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EDITOR:
California Senate Bill 1221, which would ban the use of hounds for hunting bear and bobcat, if passed would be bad for California and worse for El Dorado County. El Dorado County is one of the premier counties in the state for bear and bobcat hunting. Senate bill 1221 would effectively cut off the tens of thousands of dollars houndsmen spend annually at local merchants as well as putting a large dent in Fish and Game’s already strained budget. Southern California legislators with the full backing of the Humane Society of the United States and its considerable resources are ramrodding this bill through the Legislature heedless of the truth and more importantly the California Environmental Quality Act. There has been no environmental impact report or negative declaration. In their zeal these pro-animal rights legislators and their backers are ignoring state law. They do have a hired gun biologist who says that reducing the annual take of bears by half will have no impact on the environment.
Really? On the average half of California’s annual take of 1,700 bears is done with hounds. California’s already expanding and healthy black bear population will explode. Homeowners in the Tahoe Basin, already under siege, will be overrun. Counties with no history of bear incidents will find themselves with hordes of voracious bruins spreading mayhem and havoc. Inevitably it will lead to a fatal human/bear encounter and we are not talking about the bear being the fatality, at least initially. Just as Proposition 117 directly lead to the first fatal human/lion encounter, Senate Bill 1221 will do the same with bears.
The HSUS propaganda machine is in full swing spreading misleading statistics, half-truths, slanders and outright lies. Hunting with hounds is an American tradition that can be traced directly back to our founding fathers.
I am sure that while our founding fathers were fighting the American Revolution they took some time off to run their beloved packs of foxhounds. Hunting bear and bobcat with hounds is neither cruel or unsporting. It is not contrary to the rules of fair chase. If Senate Bill 1221 passes and is upheld in the inevitable lawsuit that will follow, it will play right into the HSUS’s goal of ending all hunting in America.
So when you never see a pickup truck with a dog box at a local gas station, supermarket, or sporting goods store again and more of California’s economy leaves the state, you can thank Senators Steinberg and Lieu, authors of this decidedly un-American legislation.
PETER MEYER
Fairplay
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
Dink LaneJuly 02, 2012 - 10:19 am
When I see a dog in the back of a pick-up (Especially a Britney Spaniel) I think of DUCK Hunters.... You know the ones who FETCH after the duck is shot.... They are specially trained to have a SOFT-MOUTH... to NOT damage the bird. ... You are talking about hounds TERRORIZING predators... That's NOT sport.... Notice that Beth Gaines stepped out of the room to AVOID voting along with 5 other Republicans.....
markJuly 02, 2012 - 3:10 pm
sb 1221 passed today. This is indeed a great day. There is nothing sporting about hound hunting. The majority of Californians want it gone and it will be one way or another. One fact that these houndsmen fail to mention is that major hunting states like Montana, Colorado, Washington, oregon, etc have all banned hound hunting of bears. The houndsmen are resorting to propaganda as usual. Hound hunting needs to be banned and it will sooner or later. These houndsmen are using their dogs to chase and harass wildlife up a tree, just so they can shoot the treed animal dead. People need to see videos of these things taking place to understand how disgusting and cruel it is. truly a victory today for all those that care about dogs and wildlife. The claim that houndsmen care about their dogs is absurd. Read Judd Hanna's reports on houndsmen. You will be disgusted at the type of things houndsmen do. These houndsmen are purposely putting their dogs into dangerous situations having their dogs chase after dangerous wildlife and these hound hunters have the nerve to claim they care about their dogs? A little known fact, some places in the United States, any dog seen harassing or chasing wildlife can be shot and killed. Hound hunting dogs are no different. They are used to chase and harass wildlife and it's time to put a ban to this unsporting practice that many Californians want gone. Support sb 1221 if you love dogs and wildlife.
MarkJuly 02, 2012 - 3:13 pm
And hound hunting dogs will attack and kill any animal they come across with when let loose by their hound hunting owners. Anyone that supports responsibly taking care of your dog and wildlife should lend their support to sb 1221.
Dink LaneJuly 02, 2012 - 3:14 pm
Once a hound gets the taste of chasing wildlife and fresh blood....What will the hound think when they see a farmer's cow?
