Equal access for D.C.?

I have a feeling the idea won’t go over, but if Rep. Jeff Miller, Florida Republican, has his way with something he calls the Equitable Access for D.C. Hunters Act, D.C. residents would be allowed to hunt wild game in Virginia or Maryland at those states’ resident license rates. The congressman’s office said he already has 23 co-sponsors.

I have no idea whether Miller bothered to ask the states in question how they feel about this. After all, it would be a sharp departure from current practice to make special laws that allow residents from one area of the United States to hunt game in another part and never pay more than resident fees, which are considerably lower than nonresident license costs.

In fact, if Miller’s proposal passes muster, I would like him to propose another law. Allow all Maryland and Virginia residents to hunt ducks, wild hogs and bobcats in Florida but at Maryland or Virginia resident license costs. Better yet, how about a change in the law to let us hunt in Idaho and Montana using only our resident licenses? Could you please do that, Mr. Congressman?

The fact that District residents must now pay nonresident fees in the two states touching the capital city is no different than me — a Marylander — paying much more than $120 every year to hunt in Virginia.

As regards the District hunters having to shell out higher dollar amounts to visit their neighbors’ lands, Miller said, “It”s a small inequity that probably only affects a small number of people. However, they should be given the same opportunity to buy hunting licenses.”

I don’t know how the D.C. Council and Mayor Adrian Fenty feel about this, but Miller also would have the D.C. government reimburse Maryland and Virginia for any lost revenues as a result of such a new law. The measure has been referred to both the House Natural Resources and the Oversight and Government Reform committees.

Three cheers for the president — President Bush has issued an executive order that directs federal agencies to do more concerning hunting opportunities available to Americans. He wants various offices to “work more diligently to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat.”

And no one is more pleased with the president’s executive order than the National Rifle Association.

“On behalf of NRA members, gun owners and hunters, I’d like to thank President Bush for his steadfast support of national hunter heritage protection policies,” said Chris W. Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist. “As a lifelong hunter, the president appreciates the essential life lessons learned in the field and [the] countless benefits realized by America’s hunting families. In addition, President Bush understands that hunters are the nation’s true conservationists.”

Amen to that.

New striper deal for the Flats — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board has approved a Maryland proposal to open a two-week recreational fishery for the Susquehanna Flats, located outside the Susquehanna River mouth, not far from Havre de Grace.

The Susquehanna Flats has been limited to catch-and-release fishing in the spring, but from next May 16 through 31, a new fishery will be allowed. You will be permitted to keep one rockfish in the 18- to 26-inch slot limit. The state says the harvest will be monitored, and it will count toward the bay-wide quota for resident striped bass.

Super outdoors numbers — According to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, more than 87 million Americans — or 38 percent of the U.S. population age 16 or older — hunted, fished or observed wildlife.

Imagine what would happen if all those people voted for the same presidential candidate — what a landslide it would be. But I’ve yet to see any of the candidates courting anglers and hunters.

c Look for Gene Mueller’s Outdoors column Sunday and Wednesday and his Fishing Report on Thursday, only in The Washington Times. E-mail: gmueller@washingtontimes.com.