STAGR Cast Shorts #21

Summary of Bill S.258

“The goals of this bill are to remove outdoors people from guidance of how we hunt, fish, and trap and to further reduce coyote hunting. It won’t stop here. Next year it will be more, and then more. For those who don't deal with these matters all the time it's important to know that all the Fish and Wildlife Board has authority over is HOW we are allowed to hunt, fish, and trap for certain species. The antis, in typical fashion continue to conflate the role of the board with the management of all wildlife.

Placing those opposed to the taking of wildlife on a board that only has authority over the taking of wildlife makes about as much sense as placing a barber in charge of pre-flight safety inspections on commercial airplanes. Nothing good will come of it.

-This bill disbands the Fish and Wildlife Board and dismisses all current members. It then creates a new advisory board and gives the authority to appoint 8 of the board members to the legislature, leaving four for the commissioner.

-The same legislature that has decided rural Vermonters and our right to hunt don’t matter would appoint 66% of board members.

-There will only be 12 members, leaving two counties without a representative.

-The law would require appointing “nonconsumptive” users, defined as people who do not hunt, fish, or trap.

-It removes existing language requiring the maintenance of the deer herd as a primary goal of the department.

-Finally, it makes it illegal to hunt coyotes over bait or with hounds.” - Vermont Traditions Coalition

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