Dual Families Afield bills in North Carolina–House Bill 296, sponsored by Representative John Bell (R-Goldsboro), and Senate Bill 234, sponsored by E.S. Buck Newton (R-Wilson)—are one step closer to becoming law. The companion measures would create a Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permit to allow new hunters to try hunting under the guidance of a licensed adult mentor before taking hunter education.
Last week, House Bill 296 passed out of the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate Bill 234 passed out of the Senate. Both bills passed with unanimous support.
Because both chambers passed their own version of the identical bills, either the House or the Senate will still need to pass the opposite chambers bill before it heads to the governor’s desk.
“These measures are extremely important for the future of hunting and getting new folks into our ranks,” said Evan Heusinkveld, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Director of Government Affairs. “Apprentice hunting is not only successful at recruiting and retaining new hunters, but it’s also been shown to be approximately 5-times safer than the general hunting population because of the mentorship requirement.”
If passed, North Carolina would become the 35th state to pass Families Afield legislation making it easier to pass along our great hunting heritage.
The Families Afield initiative was established by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation to bring a new generation of sportsmen to the field. Along with the National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the coalition has worked to pass measures in 34 states with more than one million apprentice licenses sold since the program’s inception.