Vermont Federation is a party to an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court of the United States

The Vermont Federation is a party to an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court of the United States filed this morning.

 

The Federation previously joined in amicus briefs to the SCOTUS briefs in Heller v. District of Columbia and McDonald v. City of Chicago.

Randolph Fish & Game Club Archery League

The Randolph Fish & Game Club is currently looking for new members for our archery league and I was hoping you could help me spread the word. I have attached a PDF of a poster in hopes you may have a place for it. It's getting harder and harder to find guys and girls doing this and we are exploring new ways to attract attention to keep our archery spirit alive!

 

Thanks for your consideration,

 

Jon Lemieux

 

 

Lamoille Club event revised for posting

 

NRA Day, Sun. July 23rd 9-Noon 

 

Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club

Introduces families to shooting sports in a safe and structured environment.

Try Rifle, Pistol, Skeet OR all three.

All equipment and supplies provided by the NRA.

 

at 1156 Garfield Road, Morrisville, 1+/- mile off of Route 15. 

Federation Award to Vermont Game Warden of the Year Senior Warden Rich Watkin, Ph.d

A framed commemorative hunting postcard set as awarded to Vermont Game Warden of the Year, Senior Warden Rich Watkin, Ph.D., of Wilmington, is presented the Federation Annual Award to the Game Warden of the Year by Chris Bradley, President of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Club.  In the background is Commissioner Louis Porter and Major George Scribner.   The frame set is a commemorative set of stamps and U.S. Postal Service, Special Cancellation of Vermont Hunter Appreciation Day, September 23, 2005.

The award presentation took place at the Federation's Annual Meeting at the Barre F&G Club on Sunday, July 9.  An image of the award is an attachment to this E-mail.

The award is set is a special framed set of hunting commemorative postmarked stamps.  The postcards bear the logo of the NRA-ILA and NSSF and display a special 

postmark is on a stamp of a wild turkey, a white-tail deer and a black bear.  The commemorative postmark, an image of two wild turkeys and a buck, was created by 

a Vermont postmaster, approved by the U.S.Postal Service, placed on the postage stamps, all in recognition of Vermont Hunter Appreciation Day. September 23, 2005.    

Vermont Hunter Appreciation Day was established by a Joint Resolution by the Vermont Legislature and signed into law by Governor James Douglas.

Gov. Douglas was presented with an identical framed stamp set at the Vermont Hunter Appreciation Day ceremony in the state house on September 23, 2005.

Federation Annual Meeting -Sunday, 07/09/17-Warning & Agenda (Prize Drawing)

VERMONT FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS, INC.

Proudly Serving Vermont Since 1875

 

Officers of Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs member clubs, along with all delegates for which we have email addresses are hereby notified that the VTFSC will be having its Monthly meeting on Sunday, July 9, 2017 at the Barre Fish & Game Club starting at 10 AM. 

If your club has not yet appointed a Delegate - please consider doing so - your club's input is invaluable guidance as we navigate legislative issues. Please plan on being in attendance or have someone from your club attend, as well as, review the proposed agenda, which has been included as an attachment. Attached you shall also find June 11 minutes from the last meeting. 

 

This meeting is our Annual meeting; We shall be electing officers and directors. Your club must be in "Good-Standing" in order to vote. Please note that the new application is also inclusive. All clubs are hereby informed that they must complete and submit an application for 2017 with your dues of $50.00. Please list your delegates and contact information – it is vital that you complete the form in its entirety. You may bring the application and dues with you and submit them to me before the start of the meeting in order to classify your member club in 'Good Standing'. Member clubs "At-Large" shall come prepared with dues and an application in order to participate in the Annual Drawing with the prize of a Thompson Center .50 Magnum Muzzle Loader - Triumph Model. 

 

We are so very excited to honor Senior Warden Rich Watkin, Ph.D. - Vermont Fish and Wildlife 2017 Game Warden of the Year! Deputy Chief Game Warden Major George Scribner shall also be present. I do hope you can attend!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Dwina "Dee" Medina Warren

Secretary - VTSFC

 

Youth Hunter Education Challenge is May 14

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Rogers, Tom" <Tom.Rogers@vermont.gov>
Date: May 2, 2017 10:06 AM
Subject: Youth Hunter Education Challenge is May 14
To: "Pellegrini, John" <John.Pellegrini@vermont.gov>
Cc:

VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE

Press Release

 

For Immediate Release:  May 2, 2017

Media Contact:  John Pellegrini 802-272-2909

 

Youth Hunter Education Challenge is May 14

 

WOODBURY, Vt. – Youth hunters hoping to hone their skills are encouraged to attend the 2017 NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge at Green Mountain Conservation Camp in Woodbury, VT on Sunday, May 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Spaces are still available in this annual event being held at Buck Lake. 

