Why It Matters: Introduced on January 12, 2024, Vermont Senate Bill 258 (S. 258) – An act relating to the management of Fish and Wildlife – proposed to transfer the authority to adopt rules for the taking of fish, wildlife, and fur-bearing animals from the Fish and Wildlife Board to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The bill recently passed the Senate and moved to the House where it (for now) has met its demise. Though there is a chance of the bill resurfacing during the June veto session, it is unlikely S. 258 will be resuscitated. At this point it appears our efforts delivered and have provided reason for great optimism for S. 258’s final demise.
Highlights:
- On May 10, 2024, S. 258 failed to move along in the legislative process in the Vermont legislature and, for all intents and purposes, is dead.
- In recent weeks, S. 258 had gone through many changes including the makeup of the Board from 14 to 15 members with one At Large member.
- The bill would have allowed for and demanded “balanced viewpoints” which would have opened seats to individuals who are philosophically opposed to hunting, angling, and/or trapping a seat on the Board.
- 258 maintained its call for the VT Fish and Wildlife Board to be an Advisory Board, only.
- Finally, a complete ban on coyote hunting with bait or dogs (previously stand-alone legislation in prior sessions) was also included in S. 258.
Introduced on January 12, 2024, Vermont Senate Bill 258 (S. 258) – An act relating to the management of Fish and Wildlife – proposed the transfer the authority to adopt rules for the taking of fish, wildlife, and fur-bearing animals from the Fish and Wildlife Board to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Even after S. 258 went though many amendments, it remained a significant threat to wildlife management and the sporting community in the Green Mountain state. The bill did nothing to address most of the major shortcomings of the original version, such as the rule making and season setting authority from the Board to the Department, allowing for anti-hunting, trapping and angling Board members, and to ban the hunting of coyotes with the aid of hounds and bait.
The Vermont Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, with Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) support, hosted a reception earlier this year that featured S. 258 prominently with several speakers from various organizations as well as the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, educating elected officials on the pitfalls with the bill. CSF also spearheaded an action alert with a wide range of conservation partners. CSF asked sportsmen and women in Vermont to encourage their elected officials to oppose S. 258 which resulted in thousands of letters from concerned Vermonters being sent to their elected officials. Though the immediate threat of S. 258 appears to have been put to rest for now, the strategy of attacking state fish and game boards or commissions has quickly become a perennial issue, and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s Board will likely be the focus of scrutiny from non-sporting and anti-hunting influences in the future. As previously reported, having a Board with members that are neutral on matters or even directly opposed to hunting, trapping, and fishing leads to obstructionism which, in turn, will potentially restrict access and opportunity for sportsmen and women. The pressure for “non-consumptive” representation on game commissions directly threatens the future of conservation in Vermont and in numerous other states where this issue has popped up in recent years.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation continues to work with the Vermont Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to staunchly oppose future misguided legislation and remains committed to thwarting efforts to subvert the mission and success of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board. CSF thanks its partners and the sporting community for rallying to our ACTION ALERT to ensure Vermonter’s voices were heard in Montpelier. CSF will remain keenly attentive throughout the coming weeks and engage aggressively, should there be an attempt to breathe life back into this, rightfully dead, legislation.
