California Considers Banning Hunting with Dogs

At last count, 600 hunters who advocate using dogs to hunt bear and bobcat showed up for a hearing in Sacramento, Calif., on April 24 regarding the practice. About 200 antis, mainly from the Humane Society of the United States, also arrived on the scene. Hounds are used to chase bears and bobcats – tiring out and often treeing prey until a hunter arrives and then, kills the animal. 

In a state where hunting always is called into question, this is just the latest hurdle thrown by anti-hunters – as legislation. In fact, you may recall when recently the president of California’s Game and Fish Commission, Dan Richards, hunted a mountain lion legally in Idaho and then came home to calls from the antis for his resignation. He is still the president. 

 The state’s wildlife department estimated that last year hunters with dogs killed fewer than 450 bears. In reference to bobcats, the state issued 4500 tags. Bobcats number around 70,000. Hunters with dogs killed 11 percent of bobcats in the state.

Said dog-hunting advocate Jess Cook, “The Department of Fish and Game does a better job managing the bear population than the Humane Society.” 

What is the Humane Society of the United States up to in your neck of the woods? Do you know?