoor enthusiasts themselves, should be part of the council that makes decisions on our behalf.

RU fan
01-12-2026, 05:35 PM
Done...thanks for putting the info out there.

What else can they screw up!

Gerry Zagorski
01-12-2026, 05:40 PM
Done...thanks for putting the info out there.

What else can they screw up!

Oh plenty if we sit back and allow them to. People need to get involved and glad you did....

Who else is going to stand up?

Gerry Zagorski
01-12-2026, 06:00 PM
And let's try an hold back on the political name calling, partisanship and rhetoric here. Take the higher ground and fight it on merit instead or we become part of the problem and not the solution...

AndyS
01-23-2026, 09:57 PM
Go to live meetings !!

https://www.njsfsc.org/

Angler Paul
01-23-2026, 10:50 PM
The bill did not make it out of the recent session so it would have to be re- introduced in the next session. Nothing to worry about for the time being but we must remain vigilant. Paul Haertel, JCAA Past President

hammer4reel
01-24-2026, 05:50 PM
The bill did not make it out of the recent session so it would have to be re- introduced in the next session. Nothing to worry about for the time being but we must remain vigilant. Paul Haertel, JCAA Past President

Vigilant means actually staying up on it . It was reintroduced this month

Gerry Zagorski
01-25-2026, 11:16 AM
Vigilant means actually staying up on it . It was reintroduced this month

Well here we go again!

Gerry Zagorski
01-25-2026, 03:39 PM
Update... Apparently this was an AI generated statement and it's wrong and used dated information. The bills are not in the state legislative data base at this time.

hammer4reel
01-25-2026, 09:34 PM
Update... Apparently this was an AI generated statement and it's wrong and used dated information. The bills are not in the state legislative data base at this time.


Not sure that’s totally accurate . If you search the bill it shows its status update won’t show yet for the 2026-2027 session . Because of 24-25 just closing .

There is info out saying those bills were immediately brought up for the new session

Says only brand new bills first introduced are shown in the current session

Gerry Zagorski
01-27-2026, 04:59 PM
Not sure that’s totally accurate . If you search the bill it shows its status update won’t show yet for the 2026-2027 session . Because of 24-25 just closing .

There is info out saying those bills were immediately brought up for the new session

Says only brand new bills first introduced are shown in the current session

I reached out to David Glass from CLB to see what he knows and will report back here.

Gerry Zagorski
01-28-2026, 11:40 AM
It appears most of these Bills are still in Committee, the Committee reviews and decides if they will proceed with their approval at which time meetings are held for discussion and public comment. If they decide to continue in the process they do another reading pass it along to Assembly more discussion and then eventually a vote.

Below from David Glass CLB Partners.

S2752 (this session) - 01/13/2026 – Introduced and referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee

A6055/S4893 (last session) S471/No Assembly version intro'd yet (This session) 01/13/2026 – Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

A1142/S2754 (last session) No versions have been intro'd this session yet

A184 (last session) S1699 (this session) - I didn't read the bill, but based on the sponsor and title I think this is bill positive for hunters so looks like AI had it wrong. 01/13/2026 – Introduced and referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee