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.

Were it not for state Sen. Chris Bray, D-Bristol, Monday’s legislative breakfast at St. Peter’s Parish Hall in Vergennes would have just been called “breakfast.”

It doesn’t have to be this way. Common ground exists in the wildlife debate and what won’t help find it is people yelling at one another.

Despite what its board members state and prefer us to think, Protect Our Wildlife, the primary organization driving legislative action, is an animal rights organization and should be specifically labeled by the media as such.

For background, hunting and fishing are the most important things in my life outside of my family.

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.

MONTPELIER — If you are 12 to 14 years old and want to learn about Vermont’s wildlife and gain outdoor skills, consider attending one of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s Green Mountain Conservation Camps this summer. Specific details about wheth … (read more)

MONTPELIER — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has developed a new initiative to acquire and restore wetlands in response to funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Lake Champlain Basin Program. “As Vermont Fish and W … (read more)

Editor’s note: The writer sent this letter to Gov. Phil Scott and copied the Independent. The current Fish & Wildlife board, that has been primarily assembled by your appointments, consists 100% of hunters and/or trappers, some of whom also own businesses … (read more)

VERMONT — Those with an eye to the outdoors will notice wildlife becomes increasingly active as the weather warms. Resident birds fill the morning with song, skunks are once again skulking, and the moths are emerge. As we move into the growing season, one … (read more)