vehicle damages, injuries and loss of life due to
collisions with deer
WVFB recommends the elimination of any costsharing program specifically designed to enhance the
deer population.
88. ELK MANAGEMENT
West Virginia Farm Bureau believes that elk
should not be a protected species in West Virginia.
89. WILD BIRDS
The term, “wild bird,” shall include only those
birds that are hatched in the wild and at no time of
their lives are pen-raised.
90. BEAR SEASON
West Virginia Farm Bureau believes the bear
population should be maintained at or below the
“cultural carrying capacity” of the range.
91. TRESPASS & HUNTING LAW
ENFORCEMENT
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends that
trespass and hunting laws be strictly enforced and
that minimum trespass penalties be increased to $500.
92. PALESTINE BASS HATCHERY
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends the
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR)
continue to use and upgrade the Palestine Hatchery
located in Wirt County.
93. SUNDAY HUNTING
West Virginia Farm Bureau is opposed to hunting
on Sunday.
94. NONRESIDENT HUNTING & FISHING
LICENSES
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the concept
that landowners, the children and grandchildren of
landowners, and the parents of landowners shall not
be required to purchase hunting or fishing licenses to
hunt or fish on their own property.
26 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
95. CLEAN WATER ACT AND
AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY
PROGRAMS
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the concept
of cleaning up West Virginia water. The current
focus of the Clean Water Act should remain that
of achieving fishable and swimmable standards.
Standards should not result in unfunded mandates
for landowners or city and county governments
and should be subject to sound cost/benefit and risk
assessment analysis.
The Clean Water Act should not alter state water
rights and should encourage state control over these
programs. Efforts to address nonpoint runoff should
target impaired watersheds using a worst-case first
approach. Efforts to control phosphorous content of
runoff water should be applied to ALL contributors.
West Virginia Farm Bureau will not condone the
intentional pollution of any water sources.
Any permitting system (such as CAFOs) should
be based on scientific evidence that a problem exists
before permitting is required.
Farm Bureau wants to ensure that the
Interpretative Rule regarding the nomination process
for Tier 3 streams is followed, including individual
notification of landowners affected and current
scientific data regarding the stream(s) involved.
96. WATER USE AND RIGHTS
West Virginia should continue the use of the
riparian rights doctrine, giving humans, domesticated
livestock and crops top priority.
97. WETLANDS
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends
there be uniform criteria for all agencies to use in
designating wetlands. We also recommend that all
land designated as wetlands be purchased at full
market value or owners compensated for the loss of
use. Land historically used for agriculture should be
considered converted farmland and not be subject to
wetlands regulations.
Farm Bureau recommends that counties currently
requiring mandatory storm water management plans
monitor and enforce these plans to assure compliance
in meeting the intended function and requirements of
the permit. Any economic damage caused by failure