MarkJuly 02, 2012 - 3:17 pm
Banning hunting of mountain lions has nothing to do with mountain lion attacks on people. When you have a lot of people and a good amount of mountain lions, lions and people are going to sometimes run into each other. That is a fact of life. There have been attacks on people by mountain lions in places where mountain lions are allowed to be hunted and hounds used on them, so to suggest that banning hounds is going to lead to a fatal attack on a person by a bear is absurd. Humans have been killed by bears in places where they are hunted. Houndsmen are jus trying to scare the public and trying to justify the use of hounds anywhere they can because they know they are a tiny minority. The hound hunters don't want sb 1221 going on a balled iniative.
markJuly 02, 2012 - 3:18 pm
Notice that Beth Gaines stepped out of the room to AVOID voting along with 5 other Republicans.... Dink, I don't understand. i listened today online.
markJuly 02, 2012 - 3:21 pm
Any of the reasons hound hounters give to justify hound hunting of bear and bobcat can be debunked. Houndsmen love their dogs chasing wildlife up a tree and they love killing wildlife. Having hounds fight with dangerous wild animals is the same as having 2 pitbulls fight.Houndsmen care nothing for their dogs. In Idaho, hound hunters let their dogs chase after wildlife and their dogs are killed by wolves. Houndsmen still let their dogs run to chase after wildlife knowing there are predators out there that can easily kill their hounds. They don't care. Hounds to them are a tool. So glad sb 1221 passed today!!!!
1036-FrankJuly 02, 2012 - 8:16 pm
These leftist radicals rejoice as freedom after feedom is legislated away, gold mining, hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, 4x4's are all in thier sights as they foam at the mouth and think they are winning something by controlling others legal activities. I hope each of these leftists are taxed at 90% of their income to pay for the hoardes of new law enf. that would be required to enforce their mandates and thoughtless laws. Tell the guy who was just attacked in his sleeping bag by a mountain lion, or the lady's family that was killed here in Cool that what the leftists are doing is good to encourage more large predators loose and hungry. I have suffered many bear break-ins with thousands in damage, mountain lion livestock kills, and many other predator kills of livestock and thousands in damage due to over population of them, when has the leftist paid a dime for anything other then a lawsuit for more radical agendas, restrictions and ridiculous laws that are unenforceable.
33/3dJuly 02, 2012 - 10:10 pm
We should have a Mountain Lion BBQ, and Brew Fest to clear out the over populated Mountain Lion problem. Seems reasonable enough....
kent brownJuly 03, 2012 - 5:32 am
Hey dink lane, why don't you tell us what hounds will think when they see a farmers cow ? Seems like you guys are so well informed and no so much tell us please... just so happens I have owned cows and still own hounds. Also the cattlemens association stand behind us also so apparently they are not to threatened about our hounds chasing their cows. So it might appear that maybe you don't know what you're talking about. And hey mark, you make it sound like where ever a hound runs it leaves a trail of death. Do you really believe that hound kills every animal it comes across ? Maybe you guys should try it just to see what its actually like before making such comments. I understand that it is easier for you to just repeat what you been told by others rather than actually experience something for yourself so that you would be educated and know what you're talking. about
RickJuly 03, 2012 - 6:09 am
Frank, cry me a river. You right wing whackjobs who think that letting your dogs chase and harass wildlife should be considered a right are hilarious. In most places where dogs are seen harassing and chasing wildlife, they are shot on sight by fish and game officers. The ban on hound hunting in CA cannot come soon enough and when it finally does, good riddence. You don't like CA or what goes on in it, MOVE.
RickJuly 03, 2012 - 6:12 am
The public knows about hound hunting. That is why they want to ban it. You houndsmen can continue to cry as you keep losing. The public wants hound hunting gone and gone it will be in the very near future. About we have a pack of hungry pitbulls chase after you cowards? See how you like it being chased after dogs.
robertdnollJuly 03, 2012 - 6:31 am
dink wonders what a hound would think if it saw a farmer's cow.that's funny,what would a cow think if it saw a bear?
robertdnollJuly 03, 2012 - 6:41 am
rick,you say F&G shoots harassing dogs on site.give us one instance.
Richard C WhiteJuly 03, 2012 - 6:46 am
Hunting with hounds is decidedly less sporting than hunting without them, howevver, if the population of dangerous animals increases to hazardous levels then steps must and should be taken to reduce the populations, using hounds or any other traditional means of hunting. I don't want to rely on the county trapper to handle such matters. Our countys cannot afford the bill of having their fish and wildlife persons handle this problem.
