Letter to the editor: S.258 is a much-needed change to VF&W board

Although the fish and wildlife of Vermont are held in trust by the state for the benefit of all citizens, the board currently consists only of hunters, trappers, and/or anglers.

I feel that I need to submit these salient thoughts to the discussion regarding Bill S.258, which proposes to make changes in the structure and make-up of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board.

I encourage people to view the Vermont Fish & Wildlife board meetings available online to gain a better perspective rather than listen to blatant partisanship attempting to influence public opinion.

At Monday’s Legislative Breakfast, local hunting and trapping enthusiasts grilled Sen. Chris Bray on bill S.258, which proposes to transfer the authority to adopt rules for the taking of fish, wildlife and fur-bearing animals from the Fish & Wildlife Boar … (read more)

For those of you who may know me, you know how non-confrontational I am. I like to focus on honest education only. I have been biting my tongue out of fear of confrontation, but we are way past that now.

In response to the inaccurate and unfair Sept. 14 letter by Barbara Felitti, who appears to be an anti-anything hunting or trapping person from Protect Our Wildlife.

At the July meeting of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board, an FWB member recommended adding “manually applied blunt force” as a “best” management practice for killing a trapped animal.

Trappers consider trapping to be a time-honored tradition they enjoy. To non-trappers, it’s a tradition whose time has come and gone.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board are accepting public comment and will hold three public hearings on new proposed regulations for trapping and for hunting coyotes with the aid of dogs.

How, one might wonder, will new people be motivated to become hunters if it means joining a group that believes itself vilified and threatened, and reacts with anger toward anyone who speaks of mitigating harm to wildlife?

The anti-trapping crowd love to trot out the usual “inhumane,” “outmoded and harmful,” “unnecessarily painful” emotional appeals. None of these arguments are objective or “science-based” and are purely subjective.

Some Addison County residents are hoping a newly introduced bill will encourage a shift away from the practice of trapping animals in Vermont. Bill H.191 proposes to ban recreational and commercial trapping in the state, with a few exceptions. 

Vermont 2023 hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses, as well as the 2023 lawbooks for these activities, are now available on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website and wherever licenses are sold.

A majority of Vermonters oppose recreational and fur trapping — 68% disapprove of recreational trapping (only 26% approve) and 62% disapprove of fur trapping (only 31% approve).

Trapping supporters, including our own Fish & Wildlife Department, often claim the word “science” to advance a political agenda.