Bill Description:
This bill makes it illegal to hunt or take wildlife and then detach only the head, hide, claws, teeth, antlers, horns, internal organs, or feathers with the intent to abandon the carcass or body. It also makes it illegal to intentionally abandon the carcass or body of taken wildlife.[teaserbreak]
Exemptions to this prohibition on abandoning a carcass:
If retrieval of the wounded or dead wildlife is determined to be unsafe AND
• A person receives authorization by the Department of Land and Natural Resources to eradicate or cull wildlife; or
• A person is required to eradicate or cull wildlife pursuant to a court order.
The Department must provide public notice two weeks prior to authorizing any person to cull wildlife. Wildlife culled under a permit mst be made available for public use.
Background:
One positive outcome of this bill would be a ban on wildlife killing contests. Killing contests can’t be considered “sport;” they’re brutal contests that sacrifice lives for the sake of entertainment. During these shocking and vicious competitions, the person or team who has slaughtered the most animals is crowned the winner. The carcasses are then left where they were killed, because there is no intent to make use of the animal’s body. Thousands of these events occur across the U.S. every year, resulting in the senseless deaths of tens of thousands of wild animals.
Take Action:
Hawaii residents, contact your state representative and urge him or her to support this legislation!
Read the full text and follow its progress here.