The Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act

You’ll remember a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the Biden administration’s Department of Education (DOE) was withholding federal education funding from K-12 schools which had Hunter Education (HE), Archery in the Schools, culinary arts programs, and other classes where the use of “dangerous weapons” was involved in the teaching of the material.

The curriculums of the various programs taught the safe use and handling of firearms, the proper use of archery equipment, how to cook and other things. Congress passed a law last year titled the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). The BSCA amended existing federal law to prohibit some federal education funds from being used for training someone “in the use of a dangerous weapon.” The intent of the law had nothing to do with the existing HE or other similar programs. An official with the DOE told state educators that this prohibition would apply to extracurricular courses at elementary and secondary schools.

In the opinion of almost everyone, the DOE interpretation of the law was misinformed. Congress called on the DOE to rethink their actions, but nothing changed – the funding was cancelled.

The congressional reaction was to draft The Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act (PHHEA) which amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to clarify that the prohibition on the use of Federal education funds for certain weapons does not apply to the use of such weapons for training in archery, hunting, other shooting sports, or culinary arts. (Culinary arts were included because federal law defines dangerous weapons to include knives with blades longer than 2.5 inches).

House sponsor Rep. Mark Green argued that the legislation was necessary to protect funding for these courses in the wake of the 2022 BSCA. “The Biden administration’s reckless misinterpretation of the Safer Communities Act unfairly targeted archery and shooting sports in K-12 schools,” he said in a speech on the House floor. “Democrats and Republicans agree, the Biden administration missed the target—by a long shot. Under the Department of Education’s current interpretation of the law, other school activities like fencing and the culinary arts would also be at risk. This is unacceptable.”

In today’s climate of dissension and disagreement in Congress between the two political parties, a rare occurrence happened. The two parties came together and overwhelmingly passed the PHHEA. The vote was unanimous in the Senate and in the House the count was 424 to 1 in support of this bill. The lone dissenter was a democratic congressperson from Texas.

“We will allow students in Arizona and all across the country to enjoy school-based hunting and archery programs just as the law intended,” independent Senator Krysten Sinema said as she requested unanimous approval for her bill. Considering the overwhelming congressional support for this legislative correction, President Biden has stated he will sign the law.

It's refreshing to finally see some common sense being displayed in our nation’s capital.

On another positive note, registration mountain goat hunting permits for Game Management Unit 14A will be available starting October 3, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Permits will be available in person in the Palmer Department of Fish and Game office. As of Monday, October 2, 2023, 5 billies and 1 nanny have been harvested in the Chugach Mountains drawing permit hunts DG890 and DG891.

Based on survey information collected in July, this year’s quota for mountain goats in Unit 14A is 14 goat points. Under the goat-point management system, billies (males) count for one goat point and nannies (females) count as two goat points. Drawing permit hunts DG890 and DG891 will close on October 31. Given the low harvest and available goat points, biologists have determined that registration permits will be made available to increase harvest opportunity. Permits will be available for resident and nonresident hunters.

Also, registration moose permits for the Ship Creek drainage in Unit 14C (RM435) will be available online to the first 100 qualified hunters beginning at 8:00 am on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. For 2023, permits will be available only online until all permits are issued. Permits will not be available in-person at the Anchorage ADF&G office.

The permit is open to any qualified Alaska resident or non-resident and is non-transferable. Season dates are Oct. 25 to Nov. 30, 2023; however, the hunt will be closed by emergency order when the harvest quota is reached. The quota will be announced after the closure of early season hunts and prior to RM435 opening. Access to the hunt area is limited and the terrain is extremely demanding.