Jun 8 2021, 7:41 PM

Protect Our Wildlife is petitioning to ban hounding and the use of lead ammunition on the Refuge

STOWE, Vt. — The Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on its recreational hunting and fishing plan found here. This plan impacts the Nulhegan Basin Division and the Putney Mountain Unit in Putney. Currently, no areas of the Vermont portion of the Refuge are closed to hunting.

“The use of radio-collared hounds to run down bobcats, bears, coyotes and other wildlife is a cruel and disruptive practice,” said Johh Aberth, POW Board member and licensed Vermont volunteer wildlife rehabilitator. Hounding occurs not only during the legal hunting seasons, but throughout the year during the hound training season. Aberth added, “The hounds chase the animals for miles through the woods until the animal climbs a tree where they’re then often shot or decides to…