Senator Lamar Alexander, On Heels Of Successful Frredom To Fish Act, Introduces "Shoot And Revive" Hunting Bill

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) stepped up his efforts to aid sportsmen in the Volunteer State by introducing the Shoot and Revive Hunting Act of 2013. Alexander, fresh from the smashing success of his recently passed Freedom to Fish Act, allowing people to fish downstream of dams, said the new bill was a "giant step forward" in placing hunting in the same conservation-friendly position as fishing.

Fishermen everywhere are used to the "Catch and Release" concept, whereby fish are de-hooked and returned to the water after being caught. Apparently, word has spread from below the surface of the water to the fish's brethren above ground.

The Shoot and Revive program "will allow hunters to use manual and, if necessary, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive animals that have been shot and wounded; the animals would then be returned to the wild," Alexander said in an interview yesterday. "We are going to begin it with ducks and geese shot down from the air. Hunters will revive them and throw them back into the sir, preferably high enough to give them a good sendoff."

Alexander said that if the concept proves successful on waterfowl, it can eventually be extended to rabbits, squirrels, even deer.

"It's best to start slowly, and do it one step at a time," he said. "it takes a certain skill to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a duck or a goose, especially if it has been shot. Hunters will have to be properly trained, both in the method and their demeanor in dealing with the wounded animal.

"We can move on to deer later, even bear, since we now have a limited bear season. But there is no point in rushing until we know how to so it right. Let's not get too radical too quickly. One of our Michigan senators wanted to start it on wolverines right away. I suggested we evolve in that direction."

The bill, if passed, will take effect by the end of the year, in time for the new waterfowl hunting seasons.