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Commission OKs muzzleloading scopes
Thursday, Jan 17, 2008 – 12:54:58 pm CST
Deer hunters will be allowed to use magnifying scopes on their muzzleloading rifles next winter after a split vote Thursday of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Commissioners voted 5-3 to adopt perhaps the most significant change to blackpowder hunting in Nebraska since the December season started in 1989. Multipowered scopes not only will allow hunters to more accurately place shots, they will effectively double the lethal range of the rifles to about 250 yards.
The vote will be applauded by some hunters who say they need the scopes because of impaired eyesight. But others will decry the change, arguing modern scopes violate the traditions of hunting with close-range historic rifles and they will only encourage some people to take unethically long shots or hunt illegally from roadsides.
Many of the commissioners said the proposal triggered more calls and letters than any other controversy they have encountered on the board. They also generally agreed that roughly equal numbers of their constituents supported or opposed the proposal.
In addition, the commissioners heard about 50 minutes of testimony during a public hearing Thursday morning. Of the seven people who testified, five opposed multipowered scopes while two were in favor.
“This is a hard decision,” said Commissioner Lynn Berggren of Broken Bow. “This is tougher than what I do in business.”
Commission wildlife staff recommended the change because they annually receive requests to allow multipower scopes. Jim Douglas, administrator of the agency’s wildlife division, said the average age of Nebraska deer hunters is 42. Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, the agency must provide reasonable accommodations for people with visual disabilities or risk losing millions in federal money used for wildlife conservation in Nebraska. (for Monie)
The commission considered allowing impaired hunters to use the scopes on a case-by-case basis, but staff thought doing so would be administratively complicated and difficult to enforce.
About 16,000 people hunt with muzzleloaders in Nebraska. The commission expects that number to climb now that scopes are allowed, which was another reason they recommended the change. The agency has seen hunting permit sales, which help fund the commission’s work, decline over time.
Several commissioners expressed concerns that attracting more hunters, especially those who would potentially road hunt or trespass, could make private landowners less willing to tolerate a month-long muzzleloading season.
Commissioners voting for scopes were Gary Parker of Columbus, Mark Pinkerton of Wilber, George Hall of Bridgeport, James Ziebarth of Wilcox and Ron Stave of Omaha. Voting against were Berggren, Kent Forney of Lincoln and Jerrod Burke of Curtis.
“I think we are charged with trying to make it easier to hunt rather than more difficult,” Parker said.