Recently, several pieces of legislation aimed at expanding hound hunting opportunities in Oregon were pre-filed in the Oregon Legislature.
While Oregon does allow hunting with hounds in a limited capacity for species like bobcat and raccoon, hound hunting for mountain lions and black bears, a common practice permitted in many states, is strictly illegal in Oregon. However, Oregon’s ban on such hunting was not instituted in response to declining black bear and mountain lion populations in the state. The ban was enacted through the passage of a citizen initiative in November of 1994, and advanced by anti-hunting activists through the use of graphic images and misleading information that did not accurately depict hound hunting, in an effort to limit hunting opportunities for Oregon’s sportsmen and women.
This type of wildlife management via ballot box counters the tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which relies upon trained professionals in areas such as biology, ecology, and law enforcement, to utilize the best-available science in the management of fish and wildlife species. Using the ballot box as a means to guide wildlife management constitutes a radical departure from the science-based North American Model, as it takes management decisions out of the hands of those most qualified to develop hunting regulations, such as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. As neighboring states such as Idaho have demonstrated, regulated bear and mountain lion hunting with the use of hounds can allow greater harvest opportunities for these species, while simultaneously ensuring that healthy populations of these animals endure.
Oregon Hound Hunting Bill Summaries
Oregon HB 2107, HB 2589, SB 371 – Introduced by the Oregon House Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee, Caucus Member Representative Sherrie Sprenger, and Caucus Member Senator Bill Hansell, respectively, would each “Provide that a county is exempt from applicability of statute banning use of dogs to hunt or pursue cougars if voters approve a county measure proposed by initiative petition or referred to people by governing body of county.”
Oregon S 458 – Introduced by Caucus Member Senator Chuck Thomsen, would require that the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopt a controlled hunt program for hunting mountain lions with dogs.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
