| Bernard -- As you know, the Silvio O.Conte Refuge Hunting Plan came out September 1, with several unwarned restrictions on the use of ALL hunting dogs along with other departures from Vermont state law. Senator Leahy is seeking $8M from congress to expand the refuge holdings in Vermont, and we have some real concerns about that in light of recent actions by folks administering the refuge.
Restrictive changes were made to the substance of the plans that had not been indicated as even being potential considerations in the drafts the public was given to review. This being the case, the public was never given an official opportunity to weigh in on these issues. This is an unacceptable approach for the USFWS to have taken, and this undermining of the public's trust will make it impossible to support any proposed future expansions of USFWS holdings in the state. If we can't trust the planning process to be open, transparent, and inclusive, if we can't trust this federal entity to have open discussions about their intentions for Vermont, then we can't accept their intent to expand their holdings in our state whether it be for the Conte or Missisquoi refuges. Decision makers in Massachusetts do not know what is right for Vermont.
Please share this email with friends and have them follow your lead by writing to Tom Berry at the office of Senator Leahy and directing him to inform the senator that based on these underhanded behaviors, you cannot support any expansion of Refuge holdings in Vermont. Tom may be reached at: Tom_Berry@leahy.senate.gov
On the Conte Refuge, along with several other rules that were dissented with based on the draft, Vermonters were blindsided with the following unwarned restrictions on training and hunting with dogs:
- Hunters using more than two dogs must possess a Special Use Permit to be issued or denied at the pleasure of the refuge manager.
- At the Putney Mountain Unit, dogs may not be used for hunting any species other than ruffed grouse. (This is so specific as to include waterfowl and woodcock in the prohibition.)
- The Refuge will not allow training of dogs as governed by State regulations during Vermont's June and July training seasons, and will only allow it in August with a Special Use Permit issued or denied at the pleasure the refuge manager.
These changes were added after public comment was closed under what one refuge employee referred to as a "gag order" with no structured opportunity for public comment on them. These drastic and unsupported changes require at a minimum an opportunity for public input.
Additionally, hunting hours are restricted beyond Vermont regulations on the Putney unit, and hunting is restricted from unmaintained roads on the refuge despite opposition to that rule by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as advocacy groups such as the Vermont Traditions Coalition and several of our partners. While these two restrictions were at least discussed in the draft plan, they are worthy of note as they, along with the restrictions on the use of ALL hunting dogs, fly in the face of both the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 and Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3356. For those who are unfamiliar, the Refuge Improvement Act acknowledges that hunting and fishing are compatible, priority uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3356 directs the Service to both increase hunting and fishing opportunities and access, and to make refuge regulations as consistent with state law as practicable.
Several existing refuge regulations were both inconsistent with state law and unnecessary, but to further restrict access to this public resource and to undercut the work of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department with these surprise rules on hunting is abhorrent to the Refuge Act, the Secretarial Order, the administrative process, and the public trust.
Donate to defend your rights: Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs
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