House changes bill that would allow hunting with silencers

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The Wyoming House of Representatives has given initial approval to a bill that would allow hunters to use silencers to hunt predators and non-game animals.

 The House did amend the bill to say that silencers may not be used to hunt for big game animals due to the concern of some that allowing silencers could encourage poaching. 

Sponsor Allen Jaggi of Lyman strongly disagreed with the sentiment.

“Well if you are poacher you can be using it right now, because they are legal and you can’t go shoot an animal with them, but if you are poacher you don’t care what the law says you are gonna do it.”

Wyoming is one of just a few Western states that ban the use of silencers to hunt.  Jaggi says silencers would protect hearing.  He says he will try to add big game hunting back into the bill before the final vote on the measure.