ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602080039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
If you have a youngster in your family who wants to go hunting with you, it can cost up to $41 in license fees.
Vic Thomas thinks that's too much.
Thomas, D-Roanoke, introduced a bill in the General Assembly to establish a youth resident combination hunting license that would sell for $15.50. The license would cover all hunting requirements, including big game, bowhunting and muzzleloading, for youngsters ages 12 to 15.
Children under 12 wouldn't need a hunting license of any kind as long as they were afield with a licensed adult. They currently are required to carry a license.
``Parents will have much improved opportunities to take young hunters afield,'' said Thomas, who is quick to tell you about his own grandson's squirrel hunting pursuits.
``This should increase the opportunity for children to go hunting with adult supervision while they are young, learning sound principles of safety from experienced hunters,'' Thomas said.
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is all for the change. Surveys show that if a youngster isn't introduced to hunting at an early age there is a good chance he never will become a hunter, said Larry Hart, an assistant director of the agency. That means lost revenue and support for wildlife programs in the future.
The bill also would clear up what Hart calls a troublesome ``gray area'' in game law enforcement.
``When is a youngster under 12 hunting?'' Hart asked. ``Is it when he is picking up doves for you? Is it when he is on a deer stand with you?''
The law says that a person technically is hunting anytime he assists another hunter, even if he is not carrying a bow or gun.
Safety won't be compromised, Thomas said.
``Although license and financial requirements for young people to hunt will be reduced, adult supervision and hunter safety training prerequisites will remain in effect,'' he said. ``Furthermore, parents and other adults are likely to take children on more hunts, thus increasing these young hunters' experiences under the supervision of trained and accomplished hunters.''
Thomas believes the current license structure discourages youth participation, especially during special seasons, such as bowhunting and muzzleloading. When up to $25.50 can be saved in license fees, it is going to make a difference in how often a kid gets to go hunting, he said.
There would be some initial loss in revenue for the game department, but Thomas believes the money will be recovered. The youth who is hooked on hunting becomes a license-buying adult.
The bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate, where it should receive support. If so, as early as next season kids will be able to go hunting for less money.
In other General Assembly action:
* The House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee reported a bill Wednesday that would eliminate shooting preserves that feature exotic mammals by the year 2001. There are three such preserves in Virginia, including one near Covington called Boar Walla.
* A House bill to move the Natural Heritage Department to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries was defeated in the House. There's still a Senate bill to put all wildlife agencies under one department, but it is expected to be defeated next week.
* An effort is under way to increase the opportunities for disabled people to hunt with a crossbow. Under current law, such hunting is allowed only on property owned by the physically disabled. A House bill would extend such hunting to all private property where the disabled participant has permission.
* A House bill would make it unlawful for anyone to harass a fisherman. Current law makes the harassment of a hunter or trapper unlawful.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB