Proudly Serving Vermont Since 1875

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Your NRA State Association

Our History

The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs is a statewide federation of affiliated hunting , fishing, trapping and gun clubs operating on a club delegate representative system. First organized and incorporated in April 1875, under the "Association for the Protection of Fish and Game," this organization promptly took action.

In 1875 Adirondack whitetail deer were live-trapped and shipped in railroad box cars for release in Rutland County. At this time over 100 years ago, the whitetail deer was nearly extinct in Vermont. Soon after the name changed to "Vermont Fish and Game League." In the decades from 1878 to 1920 the Vermont Fish and Game League through the political process, working with the Vermont Legislature, created what is now called the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. With that came hunting, fishing and trapping regulations, license fees, (a form of taxation), for financial support to pay game wardens, fish stocking programs, game stocking and with 50,000 farms then in operation in Vermont-- deer damage to crops!

The activities of the Vermont Fish and Game League encouraged the formation of the local "Fish and Game and Rod and Gun" clubs. This is the origin of around a dozen present day Fish and Game clubs. Club membership cards dating from the 1920's are on file. In the 1950's, the Vermont Fish and Game League was incorporated with the secretary of the State under the present name, "The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc." The VFSC is made up of fish & game, rod & gun, sportsmen clubs and a few more specialized clubs scattered around Vermont. The clubs have outdoor shooting ranges; high powered, small bore, pistol, skeet and trap, and archery along with indoor ranges. The Federation operates through a delegate system from each affiliated club. Only the club delegates may vote. Individual or "associate" members have the full floor privileges to speak whatever is on their mind and welcome input. A twenty member Executive Committee is elected by vote of the delegates. Executive Committee members are scattered around the state. No club may have more than two members on the Executive Committee. Regular members (clubs) send delegates to meetings to vote on major items of business.

The Federation also has individual memberships available. These memberships offer all of the floor privileges but no voting rights. The Federation has always been a strong voice for sportsmen and sportswomen throughout Vermont by actively supporting or opposing legislation that affects the rights and privileges of the hunters, anglers, trappers and gun-owners in Vermont.