09/16/2009
Virginia Youth to Benefit from New Legislation
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Thanks to groundbreaking legislation, Virginia youth who attend events educating them about Virginia's fish and wildlife resources will now have an easier time participating in hunting and fishing during the events. Hosting nonprofit organizations will now be able to purchase temporary permits to cover all youth involved.
Coordinators of outdoor education events can now apply for permits with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries that will make hunting and fishing during the events legal for all youth participants for 48 hours. The permit would be in lieu of the young hunters and anglers having to purchase basic hunting and fishing licenses and big game, archery and muzzleloader licenses.
Longtime outdoorsman, Delegate Ben Cline, sponsored House Bill 2636, which gives nonprofit groups including the National Wild Turkey Federation the ability to purchase the $25 permit to cover all youth hunting and fishing participants at JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) and Xtreme JAKES events.
"I was immediately thrilled at the potential outdoor opportunities HB 2636 would create for our JAKES members" said NWTF Virginia's State Chapter President Robin Clark. "I was also proud that our Rockbridge Area Chapter recognized a need and pursued it through their local legislative representatives. We are grateful to Delegate Cline for his dedication in moving this bill forward."
"We are proud to have award-winning JAKES and Xtreme JAKES programs here in Virginia," Clark added. "Our chapters recognize the importance of involving our youth in the outdoors and teaching them about conservation through fun and exciting events."
The NWTF developed the JAKES program to give youth 12 years old and younger the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors through hands-on learning at events nationwide. JAKES members also receive a subscription to JAKES Magazine.
Xtreme JAKES provides opportunities and challenges designed for the abilities and experiences of youth ages 13 to 17. During events hosted nationwide Xtreme JAKES members get to try activities such as clay target shooting and learn advanced hunting techniques, plant and animal identification and wise stewardship of natural resources. They also receive a subscription to Xtreme JAKES eMagazine and one issue of Turkey Country magazine.
Founded in 1973, the NWTF is a national nonprofit conservation organization that has worked with wildlife agencies to restore wild turkey populations from 1.3 million wild turkeys in 1973 to nearly seven million today. Now, NWTF volunteers raise funds and work daily to improve critical wildlife habitat, increase access to public hunting land and introduce new people to the outdoors and hunting.
