INDIANAPOLIS) " The U.S. Sportsmen"s Alliance applauds Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels for signing into law a Families Afield bill establishing an apprentice hunting license, helping to ensure the future of our nation"s hunting heritage.
This legislation, House Bill 1046, allows a resident or nonresident newcomer to hunt for three years prior to the completion of a hunter education course, if they are accompanied by a licensed adult hunter.
"The passage of this apprentice license bill in Indiana shows a strong commitment to the future of the nation"s next generation of hunters," said Bud Pidgeon, U.S. Sportsmen"s Alliance (USSA) president. "Newcomers to hunting will be able to safely experience and learn our outdoor heritage thanks to the Families Afield initiative."
The Families Afield campaign was established by the U.S. Sportsmen"s Alliance, National Shooting Sports Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation in 2004 to urge states to eliminate unnecessary hunting age restrictions and ease hunter education mandates for first-time hunters.
"Parents know, far better thananyone else, when their sons and daughters are ready to begin hunting," saidChris Dolnack, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). "This bill empowers families to share and pass on their hunting heritage."
Together, with the support of the National Rifle Association and state and local sportsmen"s organization, the partnership has worked to ensure support for these measures. With the addition of Indiana, a total of 23 states have now enacted Families Afield style bills since the program was launched in 2004.
"We would like to thank all of the Familes Afield partners and the Indiana sporting groups involved in supporting this bill. This was truly a team effort," said Glen Salmon, Fish and Wildlife Director of the Indiana Department Natural Resources. "We also thank Governor Daniels and the state legislators for signing the bill and for recognizing the importance of this issue."
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Way to go Indiana
