BILL INTRODUCED TO BAN PURSUIT OF BEAR AND BOBCAT IN CA

[meagain]

State | Federal 
State
Bill to Ban Bear Hunting with Dogs Passes Assembly
SB 1221, legislation authored by Senator Ted Lieu (D/28-Torrance) that would outlaw the use of dogs for hunting bears and bobcats in California, passed off of the Assembly Floor on August 22nd on a 44 to 29 vote. The bill now must go back to the Senate Floor for their consideration of amendments inserted in the bill prior to its passage out of Assembly Appropriations Committee last week on a party-line vote. Should the bill, as amended, be approved by a vote of the Senate, it will go to the Governor's desk for his consideration.

In addition to authorizing the use of dogs for scientific research and depredation purposes, the new amendments to the bill would allow the Fish and Game Commission to establish a "Hound Tag Program". The legislation proposes that this Program include that each dog used to pursue mammals have a license tag bearing a unique identifying number and be microchipped, and place other costly and overly onerous requirements on the dog owners. Further, the amendments provide for the Commission to charge a fee to cover the cost of the Program - in essence, establishing an unprecedented "use tax" for this method of take. This amendment was included in an effort to offset the $400,000 annual loss of revenue to the Department of Fish and Game estimated by the Department of Finance.

To pass the bill out of Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee in early July, the author also agreed to a "compromise" amendment that would provide the Commission an avenue for lifting the ban without additional action by the State Legislature. In somewhat unprecedented fashion, this provision was surprisingly not among the amendments now included in SB 1221.

If you hunt with dogs - or if you hunt at all - this measure is a severe threat to you. SB 1221 is largely based on the argument that hunting of bears and bobcats with dogs does not represent the "fair chase" of these species. As such, this legislation not only threatens the long-standing tradition of hunting these species with hounds, but would set precedent placing the hunting of pheasants, quail, ducks and other species with dogs in serious jeopardy. Further, the bill is fully consistent with the statement of the HSUS that they will attack hunting in California first, taking it one species at a time, until all types of hunting are eliminated - then take their forces to other states.

In addition, by attempting to prohibit the use of dogs via statute, the Legislature would fully circumvent the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) – the process established by the Legislature to ensure that policy decisions which impact our natural resources are based upon the best available science, following thorough environmental review. To ensure this necessary analysis, natural resource policy decisions, including method of take, are appropriately made in public forum by the California Fish and Game Commission – the regulatory body established by the Legislature specifically to regulate hunting seasons, bag limits and methods of take.

The 2012 Legislative Session will end at midnight on August 31st, so all of the above legislative activity must take place in the next 10 days. YOU MUST ACT NOW! IF WE ARE TO DEFEAT THIS BILL ON THE SENATE FLOOR OR ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, COHA NEEDS YOUR HELP IMMEDIATELY! SEE THE BELOW LINKS FOR A SAMPLE OPPOSITION LETTER AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR KEY LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR.

COHA is working with our member organizations - including the California Houndsmen for Conservation and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance - and thousands of hunters and conservationists to defeat this blatant anti-hunting measure.

[bearpaw992000]

I hope if and when this bill passes no one and I hate to use this word is stupid enough to use there hounds on any bear depreditation permits. I can't believe this state they take a perfectly good program that carries its own weight, makes money for the fish and game and they break it, then they turn around and want to raise fees on everything else to pay for what they just screwed up, these politicians will never learn until we all stand up to them and say enough is enough.

[Dale T]

[Dale T]

Not all the media is against us:

Mountain lion attack proves hounds beneficial

By Bill Karr

A mountain lion attack on a sleeping camper July 1 near Grass Valley, and the resultant search by the DFG using trained hounds generally used for bear hunting, proves in two ways the need to continue bear hunting with the use of hounds, and to have them available for searches such as the one now underway by the DFG.

In fact, the mountain lion attack itself would not have happened in the first place if mountain lions were still hunted, or at least chased, with trained hounds. Over the decades since mountain lion hunting was stopped, lions have lost their fear of man, and now consider us prey. Why not? We don’t hunt them, chase them or scare them. We allow them to wander in our city limits, kill our domestic pets and livestock, and they are proliferating throughout the state with no control measures other than after the fact. They have no fear of man.

