| Bernard - The Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee still has 3 anti-F&W bills in front of them, S.129 (Change the F&W Board), S.201 (Anti-Trapping) and S.281 (Ban on hunting coyote with dogs).
At the present time, it appears that S.129 has been pushed off after it was realized that it would need more work; discussion is schedule for tomorrow but NOT any vote. With S.281, it currently appears that there will be a temporary moratorium on coyote hunting with dogs while the F&W Department and the F&W Board make rules that will cover that activity. This bill is NOT on the agenda for tomorrow, but agenda's change quickly. S.201 is still on the Committee's agenda for tomorrow, 3/11, with a 1/2 hour scheduled for "mark up and vote". We remain deeply concerned about this bill. We have asked much of you for over the last many weeks, but we need to insure that there is no action on S.201, because banning foothold traps will have many negative effects, and we need look no further than what happened in Massachusetts after they banned trapping. Trapping is heavily regulated; you need to have training and be licensed to trap; and there many benefits to trapping - not the least of which is that trapping is one of the most effective tools at managing certain games species to insure that their population stays sustainable. PLEASE do the following 2 things: - EMAIL the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee
- Use the following email list in the "To:" portion of your email program:
cbray@leg.state.vt.us; rawestman@gmail.com; mmacdonald@leg.state.vt.us; bcampion@leg.state.vt.us; rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us; bbalint@leg.state.vt.us
This above emails are for: Chair Chris Bray; committee members Richard Westman, Mark MacDonald, Richard McCormack and Brian Campion; as well as Senate Pro Tem Becca Balint.
- Use a suitable "Subject:" such as:
"NO" to S.201
- For the "Body" - Use your own words, but BE POLITE. Or, you can also cut & paste this message:
Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee
Banning foothold traps without allowing for Best Management Practices (BMPs) to be applied to all foothold traps on land ignores the fact that foothold traps are the most effective method of catching certain games species.
Until and unless Vermont has mandated that only traps that conform to BMPs can be used, any contemplated ban is premature.
Trapping is needed to control and manage certain species, some of which are nocturnal, with all being elusive and wily.
S.201 is a bill that usurps the power that has been given to the F&W Department and the F&W Board, and they should be given the chance to act on establishing rules that will require that only traps that conform to BMPs are utilized.
Please do NOT let emotions rule; commons sense must prevail with the recognition that game species MUST be managed, and traps are an effective tool.
Thank You
- Email your Senators
The Federation now has the capability to allow you to easily send emails to your Senators. To use this feature, please go to THIS WEBPAGE. The page may take a minute to load, but once it does you will see 4 boxes, each representing a different bill.
Please select S.201 by clicking on it, and then click "EDIT AND SEND EMAIL". Please consider doing the same for S.281.Then:
- Your name prefix (required)
- Your full name (required)
- Your email address (required)
- Entering the above SHOULD change the name(s) of the Senators to be your Senators, and if so, just click the "SEND" button.
If it does not properly resolve your Senators, click the "Not your Rep?" link in the lower left corner of the window. You can then enter your address, which SHOULD resolve to your Senator(s).
If it still cannot resolve your Senators, pick a residential address close to you from your phone book, then click "SEND".
Help stop S.201, and send your message(s) that you support the concept of trapping, and understand the need to manage our wildlife for the benefit of everyone.
Then forward this email to your like-minded friends and ask them to do the same. Thanks Chris Bradley President & Executive Director – VT Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, Inc. www.vtfsc.org 
Best Regards, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs
http://www.vtfsc.com/ | 
