Pennsylvania Governor Signs Families Afield Bill

(Harrisburg) - Pennsylvania has become the first state in the nation to pass legislation designed to encourage more young people to take up hunting in an effort to increase sportsmen’s numbers. 

On Dec. 22, Gov. Ed Rendell signed HB 1690, authorizing the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a mentored youth hunting program.  The bill is part of the Families Afield campaign.  The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, along with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, introduced Families Afield in an effort to counteract the declining numbers of sportsmen by boosting the recruitment rate of young people in the outdoor sports.

“Governor Rendell has given Pennsylvania sportsmen, young and old, a great Christmas present,” said U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Vice President for Government Affairs Rob Sexton.  “He, along with Representatives Bruce Smith and Ed Staback, as well as Senator Joe Conti, should be applauded for their commitment to sportsmen in their state.”

The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed HB 1690 on Dec. 13.  Rep. Bruce Smith, R-Dillsburg, originally introduced the bill to allow the hunting of coyotes over bait. Sen. Joe Conti, R-Doylestown, Chairman of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, attached the mentored youth hunting language to the bill.

On Dec. 14, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the Senate’s amendment and sent it to the Governor’s desk.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance worked with the Pennsylvania Mentored Youth Committee, led by the state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, National Rifle Association and others to rally sportsmen in the state to show support for the bill.

For further information about the Families Afield program, contact Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at (614) 888-4868, Tammy Sapp of the National Wild Turkey Federation at (800) THE-NWTF; Steve Wagner of the National Shooting Sports Foundation at (203) 426-1320.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs.  For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.