Prop. 117, which banned hunting of mountain lions, was wrong, very much same way that SB 1221, trying to ban hunting of bears with hounds, is wrong. All thanks to rich, out-of-state anti-hunting, animal-rights groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

That man would not have been attacked if the scent of man was associated with fear. Now, lions have no fear of man. Do we want the same thing to happen with bears? The bear population in California has exploded in recent years, and even with legal bear hunting, their numbers continue to expand into cities and urban areas—yes, even swimming pools in L.A.

The only way to successfully hunt bears is with hounds. And with the use of hounds, hunters have an opportunity to actually see the animal before the kill, and determine if it’s a female with cubs, or a small bear, or one the hunter does not want to shoot so it can go free. Far more bears are released unharmed during bear hunts with hounds than are shot. But when a licensed bear hunter without dogs incidentally sees one in the woods, they shoot it, later to possibly find it had cubs, or was a small bear.

If not before, now, any reasonable person who has the slightest knowledge of proper wildlife management realizes that hunting is a very important part of wildlife management and needs to be left up to the Department of Fish and Game trained biologists and scientists, and not up to the dictates of legislators who know the halls of the Capitol far better than what goes on in the wilds of California. SB 1221 needs to be shelved … forever.

Bill Karr of Placerville is the Northern California Editor of Western Outdoor News.

[Peter Meyer]

Lately I've just been watching the shit hit the fan for California houndsmen waiting for the end of the legislative session August 31 so I can make the Sept. 3 deadline for Full Cry. Then I saw that the CHC had updated their web page, finally. WTF! We are in the fight of our lives and CHC's new web page shows mountain lions in five of eight photos in its' opening page montage. Really? -Pete

[Dale T]

Pete this is not the time or place to continue your to BITCHIN about CHC, if you had just a little bit of a clue as how much they have done FOR YOU every day of the week since this thing has hit the ground you would SHUT THE HELL UP!

[bearpaw992000]

Hey Guys I know everyone is on edge, but now is the the time to be infighting. I know every one that is involved is doing everything they can do to defeat this bill

[kiwi]

I look at it this way, your fight is with the politicians ,nobody else
If after all of this your hounds are required to help the F&G do a job , Go do it
Then you have a Govt dept that needs your help, local people will then realise that you can be helpful.
These are all small wins , that can help in the long run
If any of you are doing this work now , get a newspaper or other media involved to show how houndsmen/women do positive things for the community
This is how your opponents work .
Every positive needs to be highlighted
Our crew over here donated to the local fire brigade and museum , give meat to the townspeople .
Believe me it makes a difference

[meagain]

Just a little side note, a little additional info to give while making calls. The Homicide rate in SanJose, Oakland, Stockton, and other California urban areas are on a trend to be the highest in recent years! The occurrences of rape in the greater L.A. area is at an all time high! I have been pointing out that these politicians have the priorities in the wrong place..... it is time for political reform and it starts with voting these derelicts out of office.

[roper]

What happen to the voters voting on this bear and bobcat hunting bunch of libberls need to use these sorry asses as bear bait

[Peter Meyer]

When 12,000 houndsmen read my articles in Full Cry, nationwide, and call me asking what they can do and CHC pulls a bonehead move like their new web site who is the bitch Dale?

[FFHankey]

Who ever can be at the capitol tomorrow, we need you there!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Xparent Blue Tapatalk 2

[Dale T]

WE NEED TO MAKE THESE CALL BEFORE NOON ALL WEEK, THEY WILL BE THERE OFFICE UNTIL NOON.
Californis Senate we need to call

Alquist, Elaine Kontominas Voted against us and is 100% HSUS
Democrat
(916) 651-4013

Anderson, Joel Voted for us
Republican
(916) 651-4036

Berryhill, Tom Voted for us and is 100% for us
Republican
(916) 651-4014

Blakeslee, Sam Voted for us but has voted for the HSUS in the pasted and needs to feel the heat
Republican
(916) 651-4015