The Youth Hunter Education Challenge provides young hunters additional skills in firearm handling, archery, tree stand safety, hunting bear with hounds, and land navigation in simulated hunting conditions.  The event is free and is open to all youth under 19 years of age who have completed hunter education.  Mentors, parents and guardians are also welcome to attend. 

"Young hunters who participate in programs such as this grow up to be exceptionally skilled, successful and ethical hunters," said Alison Thomas, education coordinator for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  "They also gain an appreciation for the conservation of habitat along with their love for wildlife and the outdoors." 

Preregistration is required by calling Butch Spear at 802-866-5990 by May 7.  This event is co-sponsored by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Friends of the National Rifle Association, and the Vermont Bear Hound Association.  Lunch will be provided. 

 

-30-

 

 

 

 

Tom Rogers

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

Information and Outreach

Davis 2 Building, 1 National Life Drive

Montpelier, VT  05620

[phone]      802-377-2628

[website]   www.vtfishandwildlife.com

 

Why National Outdoor Sporting Groups Take Seriously the Berlin Pond (H.6) Attack on Vermont Sportsmen's Bill of Rights

Do you think the Berlin Pond battle (H.6) does not apply to you?   National Outdoor Sporting Groups take (H.6) it serously.

"Keep America  Fishing" takes it seriously:  https://keepamericafishing.org/berlinpond/?v=7516fd43adaa

The "Sportsmen's Alliance" takes it seriously:  http://www.sportsmensalliance.org/news/vermont-legislation-ban-huntingfishing-access-waterway/

To oppose H.6 call 802-828-2228 and leave a message for the Representatives Maida Townsend

and Ronald Hubert "No to H.6."  Calls will be answered Monday through Friday starting at 7 A.M.

You can also E-mail your opposition to H.6 to the members of the House Government Operations Committee at:

mtownsend@leg.state.vt.us

rhubert@leg.state.vt.us

JBrumsted@leg.state.vt.us

ddevereux@leg.state.vt.us

JGannon@leg.state.vt.us

MGardner@leg.state.vt.us

rlaclair@leg.state.vt.us

plewis@leg.state.vt.us

ttoleno@leg.state.vt.us

CWeed@leg.state.vt.us

Maida Townsend (D) of South Burlington is the Chair of the House Government Operations Committee 

and Ronald Hubert (R) of Milton is the Vice-Chair of the  House Government Operations Committee.

The battle for Montpelier  to ban public use of the Berlin Pond, which lies completely in the Town of Berlin.

The City of Montpelier wants to end public current access to the pond.  Even for fishing, migratory bird

hunting, swimming, canoes, and kayaks.  

This is an attack on the Public Trust Doctrine,  Vermont Sportsmen's Bill of Rights, and the Vermont Constitution, (see below)

This battle has been through the Vermont Supreme Court, review by the Agency of Natural Resources 

and a vote in Berlin (2-1 for public access) and the public use of the Berlin Pond has been upheld.   

If Montpelier succeeds in ending public access at Berlin Pond this will happen all over the state. 

If Montpelier succeeds with H.6, other towns will want to ban/strictly regulate hunting/trapping, shooting or fishing..   

Public Trust Doctrine 

The Public Trust Doctrine holds that the natural resources that are not privately owned shall be open to pubic use.

Vermont Sportsmen's Bill of Rights  (24 V.S.A. § 2295)

• § 2295. Authority of municipal and county governments to regulate firearms, ammunition, hunting, fishing, and trapping
  Except as otherwise provided by law, no town, city, or incorporated village, by ordinance, resolution, or other enactment, shall directly regulate hunting, fishing, and trapping or the possession, ownership, transportation, transfer, sale, purchase, carrying, licensing, or registration of traps, firearms, ammunition, or components of firearms or ammunition. This section shall not limit the powers conferred upon a town, city, or incorporated village under subdivision 2291(8) of this title. The provisions of this section shall supersede any inconsistent provisions of a municipal charter. (Added 1987, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), eff. May 9, 1988.)

Vermont Constitution 

§ 67. [HUNTING; FOWLING AND FISHING]

The inhabitants of this State shall have liberty in seasonable times, to hunt and fowl on the lands they hold, and on other lands not inclosed, and in like manner to fish in all boatable and other waters (not private property) under proper regulations, to be made and provided by the General Assembly.

Lamoille Valley Club 4H Shooting Sports

Lamoille 4-H Shooting Sports is looking for enthusiastic youth ages 10 – 18 interested in joining a fun club!

No previous experience in 4-H or shooting sports required!

There will be an informational meeting for parents and youth on April 12th at 5:15pm at Bishop J Marshall School, in Morrisville.

Youth will have the opportunity to learn safe shooting skills from certified instructors.

Available shooting disciplines include rifle, archery, muzzle loader, shotgun, and for ages 14 and up, pistol.

