Californian Governor signs act against hunting with Hounds
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happyhunter123
Well-Known Member
It's OK-this only bans the hunting of bear and bobcat, the hunting of which is generally carried out by private hunters (although I believe that some foxhound packs do occasionally hunt bobcat). Not foxes.
kgates
Member
Hunting is hunting. It makes no difference if it is private or not.
It is one more hole in the dam that PETA and such are using as a way to promote their agenda. If you make it unlawful to hunt a species with hounds it is only a step away from outlawing all hunting with hounds. And these are steps away from outlawing all hunting.
If you outlaw hunting with hounds (privately) then its only one more step to outlaw hunting with any dog. As an example, upland bird hunting with a pointer that would flush and then retrieve your quarry.
As a side note, there are private packs of fox hounds in the US.
nonstop
Member
The passage of the California legislation was a big loss for hound hunters across the U.S. A lot of bear and cat hunting takes place in Northern CA. Regarding politics, in the U.S. the saying is, "As California goes, so goes the nation." There will almost certainly be similar bills proposed in Oregon and Washington state.
As kgates points out, all hunters are in this together. The anti's focus on little-known sports with few participants because it's easier for them to influence legislators and gain support from the general public. As the anti-hunting movement gains momentum, it becomes easier for them to work to outlaw even more types of hunting, not just with hounds and gundogs, but any kind. In my state of North Carolina, there is a movement underway to outlaw some forms of foxhound trialing; the anti's argument is based on sheer ignorance of how the sport operates. We don't kill the foxes and coyotes; it's just a chase that's scored for points, but it's easy enough for opposition groups to deliberately misinform the public so that hunters are on the defensive from the beginning. It's an excellent political tactic.
Big game hunting with dogs here is not a rich man's sport. Neither is field trialing of foxhounds or deer hunting with hounds which are also under attack. For plenty of hunters, the dogs are where their money goes, and they're glad to spend what they have on them. We just don't have the money to fight it when PETA, the Humane Society of the U.S., the ASPCA and other big groups pile on.
As a side note: There are some private packs of foxhounds that are formally registered with the MFHA. Most foxhounds in the U.S. are owned by private individuals, who keep generally less than a half dozen or so in my experience. There are a lucky few who sleep, eat, and breathe hounds and keep larger kennels. Plott Hounds and Treeing Walker Coonhounds are commonly used for bear, bobcat and mountain lion hunting. Plotts originated here in the N.C. mountains and spread to the midwest and northwest only over the past 50 years or so. Treeing Walkers are a slower, colder nosed type of Walker hound. Like with all hounds in every country throughout the world, probably, different strains have been tailored over the years to suit specific game, ground conditions, handling methods, and hunting styles.
We are all in this together.
As kgates points out, all hunters are in this together. The anti's focus on little-known sports with few participants because it's easier for them to influence legislators and gain support from the general public. As the anti-hunting movement gains momentum, it becomes easier for them to work to outlaw even more types of hunting, not just with hounds and gundogs, but any kind. In my state of North Carolina, there is a movement underway to outlaw some forms of foxhound trialing; the anti's argument is based on sheer ignorance of how the sport operates. We don't kill the foxes and coyotes; it's just a chase that's scored for points, but it's easy enough for opposition groups to deliberately misinform the public so that hunters are on the defensive from the beginning. It's an excellent political tactic.
Big game hunting with dogs here is not a rich man's sport. Neither is field trialing of foxhounds or deer hunting with hounds which are also under attack. For plenty of hunters, the dogs are where their money goes, and they're glad to spend what they have on them. We just don't have the money to fight it when PETA, the Humane Society of the U.S., the ASPCA and other big groups pile on.
As a side note: There are some private packs of foxhounds that are formally registered with the MFHA. Most foxhounds in the U.S. are owned by private individuals, who keep generally less than a half dozen or so in my experience. There are a lucky few who sleep, eat, and breathe hounds and keep larger kennels. Plott Hounds and Treeing Walker Coonhounds are commonly used for bear, bobcat and mountain lion hunting. Plotts originated here in the N.C. mountains and spread to the midwest and northwest only over the past 50 years or so. Treeing Walkers are a slower, colder nosed type of Walker hound. Like with all hounds in every country throughout the world, probably, different strains have been tailored over the years to suit specific game, ground conditions, handling methods, and hunting styles.
We are all in this together.
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Luci07
Well-Known Member
I do find it odd that hunting is banned, yet the NRA are still so incredibly vocal and the whole concept of gun control is such a massively emotive subject in the US?