Calderon, Ron Voted against us the 1st time
Democrate
(916) 651-4030

Cannella, Anthony Voted for us
Republican
(916) 651-4012

Corbett, Ellen M. voted against us and is 100% HSUS
Democrat
(916) 651-4010

Correa, Lou Did not vote the 1st time and needs to be thanked for not voting and asked to do it again
Democrat
(916) 651-4034

de León, Kevin Voted against us
Democrat
(916) 651-4022

DeSaulnier, Mark voted against us and is 100% HSUS
Democrat
(916) 651-4007

Dutton, Bob Voted for us and is 100% for us
Republican
(916) 651-4031

Emmerson, Bill Voted against us and NEEDs to feel the heat
Republican
(916)651-4037

Evans, Noreen VOTED FOR US, THIS IS THE 1ST TIME SHE HAS EVER VOTED AGAINST THE HSUS AND NEEDS TO BE THANKED AND HAVE LOTS OF PRESSURE TO DO IT AGAIN!
Democrat
(916) 651-4002

Fuller, Jean Voted for us and has voted against the HSUS in the past
Republican
(916) 651-4018

Gaines, Ted Voted for us and has voted against the HSUS in the past
Republican
(916) 651-4001

Hancock, Loni Voted against us and has co-authored HSUS bills in the past
Democrate
(916)651 4009

Harman, Tom did not vote the 1st time and has voted against the HSUS 50% of the time and needs to have pressure put on him
Republican
(916) 651-4035

Hernandez O.D., Ed Voted against us and has voted against the HSUS in the past
Democrat
(916) 651-4024

Huff, Bob Voted for us and has voted against the HSUS in the past
Republican
(916) 651-4029

Kehoe, Christine POS and voted against us
Democrat
(916) 651-4039

La Malfa, Doug Voted for us and is 100% for us.
Republican
(916) 651-4004

Leno, Mark Voted against us and is 100% HSUS
Democrat
(916) 651-4003

Lieu, Ted W. POS author of the Bill!
Democrat
(916) 651-4028

Liu, Carol Voted against us
Democrat
(916) 651-4021

Lowenthal, Alan Voted against us
Democrat
(916) 651-4027

Negrete McLeod, Gloria voted against us BUT has voted against the HSUS in the past and needs to feel alot of pressure!
Democrat
(916) 651-4032

Padilla, Alex Voted against us
Democrat
(916) 651-4020

Pavley, Fran Voted against us the 1st time and has sponsored HSUS bills in the past
Democrate
(916) 651-4023

Price, Jr., Curren D. Voted against us BUT has voted against the HSUS in the past
Democrat
(916) 651-4026

Rubio, Michael J. voted for us and needs to be thank and asked to do the same.
Democrat
(916) 651-4016

Runner, Sharon Did not vote the 1st time and needs to be thanked and asked to do it again.
Republican
(916) 651-4017

Simitian, S. Joseph Voted against us BUT has voted against the HSUS in the past needs to feel the presuure!
Democrat
(916) 651-4011

Steinberg, Darrell The co-author of the bill
Democrat
(916) 651-4006

Strickland, Tony The rat bastard that voted AGAINST us the 1st time and needs to here about it!
Republican
(916) 651-4019

Vargas, Juan Voted against us the 1st time.
Democrate
(916) 651-4040

Walters, Mimi Voted for us the 1st time.
Republican
(916) 651-4033

Wolk, Lois Voted for us and needs to thanked and asked to vote for us again.
Democrat
(916) 651-4005

Wright, Roderick D. Voted for us the 1st time and needs to thanked and asked to vote for us again
Democrat
(916) 651-4025

Wyland, Mark Voted for us the 1st time.
Republican
(916) 651-4038

Yee, Leland Y. Voted against us the 1st time
Democrat
(916) 651-4008

[Dale T]

As of 4:30 it went to a vote and stalled out at a 13 to 13 vote, it needs a majority vote of the 40 seantors to die or get passed, it will come back up before the end of the day.

[pchop]

Keep at them they are getting sick of us calling