House Bill 243, the Vermont Families Afield bill, had its first hearing in the Senate today and will be voted on tomorrow morning by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve Adams (R- Hartland), will allow newcomers to try hunting under the close supervision of an experienced mentor prior to the completion of hunter education.
Similar bills have been enacted in 29 other states since the Families Afield initiative was started by the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation in 2004. The effort, which looks to reduce barriers to new hunters entering the field, has been a huge success across the country and has resulted in over 418,000 apprentice hunting licenses being sold to date.
Also supporting the effort in Vermont are the National Rifle Association, Vermont Traditions Coalition, and Ducks Unlimited.
Take Action! Vermont sportsmen should contact their state senators today to urge their support of HB 243. Tell them that this bill is an important step to ensure the next generation of Vermont hunters take to the field.
Please contact members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy:
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State Senator Virginia Lyons – Chair
(802) 863-6129 -
Senator Mark MacDonald – Vice Chair
(802) 433-5867 -
Senator Margaret Flory
(802) 483-6854 -
State Senator Richard McCormack
(802) 234-5497 -
State Senator Diane Snelling
(802) 482-4382
Also, to find your state senator’s contact information, visit the USSA Legislative Action Center at www.sportsmensalliance.org/lac.
For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at [email protected] or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications at [email protected].