The Vermont House Committee on Hunting, Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife could hear four bills impacting hunting, fishing and trapping in the state on Wednesday, April 7. The committee will take testimony on two anti-hunting bear bills the Sportsmen’s Alliance has learned. It’s imperative that sportsmen call and email committee members and voice their disapproval of all four bills, as well as provide testimony against the anti-hunting bear bills.
Take Action! Contact members of the Vermont House Committee on Hunting, Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife and urge them to reject these anti-hunting bills.
- Chair Amy Sheldon asheldon@leg.state.vt.us
- Vice Chair James McCullough jmccullough@leg.state.vt.us
- Harvey Smith hsmith@leg.state.vt.us
- Seth Bongartz sbongartz@leg.state.vt.us
- Nelson Brownell nbrownell@leg.state.vt.us
- Katherine Dolan kdolan@leg.state.vt.us
- Paul Lefebvre plefebvre@leg.state.vt.us
- Leland Morgan lmorgan@leg.state.vt.us
- Kristi Morris kmorris2@leg.state.vt.us
- Larry Satcowitz lsatcowitz@leg.state.vt.us
- Thomas Terenzini tterenzini@leg.state.vt.us
House Bill 172 would completely ban all recreational trapping and the hunting of black bears with hounds.
House Bill 316 would require a bear hunter to keep their hounds in both visual and vocal command distance at all times or face heavy fines and the loss of hunting privileges. This unrealistic requirement is, in reality, a ban on hunting bears using dogs.
House Bill 167 would create the Environmental Stewardship Board, which would include members from a wide range of organizations, including perhaps even anti-hunting and animal-rights activists. The new board would have the power to block and override the Secretary of the Fish and Wildlife Commission from implementing any rules and regulations impacting hunting, fishing and trapping.
House Bill 411 initially appears to be a reasonable wanton waste bill that has good intentions, but issues exist with some of the language and species covered, such as requiring hunters to salvage the edible portions of crows, which are specifically listed.
“Wildlife management belongs in the hands of trained wildlife biologists, not activists who abuse the legislative process and bog committees down with emotional rhetoric void of any scientific merit or foundation in wildlife management,” Bruce Tague, Sportsmen’s Alliance vice president of government affairs.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
