U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance 801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2012 |
Sportsmen Win Latest Round in CaliforniaAnti-hunting Bill Fails to Clear Key Panel(Columbus) –Backers of Senate Bill 1221, which would ban hunting of black bears and bobcats using hounds, failed to earn enough votes to pass the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee this afternoon.“It all came down to last minute telephone calls from hunters to key Assembly members on the committee,” said Evan Heusinkveld, USSA’s director of state services. “The folks who made those calls made the difference today.” From the beginning, sportsmen and women have outworked the anti-hunters, packing hearing rooms, and flooding the offices of legislators with calls. Despite this, the Senate ignored the voice of their constituents and passed SB 1221 by just two votes, which sent the bill to the Assembly. Today’s committee hearing was no different as hunters from all over the Golden State packed the room. This time, however, when it was time to vote, the anti’s came up short. Assemblyman Ricardo Lara was absent, and Assemblymen Mike Gatto and Roger Hernandez abstained. This development left proponents of the hunting ban short of the seven votes needed to move the bill forward. The battle is not over however, as the committee Chairman is able to bring the bill back up for a re-consideration vote (basically a re-vote) within the next week. “It will all come down to which side is able to generate the most contacts to their Assembly members,” explained Heusinkveld. “Now more than ever, it is critical for all California hunters to contact their Assembly member today and ask for a no vote on SB 1221.” Take Action! California sportsmen must call their state assembly member in opposition to Senate Bill 1221. To find your member’s contact information visit the Legislative Action Center. |
Fair chase hunting: Moral? Ethical? Hunter preference?
We also look at core issues related to the future of hunting such as hunting ethics, hunter
education, the public trust of wildlife, and the North American Model of Wildlife Management.
My position has always been relative to a sport hunter vs shooter. A sport minded hunter should only take an animal that has been out smarted with stalking stealth. I personally do not consider anyone using a stationary wait and kill strategy to be demonstrating hunting, and the same goes for dog hunts. These are better used out of necessity, for food or removal of a destructive animal. I have nothing against these strategies just feel the need for a distinction. Just my opinion but if you are not skillfully and personally hunting it down then you are not a hunter just a shooter.
ReplyDeleteOnce you attain my definition of being a hunter try stepping it up a notch. Try getting good pictures of your prey with these constraints.
I have photos of some bears, and fewer bobcats, and do not believe using stands or dogs is a fair chase hunt. It's only a kill.
Annon - I hear your position and I defend your preference to hunt this way. Where this preference gets in trouble is when folks attempt to impose their preferences on other folks and in other locations with different traditions and different habitats.
ReplyDeleteA current example are attacks against hounding bear in places like Maine or deer in the deep south. Finding the bottom line between what should be illegal and what other hunters can live with even if they don't hunt that way is a challenge. I've evolved more and more to the live and let live philosophy. A better set of issues to consider when looking at hunting methods is its effect on populations (under or over kill), democratic hunting, disease control, keeping predators wild (hounding is excellent for doing this), predator control and local conditions and traditions.
Visit our Orion website and the articles on Hunter preference for more on this topic.