Working to protect our cultural heritage.
What’s it worth to you? Here are some of the issues that VTC has worked on:
In 2002 there was virtually no timber management on state lands. Walleye restoration was under funded. The state was doing little to promote hunting as part of Vermont’s culture. Champion style land grabs looked like they may take over many more of Vermont’s public lands driving out timber companies, jobs, and many rural recreational traditions. And, in general, it looked like we might lose the Vermont we grew up in. That’s when VTC went to work. This is what’s happened since:
Partial List of Achievements: 2002-Forward
Most importantly, VTC prevents many bad initiatives from even being considered.
This is done by maintaining a daily presence at the Statehouse.
Partial List of Achievements: 2002-Forward
- VTC led the fight that reversed many restrictions associated with state purchase of the Champion lands.
- VTC plays lead role in fighting restrictive federal “wilderness” designations on the 650 square mile Green Mt. National Forest.
- VTC works with key legislators, and the Agency of Natural Resources to resurrect aggressive timber management on VT’s 468 square miles of state lands. Thousands of acres of timber have been cut and other wildlife restoration actions have taken place.
- From 2007-2012,VTC will play a lead role in fighting proposed abolition of the road network, snowmobile trails, and timber cutting on the vast federal portion of the Champion Lands known as Conte Refuge.
- VTC plays important role in preventing closure of fish hatcheries, and in winning major appropriations for fish hatcheries and fishing access maintenance improvements.
- VTC plays important role in winning over $200,000 for the Lake Champlain Walleye Assn.’s nationally recognized walleye restoration program conducted in a partnership with the F&W Dept.
- VTC plays lead role in averting closure of future recreational trails and restriction of fishing access by winning exemption of recreational trails and fishing access paths from restrictions associated with stream and lake shore lands.
- VTC teams with other sporting groups to exempt lead ammunition and all shooting uses from a 2008 bill banning manufacture and use of lead products.
- VTC, with others, takes lead role in winning unprecedented appropriations of: $140,000 to the Ruffed Grouse Society to accelerate timber management on state land; $77,500 for Vt. Outdoor Guide Assn., and $50,000 for the LCI Fishing Derbies.
- VTC plays role in defeating railroad trespass legislation in 2003, 2004-2005, and 2008-2009 which would have cut off public access to railroad right of ways for fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, ATVing and more.
- In 2009,VTC and the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association worked together to pass legislation authorizing lease of state land for maple sugaring operations.
- VTC also takes lead role in land planning for all State Wildlife Management Areas, State Parks, and State Forests such as Groton State Forest, Green River State Park, Maquam WMA, Coolidge State Forest, Camel’s Hump State Lands and Bill Sladyk WMA.
- In 2008,VTC and its member groups convince the Agency of Natural Resources to change a 2,500 acre restricted area in Groton State Park to allow general uses including a possible snowmobile connector route from the Barre area.
- VTC helps broker bi-partisan extension of leases and sales rights for Champion Lands Camps.
- VTC becomes lead public access advocate in 3 year debate over the “ancient roads bill” dealing with potential closure of old public right-of-ways such as class 4 roads that aren’t plowed in the winter.
- VTC researches and monitors the 2009-2011 proposed federal Wild & Scenic designation deliberations for the Missisquoi River and Trout River Basin that could have adverse implications on public use of river basin lands.
- VTC annually plays a lead role in efforts by the anti-hunting, anti animal agriculture United States Humane Society to enact hunting, pet and farm animal restrictions.
- From 2002 forward, VTC and our allies have aggressively supported successful Fish &Wildlife Department resumption of lamprey treatments in Lake Champlain Basin resulting in record low lamprey attacks on game fish.
- From 2009 forward, fought against excessive tax increases on open landowners that could have caused harm to our timber and farm economy and loss of recreational lands.
- VTC advocates for the firearms rights of the citizens of Vermont, and opposes the frequent unreasonable attempts to restrict that right.
- See our legislative reports for more!
Most importantly, VTC prevents many bad initiatives from even being considered.
This is done by maintaining a daily presence at the Statehouse.
"If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would..." "Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting..."“We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States ... We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state...”
The words of Wayne Pacelle, former Chief Executive Officer of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). In office: June 1, 2004 – February 2, 2018
Donate to Preserve