Nevada’s Mentored Hunting Bill Needs Your Help!

Please Continue Contacting the Members of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee!

As we have reported, Assembly Bill 246 was heard by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee but no vote has been taken.  It is imperative that you contact the members of the committee, especially Chairman Jerry Claborn (D-19), and respectfully voice your support for this legislation.

AB246, sponsored by Assemblyman David Bobzien (D-24), establishes an apprentice hunting license that allows prospective hunters 12 years old and older to try their hand at hunting before completing a hunter education course.  Apprentice hunters would be required to be directly supervised in the field by a mentor who is at least 18 years old and who holds a valid Nevada hunting license.  Experience in more than two dozen other states shows that this apprentice hunting program is exceptionally safe and will bring many new hunters into the field. 

Hunter recruitment is critical to the long-term preservation of our hunting heritage.  Hunter numbers are declining and radical anti-hunting organizations like the Humane Society of the United States will take advantage if given the opportunity to further dwindle the number of hunters.  Nevada currently ranks 49th among all of the states in hunter recruitment.  For every 100 Nevada hunters who permanently quit hunting, only 30 new hunters replace them.  This slide must be reversed, and AB246 will help in this effort. 

Research shows that overly burdensome regulations deter citizens trying hunting for the first time.  This includes the current requirement that virtually all prospective hunters complete hunter education.  An apprentice hunting program allows people a “try it before they buy it” opportunity.  Ultimately, many will want to complete a hunter education course in order to hunt on their own and pursue game that requires special tags.  In the end, more citizens will complete hunter education and join the hunter ranks as a result. 

Please continue to contact the members of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and respectfully urge them to vote for AB246 to move it for a full Assembly vote.  In particular, kindly contact the Committee Chair, Chairman Jerry Claborn (D-19), and ask that he schedule a vote on the bill as soon as possible.  Contact information can be found below.

Assemblymember Jerry Claborn (D-19), Chair       
(775) 684-8569              
[email protected]

Assemblymember Joseph Hogan (D-10), Vice Chair   
(775) 684-8541              
[email protected]

Assemblymember Paul Aizley (D-41)                     
(775) 684-8821               
[email protected]

Assemblymember Harvey Munford (D-6)              
(775) 684-8545              
[email protected]

Assemblymember James Ohrenschall (D-12)         
(775) 684-8819             
[email protected]

Assemblymember Tick Segerblom (D-9)              
(775) 684-8549             
[email protected]

Assemblymember John Carpenter (R-33)              
(775) 684-8831             
[email protected]

Assemblymember Pete Goicoechea (R-35)            
(775) 684-8573             
[email protected]

Assemblymember Tom Grady (R-38)                     
(775) 684-8507             
[email protected]

Assemblymember Don Gustavson (R-32)              
(775) 684-8851             
[email protected]