This bill is very similar to other bills in the OR legislature: S.B. 126, S.B. 453, H.B. 2050, and H.B. 2181.
Bill Description:
This bill directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife to create a pilot program that allows people hunting or pursuing cougars in certain counties to use dogs.[teaserbreak]
During this pilot program, the Department must collect data on the effectiveness of hounding for cougar population management and recommend whether the program should be made permanent.
Background:
The use of dogs to hunt wild animals is a particularly savage method of hunting. “Hounding” involves attaching radio collars to dogs so hunters can monitor their movements as they track wildlife. The dogs chase the wild animal for hours until, exhausted and confused, the prey is cornered or gives up. The hunter, trailing behind, shoots the trapped animal. This also endangers the dogs, who can suffer terrible injuries when fearful animals strike back. When injured and no longer able to hunt, the dogs are sometimes simply abandoned.
This is a brutal and unnecessary hunting method that should not be implemented in Oregon.
Take Action:
Oregon residents, contact your state representative and urge him or her to oppose this legislation.
Read the full text and follow its progress here.