JUST IN CASE the Sunday hunting bills make it out of committee, we need to gear up to stop it from getting through the legislature. One of the hunters presented a petition signed by 3,000 hunters. He's been gathering signatures since October. Obviously, the "opposition" didn't have a chance to do that since we didn't have the luxury of knowing that the legislation would be introduced. But we can make up for lost time. If you have any chapter meetings coming up, or birding outings coming up, circulate a petition. It need only say: We are opposed to S.B. 566 and H.B. 906. We are opposed to Sunday hunting in Maryland. I'm going to suggest to the equestrians and orienteering groups that they do the same. Even if the bills don't make it out of committee, it won't be time and effort wasted because we were told (threatened?) that it would be back next year. Now, I personally believe that's unlikely. No sponsor wants to waste time and political capital on bringing back bills that were hotly opposed and that only recently were defeated. But it could very well happen, so we can always use the petitions next year. In fact, in anticipation of this coming up again next year, could someone who is going (Gail?) please circulate a petition at the MOS annual conference? If you send them to me, I'll be sure they get copied and get to the legislature. Thanks. Ellen (my address is 3713 Chevy Chase Lake Drive, Apt. 3, Chevy Chase, MD 20815) -- Ellen Paul Executive Director The Ornithological Council Mailto:epaul@dclink.com Ornithological Council Website: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET "Providing Scientific Information about Birds"