There will be weekly sessions on Thursdays beginning on May 4th from 4 - 5:30 at Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club in Morrisville, breaking for summer vacation, and resuming the first week of September.

Cost is $50.00 per child, payable to Lamoille 4 H Shooting Sports.

Hope to see you at the informational meeting on Wednesday April 12th at 5:15 at Bishop Marshall School in Morrisville.

We are also looking to recruit experienced shooters who can contribute their knowledge and skills to the next generation of shooters- certification will be provided at no cost.

If you have questions, call Keith Ulrich at 802 730 9340.

Gun Control bill H.422 on the House Floor

H.422 is on the floor of the Vermont House of Representatives on Tuesday.

You can read H.422 on the House Action Calendar for Tuesday.  It is on page 383.

http://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2018/Docs/CALENDAR/hc170321.pdf

To oppose H.422 in the vote on the floor you can contact your legislator by calling

the Sgt-at-Arms Office at 802-828-2228 and ask to leave the polite message

"No to H.422 and all other gun control bills" for your your Representative.  

If you do not know who is your Representative, the person answering the phone will ask 

your  town/city of residence and they can tell you the name of your representative.  If you

encounter a message to call back, stay the course and keep calling.  It is worth the effort.

If you wish to send an E-mail to your Representative, you can use this link:  http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/

=====================================================================

When H.422 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on a 7-4 straight party vote,

it did so after after nearly two weeks of hearings proved the bill had  serious problems.  

So much so that during the hearing last Wednesday morning the comment was made

that the more the committee worked on the bill, the more problems they identified.

So, they should stop working on the bill and just vote on it.    

This commentary came from the ranks of committee members who voted to pass the H.422.

That standard of quality probably makes you glad they did not design or build school buses.

And it just keeps coming...

Gun control advocates are pursuing H.422 as the lead weapon in their campaign for gun control laws.  If H.422 were passed into law, during the investigation of domestic violence, police will be

able to seize firearms without a court order, as if the guns were contraband, like illegal drugs.  It has long been a goal of the gun control element to have firearms reduced to the status of contraband.

If H.422 becomes law, Vermonters will be well on their way from having firearms rights, to having mere gun privileges. Say goodbye to Due Process of Law for the property rights of gun owners.

To oppose the gun control bill H.422 you can call the Sergeant-At-Arms at 802-828-2228 and leave the polite message "No to H.422 and any other gun control bills" for Representative

Eileen Dickinson (R) St. Albans, who serves on the House Judiciary Committee.   H.422 is assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.  

If H.422 passes this year, it will be opening season on gun control and hunting and trapping ban bills for the rest of 2017 and 2018 in the Vermont State House.

House Bills

H.6   This bill would allow Montpelier to block public access on the Berlin Pond, located completely in the Town of Berlin.  It bans paddle craft, fishing trapping & migratory bird hunting.

          It violates the Vermont Sportsmen's Bill Rights and the Public Trust Doctrine.  PTD holds that open public bodies of water are to be open to the public.

 

H.31  This bill would legalize the use of firearm suppressors for hunting.

 

H.40  This would ban/restrict the use of internal combustion engines on public water sources.

H.44 This bill would allow the carrying of a handgun and/or a bow after the close of the legal hunting day.  (Retrieval Purposes)

 

H.58  This bill would allow hunting & fishing licenses at no cost to persons 65 years of age or older.

 

H.59  This bill relates to technical corrections.

H.60  This bill would create a study on the hunting of coyotes.  It is a first step towards limiting the taking of coyotes to a single 2 week season.

 

H.61  This bill would create a designation of heritage trout waters, where trout would have to released immediately upon being caught.

 

H.151  This bill is a worse version of the Senate bill S.6 that would require a Mandatory Reporting Check for the private sale of firearms.

H.188 This bill that would increase the penalties for animal cruelty, but raises concerns for dog owners who hunt with dogs.

 

H.210 This bill addresses an antlerless deer permit when land is posted as open to hunting and fishing by permission only.

 

H.211 This bill relates to water resources and water supplies of the Stale.

 

H.220 This bill ban/severely restricts the sale of ivory or rhinoceros horn.

 

H.276 This bill would control the power of municipalities  to regulate knives. 

H.277  This bill would allow the use of lights for hunting coyotes at night.

 

H.422 This bill would allow police to seize dangerous weapons during a domestic violence investigation without a court order.  It would firearms to be treated as contraband.

Senate Bills

S.6  This bill would require a Mandatory Reporting Check for the private sale of firearms.  Checks the honest citizens will have to pay for and the criminals will evade.

 

S.20  This bill would allow hunting & fishing licenses at no cost to persons 65 years of age or older.

S.75  This bill relates to aquatic nuisance species control.

S.80  This bill relates to allowing correctional officer in the field, such as Probation & Parole Officers, to carry firearm.