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JULY 4 OFTEN MARKS the beginning of the sweltering peak of sum- mer, when many anglers rest the fishing tackle and hunters tune up rifles and shotguns or mend gear.

We'll use this week to report on a few news notes and wish everyone a safe and most joyful celebration of America's independence.

Just as we honor the service of America's fighting men and women, July 4 is a wonderful opportunity to project ourselves back a couple of centuries and appreciate the risk and the guts it took for America's founding fathers and a nation of farmers and patriots to pursue freedom. Let's also remember not to take for granted those freedoms set forth in our constitution.

This nation was built, largely, by people who knew how to hunt, fish and provide. This ethic is still important to many today.

The U.S. Sportsman's Alliance does a great job in monitoring political activity related to our ability to sustain this outdoor life-style. It reported Tuesday about two bills introduced in Congress this week that would help protect the rights of sportsmen to hunt on federal land while also recognizing hunting's importance to all conservation.

The Hunting Heritage Protection Act, is made up of Senate bill 1348, sponsored by Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), and H.R. 3046, sponsored by Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.).

Chambliss' bill would establish a requirement for federal land to be managed in a way that supports, promotes and enhances access for hunting. It mandates an annual report be submitted to Congress detailing limitations imposed on hunting federal lands.

The continued effort merits appreciation. USSA President and CEO Bud Pidgeon, noted, "In a time where access to suitable hunting land is becoming increasingly difficult, this legislation goes a long way towards curtailing that trend and guaranteeing current or increased hunting opportunities are available today and tomorrow."

Anti-hunting organizations, such as Born Free, start pounding their jungle drums encouraging their constituencies to contact elected officials, warning "federal management of wildlife on public lands should not fall prey to special interests."

Hunting, a "special interest?" George Washington, Daniel Boone, and the others who occasionally preferred to wear buckskin must turn over in their graves at drivel like this.