LAWS AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE
Fish and Wildlife Board Rules
Note: this may not be a complete list of recently adopted or proposed regulations.
Bills of Interest in the 2011-2012 Legislature
Signed Into Law
H.0066 An act relating to the illegal taking of trophy big game animals
This bill proposes to increase the monetary penalties for big game violations and increase the restitution values for illegally taken wildlife.
Status: Signed into Law 5/6/2011
H.0091 An act relating to the management of fish and wildlife
This bill proposes to declare that the fish and wildlife of Vermont are held in trust by the state for the benefit of the citizens of Vermont and shall not be reduced to private ownership. The bill would also declare that the fish and wildlife of Vermont are owned and controlled by the state in its sovereign capacity as the trustee for the citizens of the state. The bill would repeal the regulatory authority of the agency of agriculture, food and markets over the wild cervidae at a captive cervidae farm in Irasburg. Regulatory authority over the wild cervidae at the Irasburg facility would be transferred to the department of fish and wildlife. In addition, the bill would make permanent the transfer to the fish and wildlife board of regulatory authority over the state deer herd by repealing the reversion of such authority to the general assembly.
Status: Signed into Law 5/31/2011
H.0449 An act relating to the designation of brook trout and walleye pike as the state fish of Vermont
This bill proposes to designate brook trout and walleye pike as the state fish of Vermont.
Status: Signed into Law 4/13/2012
H.0013 An act relating to deer doing damage to forest resources
This bill proposes to authorize the commissioner of fish and wildlife to approve the taking of up to 10 deer per year when deer are doing damage to forestland managed for the production of a sawlog or sawlog product of a commercial species of any grade, provided that: the land is not posted against hunting; the forestland at issue is managed under a current forest management plan; and a consulting forester has determined in writing that deer overbrowsing jeopardizes the regeneration of commercial timber species on the forestland at issue. The bill would also provide that the deer herd is to be managed in balance with other forest species, uses, and values. In addition, the bill would require the annual study of the deer herd to consider data on the impact of the deer herd on forest health.
Status: Passed House. In Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. Language related to this bill was incorporated into H.0091 (The Vermont Wildlife Public Trust Act)
Introduced
H.0010 An act relating to the design and inspection of sport shooting ranges
This bill proposes to require outdoor shooting ranges to be constructed and maintained according to safety standards. The bill would also require the department of fish and wildlife to inspect outdoor shooting ranges and certify that a range meets safety standards.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0014 An act relating to hunting and fishing licenses for disabled Vermont veterans
This bill proposes to provide a free combination hunting and fishing license to Vermont veterans of the armed forces who are disabled to the extent that employment is not possible.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0053 An act relating to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
This bill proposes to adopt the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
Status: Passed House and Senate, awaiting Governor's signature
H.0083 An act relating to negligent storage of a firearm
This bill proposes to make it a crime for a person to negligently leave a firearm accessible to a child.
Status: In Committee on Judiciary
H.0089 An act relating to banning the hunting of black bear with dogs
This bill proposes to prohibit the hunting of black bear with dogs. The bill would repeal existing statutory authority to hunt black bear with dogs. The bill would also repeal the authority of the commissioner of fish and wildlife to issue permits and collect permit fees for hunting black bear with dogs. In addition, the bill would repeal the authority of a person to train dogs to hunt black bear. The bill would take effect in July of 2011.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0142 An act relating to trapping and transport of turkeys
This bill proposes to require the commissioner of fish and wildlife to adopt a general permit for the trapping and transport of turkeys on land owned or leased by a person engaged in farming.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0210 An act relating to informing consumers about the ban on felt soled boot and wader use
This bill proposes to require Vermont retail stores selling felt-soled boots and waders to inform customers of the ban on the use of these products prior to sale.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0211 An act relating to public education about felt-soled boots and waders
This bill proposes to increase and enhance the department of fish and wildlife’s public education and outreach initiatives related to the forthcoming ban on the use of felt-soled boots and waders.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0212 An act relating to the use of lead sinkers
This bill proposes to allow the use of lead sinkers for fishing in streams and rivers.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0213 An act relating to the use and transport of baitfish
This bill proposes to authorize the transport of baitfish harvested from or used on a water of the state from one access area on a water to another access point on the same water, provided that the baitfish are not used on another body of water after transport from the original water.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0249 An act relating to prohibiting the hunting of crows
This bill proposes to prohibit the hunting of crows.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0343 An act relating to the water quality of Lake Champlain
This bill proposes to establish several programs and standards intended to improve the water quality of Lake Champlain. The bill would require the agency of natural resources (ANR) to inspect all concentrated animal feeding operations in the St. Albans Bay watershed to determine if such operations require a discharge permit. The bill would also require the accepted agricultural practices to be amended to require livestock exclusion from state waters. The bill would require ANR to seek funding under the federal Water Resources Development Act for restoration projects in the Lake Champlain watershed. The bill would require ANR to conduct a study of the feasibility and cost of constructing sewer systems in the St. Albans Bay watershed. The bill also would establish a Lake Champlain watershed team at ANR to develop and recommend management measures to reduce phosphorus pollution in the Lake Champlain watershed.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0393 An act relating to slot limits and closed season for taking of fish on the Winooski River
This bill proposes to amend fish and wildlife board regulations for fishing to repeal slot limits and closed season restrictions on the Winooski River.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0410 An act relating to violations for taking deer out of season
This bill proposes to increase the fines and prison sentence for taking deer out of season.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0462 An act relating to authorizing hunting licenses for persons with a visual limitation
This bill proposes to authorize the issuance of a hunting license to a person with a visual limitation. The bill would also provide that a person with a visual limitation who qualifies for a hunting license shall be eligible to receive a free combination hunting and fishing license.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0482 An act relating to stream alteration
This bill proposes to require the secretary of natural resources to consult with a fisheries biologist from the department of fish and wildlife regarding all proposed stream alterations and how the alteration will impact fish life, wildlife, or aquatic or wildlife habitat.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0528 An act relating to the sale of big game and the feeding of bear
This bill proposes to ban the sale of bear gallbladders and to ban the intentional feeding of bear.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0574 An act relating to wearing blaze orange while hunting deer
This bill proposes to require a person taking game to wear a blaze orange hat and a blaze orange shirt, vest, or coat.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0616 An act relating to a wholesale bait dealer’s permit and a fee for use of nonbiodegradable containers
This bill proposes to require that a person obtain a wholesale bait dealer’s permit before selling prepackaged worms for resale by a commercial bait dealer and that a fee be charged for the permit if the worms are packaged in nonbiodegradable containers.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0644 An act relating to the use of fishing access areas
This bill proposes to define the type of vessels authorizes to use fishing access areas.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0655 An act relating to moose permits for veterans
This bill proposes to establish a program to set aside five moose permits for Vermonters who have served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States.
Status: In Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources
H.0761 An act relating to executive branch fees, including motor vehicle and fish and wildlife fees
This bill proposes to adjust executive branch fees, including motor vehicle and fish and wildlife fees.
Status: Passed House. In Senate Committee on Finance
