Correction: Bill retains prohibitions against baiting coyotes and hunting them with dogs. An earlier version of this story erroneously stated that the amended version of the bill eliminated the ban.
by Guy Page
The Vermont Senate at noon today gave preliminary approval of an amended version of S.258, the ‘management of fish and wildlife’ bill.
The amendment was written by Sen. Chris Bray (D-Addison), chair of Natural Resources and Energy, after it became clear the original version lacked the votes. Sen. Richard Sears (D-Bennington) is among the senators who said the amended version turned their no into a yes.
The amended version still removes rulemaking authority from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board, and gives it to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. It gives the board what Bray calls an “enhanced” advisory role. The new version restores appointment power of 14 members to the governor, and creates two new seats appointed by the Legislature.
The amended version creates detailed guidelines aimed at “balanced” appointment of members from among both licensed and un-licensed (non-hunting, fishing, trapping) Vermonters, and emphasizes their recognition of the dangers climate change poses to wildlife and habitat. It requires training of unspecified length, content and cost.
The amended version approved this morning includes prohibitions against trapping and hunting coyotes.
The bill passed 21-8 with Republican senators Brock, Collamore, Ingalls, Norris, Starr (Dem/R), Weeks, Westman and Williams voting no. Sen. Dick Mazza was not present. All other senators voted yes.
“If this bill passes, it’s the ending of hunting as we know it in Vermont,” Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) said. He predicted the State would gradually stop hunting of coyotes, bear, rabbits and bobcats – “a death by a thousand cuts.”
Ingalls also predicted that many Vermonters – including the 79,000 licensees – will remember in November. His statement drew a complaint from Sen. Sears, who said that ‘threats’ have no place on the Senate floor. Senate moderator Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman didn’t sustain Sears’ complaint, but did ask Ingalls to stay on the topic of the bill.
“I think this bill is a solution in search of a problem,” Sen. Terry Williams (R-Rutland) said. As a younger man he was an assistant game warden, he hunts now, and he said the health and overall quality of the deer herd has never been better than under the care of the Fish & Wildlife Board.
It is unclear whether Gov. Scott will veto the bill.
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Categories: Legislation
No surprise n Vermont isn’t Vermont anymore.
THAT’S FOR SURE
this bill needs to go to court , for one thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is the end of it where it has coyote regulations and rules, this totally goes against or contradicts the rest of the bill where it states we need to go by sound science and biology , this is a emotion set part of the bill , i want to see proof that coyotes are in any danger of being wiped out , the fact of the matter from having many cameras out there and spending time in woods so much is that theres over populations and so many all over the state suffering from mange , its about balance and today we have more predators then any time in any of our lives , and when we have to many other life suffers or disapears like hares, rabbits , other small animals , pets , farm critters even fish toads frogs and turtles , without hunting or trapping these critters it starts a chain reaction that will effect wildlife as we know it , the fact is that why everyone can enjoy seeing the wildlife they see is a direct result of good fish and wildlife management, hunters trappers and fisherman who put millions of dollars into wildlife management so all can enjoy and animals and the animals left to live can be healthy and not suffer disease or starvation
I beg to differ with you Todd. In my opinion it’s not that Vermont isn’t Vermont any more, It’s more because Vermonters are not Vermonters any more.
moving the deck chairs will just keep you confused/// senator sears can not have any complaints/// he spent too much time saving young children and can not deal with adults///
This bill, while weakened, is still a win for animal rights groups who are insidiously boiling our frog. They will be back next year for whatever they do not get this year. And if they get all they ask for next year, they will be back the year after with a fresh traunch of orders for their dupes . With every bill that is passed, we are losing this battle much the same as we are losing our 2nd Amendment rights. These disingenuous usurpers of the rights of the people have to be voted out !
It’s onward to the House now.
Will they really remember in November? Let’s see.
“Ingalls also predicted that many Vermonters – including the 79,000 licensees – will remember in November. His statement drew a complaint from Sen. Sears, who said that ‘threats’ have no place on the Senate floor.” Hey Dick Sears that’s NOT a threat that’s a PROMISE!!
Senator Sears did not take kindly to the invocation of the memory of Peter Smith, and the reaction by Vermont sportsmen to his back stabbing.
remember in november sign is on my wood pile, and will stay there until election/// sears is like a wart that never leaves///
Buckle up folks! Bans are in the works as we speak..1) A revisit on banning all forms of trapping because they didn’t get what they wanted. 2) Bear hunting with dogs- then bear hunting altogether ,3) Archery hunting, 4) muzzleloader hunting, 5) Everything else.. These groups are not stopping. Vote common sense Republican in EVERY election! Democrats are on a mission.. SCREW ALL RURAL VERMONTERS… THEIR VALUES DO NOT MATTER!
TAKE BACK VERMONT!
Don’t forgot coyote hunting with dogs, and/or bait. You are right. These people will not stop even if they achieve their stated goals. Their goal posts are not set in concrete, they are easily moved .
I will remember in November ! My Family ,my friends ,coworkers that I keep sharing nonstop whether they hunt or not .The extremists are whittling away your rights. .Remember WHo has done this to our state .
take back vermont sign is on the front of my garage/// it has been there a long time///
To all the hunters who don’t vote or vote for Commiecrats. Don’t worry, they are not going to take your M700 Remington with the scope on it that your grandaddy left you. Well at least not until they reclassify it a SNIPER RIFLE>
Or until they have outlawed out MSRs.
This is not the Vermont I remember. My question, if you can’t hunt coyotes will the deer eventually disappear because the coyotes will be killing off the pups?
Our four fathers who shaped this great state must be puking in their grave watching this bunch destroy Vermont
I agree with you 100%.
They think they have budget challenges now, wait to see the impact on the wildlife management areas, boat access areas, etc. when license sales diminish and Vermonters take their revenue elsewhere.