(AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman has vetoed a bill that would outlaw mountain lion hunting in Nebraska.

In a message to lawmakers on Friday, Heineman said the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission should have the power to manage the mountain lion population for the health and safety of residents. Nebraska approved its mountain lion hunting season in 2012, with then-unanimous support in the Legislature.

Heineman says he also was concerned that the bill could be unconstitutional because of a recent statewide vote that placed hunting, fishing and trapping rights in the Nebraska constitution.

The bill to end the season was introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers. Chambers, of Omaha, has said the mountain lions pose no real threat to humans.