THE C.A.S.H. COURIERabolishsporthunting.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/... · 2020. 11. 20. · ing...

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I could begin this historical overview with the Big Bang and the spreading out of all matter through- out the once-empty universe, fol- lowed by the resultant formation of stars and the planets which took up orbit around them, but for the sake of promised brevity, I’ll skip ahead a few billion years and focus on the fully-formed, sufficiently-cooled Earth. And as far as the ongoing human-driven extinction spasm, our story must skip on to the final few moments of a12-hour timescale. If you’re with me so far, we’re talk- ing about the arrival of the most cun- ning, ruthless, self-aggrandizing. overly-intelligent primate species ever to reach the dead-end at which we now find ourselves, thanks to hunting. Hunting and meat-eating in general. Evolution is the process through which dinosaurs sprouted wings and gave rise to birds, horses grew from equines the size of miniature ponies to mustangs (while controlled breed- ing spawned thoroughbreds and behemoth Clydesdales—and actual miniature ponies) and wolves led to dogs (resulting in pugs, poodles and Great Pyrenees). Meanwhile, primates evolved from tree shrews not long (well, a couple of million years) after the extinction of the (un-feathered) dinosaurs some sixty-five million years ago, branching out and diversifying over time to become plant-eating specialists in their chosen niches. Humans and their direct fore-bear- ers were the only primates to follow the path of carnivism and become full-time predators of everyone else they came across, including other species of primates and hominids— many of whom were likely hunted to extinction early on in human evolu- tion. No one can say which was the first species that humans wiped off the face of the planet, or when. Chances are it was another primate, somewhere between 100,000 and a million years ago. No doubt any other hominids around at the time were hunted down and killed as competition. Homo Sapiens may not have always eaten their conquests, but modern- THE C.A.S.H. COURIER THE COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH SPORT HUNTING A DIVISION OF WILDLIFE W ATCH, INC. © 2020 BY WILDLIFE WATCH, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Fall/Winter 2020/2021 MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of C.A.S.H. - Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting - is to accomplish what its name says in the shortest pos- sible time. Understanding that abolish- ing hunting entails a process, a series of steps taken and not a single action that would effect our goal overnight, a time frame cannot be established. We hope for building a succession of wins, and if not wins immediately then at least a succession of stirrings of con- sciousness. We hope to encourage those who are still silent to speak out, awakening community after community about the heavy hand of state and fed- eral wildlife management agencies. We hope to alter whatever belief still exists that sport hunters are conservationists and champions of the environment to a realization that they are destroyers of wildlife and ecosystems in the narrow and broad sense. Where the natural feeling for wildlife doesn’t exist, we strive to engender among citizens out- rage that their own rights are violated by legal hunting and their quality-of-life diminished. Luke A. Dommer was the founder of the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting. He was its president from 1976 until his passing in August 1992. Mr. Dommer’s research and publications served as the foundation for the anti-hunting movement. He remains, through this organiza- tion, an invaluable and dedicated warrior in the battle to save wild animals, the environment, and general public from the silent economy that encourages and preys on the passion of a few to kill the wildlife that belongs to all. Wildlife Watch Inc. a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible. ------ C.A.S.H. COURIER PO Box 562 New Paltz, NY 12561 845-256-1400 - Phone [email protected] Anne Muller - Editor ------ Robert Greenough - Desktop Publishing www.wildwatch.org www.abolishsporthunting.org Please see BRIEF HISTORYPage 3 PAGE 1 A Brief History of Hunting Animals to Extinction TEXT AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY ©JIM ROBERTSON https://pixabay.com/images/search/dinosaur/?pagi=2

Transcript of THE C.A.S.H. COURIERabolishsporthunting.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/... · 2020. 11. 20. · ing...

  • I could begin this historicaloverview with the Big Bang and thespreading out of all matter through-out the once-empty universe, fol-lowed by the resultant formation ofstars and the planets which took uporbit around them, but for the sakeof promised brevity, I’ll skip ahead afew billion years and focus on thefully-formed, sufficiently-cooledEarth. And as far as the ongoinghuman-driven extinction spasm, ourstory must skip on to the final fewmoments of a12-hour timescale.

    If you’re with me so far, we’re talk-ing about the arrival of the most cun-ning, ruthless, self-aggrandizing.overly-intelligent primate speciesever to reach the dead-end at whichwe now find ourselves, thanks tohunting. Hunting and meat-eating ingeneral.

    Evolution is the process throughwhich dinosaurs sprouted wings and

    gave rise to birds, horses grew fromequines the size of miniature poniesto mustangs (while controlled breed-ing spawned thoroughbreds andbehemoth Clydesdales—and actual

    miniature ponies) and wolves led todogs (resulting in pugs, poodles andGreat Pyrenees).

    Meanwhile, primates evolved fromtree shrews not long (well, a couple

    of million years) after the extinctionof the (un-feathered) dinosaurs somesixty-five million years ago, branchingout and diversifying over time tobecome plant-eating specialists intheir chosen niches.

