UPDATE! House Bill 4523 passed out of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee this week and will now move to the House Judiciary Committee where it awaits a hearing.
Legislation introduced in West Virginia by State Delegate Amy Summers would allow mentored hunters to purchase an apprentice hunting or apprentice trapping license for an unlimited number of times.
Take Action Today! West Virginia sportsmen should call their state delegates and ask them to Support House Bill 4523. West Virginia members can contact their delegates by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Directory.
Under current West Virginia law, a mentored hunter can only purchase an apprentice hunting or trapping license three times. Mentored hunting is one of the most effective ways to introduce new sportsmen to the outdoors. Mentored hunters are proven to be six times safer when in the field, and more likely to continue hunting when they learn under an experienced hunter.
“Mentored hunting is the cornerstone of the Families Afield program, an initiative led by the Sportsmen’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Rifle Association and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. The program has successfully championed mentored or apprentice hunting laws in 41 states since the Families Afield program was launched in 2005, and has resulted in nearly 2.5 million apprentice licenses sold,” said Jacob Hupp associate director of state services for Sportsmen’s Alliance.
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.