Should hunting dogs be approved for hunting bears and bobcats?

[The Straight Story]

Donnelly's new bill may restore hunting dog privileges


VICTORVILLE • A bill that banned hunters from working with hounds to pursue bears and bobcats may be repealed if Assemblyman Tim Donnelly's new bill gets approved by the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife.

The bill, entitled AB 1230, would repeal SB 1221, which banned the use of hunting dogs in California last year but exempted government from the new law, according to a news release from Donnelly’s office.

“Dedicated citizens came out to oppose the hypocritical and purposeless government ban imposed by SB 1221 last year,” Donnelly said in the release. “They were ignored. I am excited to give their voice another chance to be heard. AB 1230 will reverse the intrusive and harmful policy passed last year and restore the simple freedom our citizens enjoyed just months ago, to go hunting, safely, with their dogs.”

The release states that during discussion of SB 1221, many hunters expressed concern that bears that would normally be let go would now be shot. Dogs can pick up the scent of pregnant bears; if a dog indicated that a bear was pregnant, the dog could be freed.

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/privileges-39405-restore-bill.html

[Sunlei]

1. Nothing more dangerous than a couple dogs who have had the chance to tear-up/kill other animals.

I can't see how we can trust "hunters with dogs that attack wildlife" to have enough home security to contain those animals.

It's bad enough in this world when dog fighters let their fighting dogs get lose and roam neighborhoods. We do not live in the 1800s anymore.

If "mighty hunters" want to shoot a bear, get your state permit and shoot the poor animal!!

There is no need in this world to have a pack of dogs tear an animal to pieces.

[Mopar151]

5. Bear dogs are not house pets

Nor are sled dogs, or many working dogs. It is the responsibility of their humans to keep them secure, and treat and train them humanely. With extremely rare exception, these are not the idiots with 10 pitbulls in their friend's backyard, or Presa Canirios in an apartment.
And I gotta tell ya - the hunting dogs i've met were happy, well cared for, and no danger to anybody. In these parts, they hunt nuisance coyotes with radio-collared tracking dogs, and I expect the same thing is true in Cali for nuiscance bears - the dogs are for tracking the bear, not attacking it.

[Sunlei]

8. humans are not that responsible with their dogs.

With such a bill there won't be any guarantee that the idiot dog owners won't cause great harm with every 'accident' they cause. When their fence or chain won't hold their dogs or their pack comes across some animal who can't scramble up a tree.

"nuisance" bears are in neighborhoods going from bird feeders to garbage cans..people can pick-up a phone and call the state. They don't need citizens with dog packs tracking them down.

I hope this law requires permanent verified done by a state Vet ID of every single dog. Microchip and tattoo of every single dog and attached to the humans state hunting permits.

radio collars can be removed, the dog can easy be dumped, and then the dogs become another dangerous stray.

In 'these parts' of Texas my friends with breeding cattle don't have any problem from 'nuisance coyotes'. The last 2 calves they had killed and the 20!! hefers and steers with shredded ears and de-tailed were done by stray dogs.

Go after your local ranchers who don't watch over, properly care for, compost or bury their dead livestock..they are the ones who are breeding your "nuisance coyotes"

[pipoman]

10. It was legal until a year ago in california..

hunting dogs have never been the problem you are making up. Many, most states with hunting seasons allow hunting with dogs, and hunting dogs are no more (in fact probably way less) of a threat than dogs in general. These dogs are usually purebred, highly trained (somebody spends a lot of time with the dog), and can be quite expensive..I have yet to see a pack of feral purebreds..Such a complete list of every untrue, indemonstrable, complete fabrication, and silly cliche's just don't get compiled every day..LOL

[Bigmack]

2. I'm reading the book "Nature Wars"...

... and it's really making me think... and rethink my conservationist/animal lover views.

Author makes the point that animals like Canada Geese, Wild Turkeys, Whitetail deer, and others used to be threatened. We have "conserved" them to the point where they are a nuisance... or even deadly. (Think car hitting deer or bird strike on an airliner.)

There's fewer people hunting, and the suburbs have become increasingly attractive to wildlife that is no longer wild.

So... I need to know a lot more about the dogs-bear-bobcat situation before I say more, but this is not an easy issue.... once you look into the problems.

[pipoman]

11. In addition to propoerty damage, which is significant,

risk of disease spread in over populated animals. The white tail deer "chronic wasting disease" is an example..Over population of deer in some areas caused a tremendous amount of suffering death to deer. Over population of coyotes exacerbated the problem of mange in their populations..coyotes with mange loose all their hair and ultimately die of exposure.

The return of turkeys, and waterfowl and habitat restoration responsible for maintaining species is largely paid for by hunters. In my state. The return of turkeys and other small game through wildlife management has increased healthy populations of previously low population predatory wildlife was funded entirely by license and park revenues..no tax money has been used for years...wildlife and parks is the only self sufficient department in the state. Populations are managed through hunting, license numbers and bag limits are adjusted to increase or reduce the annual harvest of game. They will never again be in danger because of over hunting...in fact with less people hunting there may be a need for government hunts/trapping or selective poisoning of some species.

No, modern hunting and wildlife management does far more good for populations than harm.

[pscot]

3. Absolutely

Dachshunds. And hunters must use a muzzle loading firearm. The bears, of course, can carry whatever they like: the right to arm bears shall not be infringed

[rrneck]

4. Hunting with dogs doesn't seem sporting. nt

[bhikkhu]

6. Its not always about being sporting, but about managing populations

Which is controversial in itself, but the natural population cycle (plenty of slow death by starvation) is arguably just as cruel as artificial hunting.

[rrneck]

7. Yes. Managing populaitons is a different issue. nt

[demosincebirth]

9. Only to hunt wild pigs

[Crepuscular]

12. My objection

My objection to hound hunting is that dogs are not capable of recognizing property boundaries and their owners usually adopt the attitude that allowing their dogs to trespass on private property is just dandy. I'm a hunter and I'm also a hunter that uses a bird dog but I make damn sure I know where I am with a GPS and that I control my dog so that I'm not trespassing on someone else's property. Figure out a way to keep packs of hounds off of private property that they don't have permission to be on and I'd be fine with it but barring that, I'd rather see it go away.

[NaturalHigh]

13. Nope. nt.

[baldguy]

14. Why are we hunting bears and bobcats?

[Peter cotton]

16. Why not?

Many people enjoy hunting, and there's a history of hunting these particular animals that goes back for centuries.

[pipoman]

17. Game management

every state with wildlife has game management. Culling populations improves conditions for the animals, keeps property damage to a minimum, and reduces human/animal incidents. Game management has improved conditions and populations of nearly every species. Funds from license sales maintains public grounds and is used to increase habitat in my state..

[dembotoz]

15. then we owe mike vick an apology and back wages