Scott Appoints 3 New Fish and Wildlife Board Members July 23, 2022 by Governor Phil Scott has appointed three new members to the state Fish and Wildlife Board, which has jurisdiction over game and wildlife regulations. Board members include: Hartland resident Nicholas Burnham, Bennington resident Neal Hogan, and Lincoln resident Robert Patterson. Scott also named current board member Brad Ferland of Hardwick as the new chairman. The three new members “are passionate about the Vermont outdoors, engaging in activities ranging from backcountry skiing to mentoring new hunters,” a news release from the governor’s office stated Tuesday. “All three cite a love of hunting that began during childhood as a driver for their commitment to conservation.” Board members serve six-year terms that are not renewed. The appointment process has been a source of controversy recently. Members often have hunting or angling backgrounds, a fact that has been criticized by wildlife advocates who say the board does not fairly represent the interests of non-hunting Vermonters. “Under Vermont statute, wildlife is a public trust resource,” said Brenna Galdenzi, president of Protect Our Wildlife Vermont. “Public policy is being enacted by 14 members who are all hunters, anglers or trappers. They are making public policy decisions for the public about this shared public resource without broad public representation. That’s really the key issue.” Lawmakers tried to change the appointment process during this year’s legislative session, which ended earlier this month. As originally outlined in the bill, S.129, the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife and members of the Legislature would have appointed the new board members in place of the governor. The measure would have changed the authority of the board so that the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and not the board, would have promulgated rules and the board would have acted in an advisory capacity. While S.129 won’t become law, Chris Herrick, commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, said he is awaiting a letter from the Senate Committee on Natural Resources “that would basically instruct the department to show that it’s including voices that it doesn’t.” they are from hunters in our policy making and work at the Fish and Wildlife Board with rules and regulations.” Herrick said the department already includes non-hunter voices, “but we’re going to be more clear about how we do that in the future,” he said. Galdenzi, who wants to see non-chasers serve on the board, referenced a to study analyzing the value orientation of Vermonters wildlife. Of those surveyed, 25% identified as “traditionalists” who “believe that wildlife should be used and managed for human benefit”; 34% identified as “mutualists” who “believe that wildlife is part of our social network and that we should live in harmony” and 29% said they were “pluralists” who “prioritize these values differently depending on the context specific”. Another 12% said they felt more distanced from wildlife issues. Herrick said it’s important for board members to know the specifics of the sport they’re regulating. “You really want people who understand what’s going on in the woods, or when you’re fishing, to understand the impact of the policies that you, as a board, are making,” he said. “The example I’ve used is that you really don’t want non-electricians on the electricians’ board.” He said board members who hunt can objectively evaluate hunting policies. For example, he said, the board is currently studying the possibility of limiting the coyote hunting season. Herrick said he hopes the board will spend the summer implementing two bills that were passed by the Legislature this session. One requires the board to create regulations on hunting coyotes with dogs, and another to uphold best management practices for the use of leg traps. Burnham, the Hartland appointee whose first board meeting was last week, is a state Department of Corrections employee. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys hiking and kayaking with his family, and has been a hunting instructor for 10 years, he said. Burnham applied to join the board because it was “another way of giving back to something that has been important in my life.” When asked if he would be open to hearing from Vermonters who don’t hunt, Burnham said he has an open mind. “Everyone’s opinion is important,” he said, “and we may not always agree on everything.” Don’t miss a thing. Sign up here for VTDigger’s weekly email on the energy industry and the environment. Did you know that VTDigger is a non-profit organization? Our journalism is made possible by member donations. If you value what we do, please contribute and help keep this vital resource accessible to all. Leave a Comment Cancel replyCommentName Email Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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