Families Afield bills advanced in three state legislatures this week, including Pennsylvania where the bill now awaits the governor’s signature. Families Afield is a campaign established by a partnership of sportsmen’s organizations to aid in the recruitment of new hunters, nationwide.

On Dec. 14, Pennsylvania HB 1690 became the first Families Afield legislation in the country to reach a governor’s desk. The bill was sent to Gov. Ed Rendell after the House of Representatives voted 195-1 to accept a Senate amendment that authorizes the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a mentored youth hunting program.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, along with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, introduced the Families Afield program in an effort to increase hunter recruitment throughout the country.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance worked with the Pennsylvania Mentored Youth Committee, led by the state chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, National Rifle Association and others to encourage sportsmen’s support for HB 1690.

Ohio HB 296, a Families Afield bill that creates an apprentice hunting license, was approved Dec. 13 by the House of Representatives, 89 to 3.  The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Stephen Buehrer, R-Delta, introduced the legislation to allow licensed, mentor hunters to take apprentice hunters into the field prior to the completion of hunter education certification.  The bill will soon be assigned to a senate committee.

Families Afield legislation also advanced in Wisconsin.  Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, the chairman of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, amended AB 586 to create an apprentice hunter program for those 8 years of age and older.  The committee approved the bill on Dec. 13 and the Assembly followed suit two days later, voting 74 to 19 in favor.

For further information about the Families Afield program, call Rob Sexton of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at , Tammy Sapp of the National Wild Turkey Federation at (800) THE-NWTF; Steve Wagner of the National Shooting Sports Foundation at .