Barbour officially vetoes deer baiting bill

Gov. Haley Barbour had said he would veto House Bill 1089, which allows deer hunting over bait, and Friday the message was delivered to the Legislature. My boss, Sun Herald Political Editor Geoff Pender, wrote a pretty solid piece on the issue in Sunday's paper.

Here is the text of Barbour's veto message:

To the Members of the House of Representatives:

Governor's Veto Message for House Bill 1089

I am returning House Bill 1089: "AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE BAITING
OF DEER ON PRIVATE LANDS AND ALLOW THE HUNTING OF DEER OVER BAIT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; TO
REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF BAITING AND REPORT
TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-33.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED
PURPOSES".

After full consideration, I am vetoing House Bill 1089, which requires the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to allow the killing of deer with the aid of bait.

I consider hunting deer over bait to be an issue of both science and ethics. My personal view is that hunting deer with the aid of bait is not consistent with the sportsman's hunting tradition of fair chase.

Nevertheless, one year ago, I signed into law a bill to put the decision about hunting deer with bait in the hands of the professionals instead of in the hands of the politicians. Last year's bill required the Wildlife Commission to regulate supplemental feeding of all wild animals and game birds. That legislation also authorized, but did not require, the Commission to study the issue of deer baiting and determine an outcome.

The Wildlife Commission has deliberated on this issue over the last year by consulting biologists, studying available science,
seeking hunter preference, and researching the result of policies adopted in other states. The proposed supplemental feeding
regulations released by the Commission this week satisfy the requirements of last year's bill. The next step is to invite comment and provide the public an opportunity to express concerns, voice support, and/or ask questions on the proposed regulations.

Due to the importance of this matter, I encourage all Mississippians who are interested in this decision to actively participate in the public comment process on the proposed supplemental feeding regulations. Following the public comment period, the Wildlife Commission will make a final decision.

This policy decision is best made by wildlife professionals and scientists, not by politicians. Therefore, the authority to legalize hunting with the aid of bait should remain with the Commission.

For these reasons, I urge the members to reject House Bill 1089 and to sustain my veto.

Respectfully submitted,

HALEY BARBOUR
GOVERNOR