In what was originally introduced as a bill propped up against coyote hunting regulations, was soon found out to have some nefarious components. Buried within Vermont’s Senate Bill S.258 was a clause that would require the state to welcome ‘non-consumptive’ users to Vermont’s Wildlife Board. The clause, similar to one in Washington State, would soon open the door to animal rights groups that would undoubtedly alter Vermont’s hunting and fishing regulations for the worse.
As many would have expected, the proposed bill faced a ton of backlash, particularly from the hunting and angling community. Given the ruffled feathers, the bill was revised before passing the state Senate earlier this week. While the restrictions on coyote hunting remained (no more hunting coyotes with dogs over bait), revisions were made to just how exactly the Wildlife Board would be transformed moving forward.
Removing the requirement that the new board represent ‘non-consumptive’ users, the new wording requires simply that members are able to “provide balanced viewpoints.” The previous version of the bill also called for the board’s input on nongame species and habitat, which was also removed from the amended version of the bill.
The revised version of the bill now leaves the appointing power for 14 members to the Governor, but adds the appointment of two additional members to make up a now 16-member board. These two new appointees are where the “balanced viewpoints” are to originate from and still leaves the door slightly open for animal rights activists to get their foot in the way.
The amendments were made after Gov. Phil Scott went on a radio show and vowed to veto the bill if passed in its original form.
“It’s something I oppose. I think let well enough alone, it’s fine the way it is,” Scott said. “We have other much bigger issues than this to address. I know [the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy] spent a lot of time on this bill … but if it comes to me in its present form I would veto it. And I don’t say that very often, but this just makes no sense.”
