South Carolina Rep. Bobby Cox’s (R- Greer) House Bill 3800), which would allow apprentice hunting for unlimited number of years, was passed without objection by the state House of Representatives on April 3.
Take Action Today! South Carolina members should contact their state senators and ask them to vote YES on House Bill 3800. Members can contact their representative by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Center.
The House Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs Committee approved the bill on March 27. The House amended the bill to allow non-residents to purchase a three-day apprentice license as well. Currently, South Carolina only allows for apprentice hunting for one year. HB 3800 has been sent to the Senate and referred to the Fish, Game and Forestry Committee.
“HB 3800 will provide an effective tool to help recruit and retain new hunters,” said Luke Houghton, associate director of state services for Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Passage of this bill will allow South Carolina to join its neighboring states in providing the opportunity for apprentices to try hunting for several years. It’s an approach that has worked well in many states, and will also do well in South Carolina. Our members and partners will be asking the South Carolina Senate to act quickly on HB 3800.”
HB 3800 is supported by the national Families Afield effort, which is led by the Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. This coalition has successfully championed mentored or apprentice hunting laws in 41 states since the Families Afield program was launched in 2005, and has resulted in more than 2.2 million apprentice licenses sold. Research on apprentice hunting has consistently revealed that allowing people to purchase an apprentice license for three or more years results in a much higher rate of conversion to hunter education and the purchase of a regular hunting license.
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.