RickJuly 03, 2012 - 7:56 am
Do some research please. it's common knowledge that dogs seen harassing or chasing wildlife can be shot and killed on sight. Hounds are no different. They are used to chase/harass/trap widllife just so the hunter can shoot the animal dead. Hound hunters care nothing for their dogs. Dogs to them are a tool and nothing more. If they really cared for their dogs and were responsible dog owners, they would not let their dogs chase after wild and unpredictable animals that can kill their hounds. A black bear can and will kill a hound if he/she wants to. The ban on hound hunting should have happened years ago. We scored a big victory with the banning of mountain lion hunting. We will score an even bigger one when hound hunting of bear and bobcat is banned.
robertdnollJuly 03, 2012 - 9:34 am
hey rick,next time you see a dog that has a bear treed,shoot it
kent brownJuly 03, 2012 - 11:00 am
I would sure feel bad for anyone that shot 1 of my hounds. Hey I know...seeing as all animals need equal rights. And bottom line is you don't want hunting period. Let's make it so from now on whatever a dog is bred to do that's not what we do with it no more. You know for safety reasons and all. A hound thats bred to hunt bears shall just become our lap dog. No more duck dogs,they may get cold feet or run the risk of drowning, upland game dogs,them poor dog run for hours giving all their heart searching for birds scent. Once again dangerous they could be snake bit or worse than that they they could catch a stray bb from a shotgun shot from a judge or lawyers gun. Seems like alot of high powered judges like dog hunting. Deer dogs would no longer be allowed to go to the woods to hunt with their companions for fear that they may accidentally be shot for harassing a bear not to mention the fact that an angry buck may get them. Very dangerous. From now on seeing eye dogs shall not have to be trained for vision impaired people and take a chance on being ran over in the road protecting their master and I think we should do away with k 9 units with law enforcement because of safety hazard for the dogs. Bomb squads....hmmm well we can guess how hazardous that may be. God only knows that all of these jobs are dangerous for dogs And even though some of these dogs are bred to do such things And others are just professionally trained. It's just not safe for them and if their owners really loved them they would just keep them at home as pets
Dink LaneJuly 03, 2012 - 11:13 am
Hey Kent-- So we should just ignore the signs in Lotus? I think the cattle people you DON'T talk to have something to say about that.
robertdnollJuly 03, 2012 - 11:24 am
Kent Brown,that's good
kent brownJuly 03, 2012 - 11:34 am
All of these dogs enjoy and love what they do. Dangerous or not. They would all die doing what they are bred to do or trained to do. Yes for the first time you guys are right dogs are just tools. But there are a very loved tool and the special bond between a hunter and his hound, or a bird hunter and his bird dog, or a seeing eye dog and his blind master or a law enforcement dog and the officer he is teamed up with. And they would all give all they had to please us. Also I hope you guys do close down bear hunting with hounds because that will give me an extra 5 to 10,000 dollars annually to spend in other states. Oh and by the way...RICK This is for you... Why don't you anti's move out of california. And better yet why don't we split our state in two and then your 83 percent of californians that don't like hunting can have your half the state. And the can have the other half... oh wait that's right every time there's talk of splitting the state guess who screams the south..... and imagine that it that same 83 percent.
kent brownJuly 03, 2012 - 11:51 am
Hey dink... is that really your name dink? Lol... That's funny. Sorry....Anyhow dink why don't you give me their phone numbers I would like to talk to them. Thanks for your effort in helping with this situation. Oh and another thing... are these actual cattle ranchers ? Thanks again Dink.....
MartinJuly 03, 2012 - 1:39 pm
Same old left BS, they have no idea what life is about, all they think about is turning everything green no matter who it hurts. They are taking away rights by the dozen not by scientific study but by legislation, if you could remove an obstacle from our nation it would be the environmentalist the biggest job killing organizations in the world. Their hands need to be tied, and the courts should be the deciding factor based on scientific studies done by true non partisan scientist, not government funded environmental organizations
Dink LaneJuly 03, 2012 - 2:54 pm
Yeah, you're right Martin.... They're taking my rights away.... I have the right to drive where I want; ... I have the right to tear down fences that keep me from my favorite fishing holes when I want; .... I have the right to drive my car through the dry brush when I want [If the field catches fire--oops]; .... I have the right to cut down trees [not on my own property] when I want if I can't see the lake from my house; ... yeah, yeah, This country is for MY pleasure.... To hXXXX with those that don't like if I SXXX behind YOUR tree..... It's MY LIBERTY....
MartinJuly 03, 2012 - 5:15 pm
I'am glad to see your not sleeping on the job Dick, this land is our land, woods and our fences and for you and your tree hugging lying and deceitful counter parts that we don’t have the right to use it in a responsible way is over the hill. It really burns my a—s to watch our rights go down the tubes by extreme environmental associations using falsehoods and bias scientific studies to destroy peoples livelihoods. Its sounds to me that you would like to live in a zoo where life is 100% predictable, not in the real world where men are men, you know the ones that go to war and fight for us to keep what we are losing on the home front, our freedom. You do understand hunting bear and cougar are necessary to keep them in check, and as far as the dogs getting hurt, well they don’t get hurt anymore that our soldiers, the ones that we send into harm’s way to fight and die for us. So when you get up in the morning be thankful it is here in United States of America land of the free.