Legislation to establish an apprentice hunting program in New Jersey was signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie on Monday, Aug. 10. Passage of the bill makes New Jersey the 39th state to enact Families Afield legislation.
Senate Bill 573 creates an apprentice hunting license that will allow new hunters aged 14 or older to hunt under the guidance of a mentor that is 21 years old or older. An individual will be allowed to buy an apprentice license two times in their lifetime, providing two license years for the person to become hooked on the sport and transition into a full license buyer.
“We are excited at the prospects of New Jersey joining the ranks of Families Afield states,” said Adam Wright, Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “The state of New Jersey will certainly benefit from the increased recruitment of new hunters this program has proven to bring about.”
Led by the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, sportsmen in New Jersey worked tirelessly over the course of several years to pass Senate Bill 573.
“Senate Bill 573 is a great win for the future of hunting and wildlife conservation in New Jersey,” said Frank Virgilio with the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. “Our members devoted countless hours to pass this legislation, and we are looking forward to this program positioning New Jersey on the leading edge of hunter recruitment efforts in the nation.”
Families Afield is a state by state legislative effort to decrease the barriers that prevent many potential hunters from taking to the field. The hallmark of the program is the creation of apprentice hunting programs that allow new hunters to try hunting under the watchful eye of an experienced mentor before completing a hunter education course.
Families Afield was initiated in 2004 by the Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and National Wild Turkey Federation. It is also supported by the National Rifle Association and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Nationwide, the Families Afield program has been a wild success, resulting in nearly 1.5 million new hunters buying apprentice licenses since its inception.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization and protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. The Sportsmen’s Alliance 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 and Twitter.