    Humans and their direct fore-bear-ers were the only primates to followthe path of carnivism and becomefull-time predators of everyone elsethey came across, including otherspecies of primates and hominids—many of whom were likely hunted toextinction early on in human evolu-tion. No one can say which was thefirst species that humans wiped offthe face of the planet, or when.Chances are it was another primate,somewhere between 100,000 and amillion years ago.

    No doubt any other hominidsaround at the time were hunteddown and killed as competition.Homo Sapiens may not have alwayseaten their conquests, but modern-

    THE C.A.S.H. COURIERTHE COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH SPORT HUNTING

    A DIVISION OF WILDLIFE WATCH, INC.© 2020 BY WILDLIFE WATCH, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    Fall/Winter 2020/2021

    MISSION STATEMENT:The mission of C.A.S.H. - Committee toAbolish Sport Hunting - is to accomplishwhat its name says in the shortest pos-sible time. Understanding that abolish-ing hunting entails a process, a seriesof steps taken and not a single actionthat would effect our goal overnight, atime frame cannot be established. Wehope for building a succession of wins,and if not wins immediately then atleast a succession of stirrings of con-sciousness. We hope to encouragethose who are still silent to speak out,awakening community after communityabout the heavy hand of state and fed-eral wildlife management agencies. Wehope to alter whatever belief still existsthat sport hunters are conservationistsand champions of the environment to arealization that they are destroyers ofwildlife and ecosystems in the narrowand broad sense. Where the naturalfeeling for wildlife doesn’t exist, westrive to engender among citizens out-rage that their own rights are violatedby legal hunting and their quality-of-lifediminished.

    Luke A. Dommer was the founder of theCommittee to Abolish Sport Hunting. He was itspresident from 1976 until his passing in August1992. Mr. Dommer’s research and publicationsserved as the foundation for the anti-huntingmovement. He remains, through this organiza-tion, an invaluable and dedicated warrior in thebattle to save wild animals, the environment,and general public from the silent economy thatencourages and preys on the passion of a few tokill the wildlife that belongs to all.

    Wildlife Watch Inc.a 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit Corporation.

    Contributions are tax-deductible.------

    C.A.S.H. COURIERPO Box 562 New Paltz, NY 12561

    845-256-1400 - [email protected]

    Anne Muller - Editor------

    Robert Greenough - Desktop Publishingwww.wildwatch.org

    www.abolishsporthunting.org

    Please see BRIEF HISTORYPage 3

    PAGE 1

    A Brief History of HuntingAnimals to Extinction

    TEXT AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY ©JIM ROBERTSON

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  • PAGE 2

    SOME HIGHLIGHTS OFWHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

    Maintaining the C.A.S.H. hunting violations and acci-dent pages

    Responding to email inquiries, commentsAdding more content to the C.A.S.H. blogAlerted activists to the expanded hunting season in NY,

    generating many last-minute comments condemning a hunt

    Researching killing contests for future steps neededAttended Zoom hearing to oppose the expansion of

    hunting in the Kenai National Wildlife RefugePresented C.A.S.H. comments there.Attended Wisconsin hearing about wildlife killing con-

    tests.

    Letter from the PresidentGreetings C.A.S.H. Members and Supporters,It's currently early archery season around here and that

    means any deer is fair game for impaling by any camou-flage-clad killer out there wanting to score some braggingrights among his or her fellow conscienceless primitivewannabes. If survival of the most savage were a law of thejungle, bowhunters would be right up there with the mostbrutal.

    A few decades ago, I worked with a guy in Montanawho was about as fanatic a hunter as you'll ever meet.Each year by early Autumn, he would be scheming hisnext deer kill—never missing an opportunity to slayanother wild animal.

    An unrepentant killer of all things Cervidae, the onlytime he spoke of regret was after he'd decided to trybowhunting for a season. He was hiding in a tree-standover a deer trail (a popular strategy, familiar to anyonekeeping track of hunting accidents), when a “nice” buckapproached within range of his powerful compound bow.

    But the steel-tipped arrow he launched went rightthrough the deer, who was able to get far away, beforedying somewhere—never to be recovered. Even such afanatical hunter was so sickened by what he'd done that heswore off bowhunting from that day on.

    You don't have to take our word for it; if you don't wantto believe us animal advocates that archery is the cruelestkill method in a hunter's quiver, take it from a die-hard“sportsman.”

    Bowhunting is becoming a more and more common cullmethod among suburbanites wanting to protect their prizerose bushes or keep their highways deer-free to ensurethey can race down them at maximum mph without takinganother being's safety into account. (Of course, we knowthat's not the true subject of their concern, as they speedaway in their new Subaru, Toyota or Ford F-150.)

    But, just because it's quieter or somewhat safer for otherrecreationists, doesn't make bowhunting a reasonable,acceptable way to slaughter deer in city parks (or any-

    where). And keeping non-consumptive users out of thewoods so they won't witness the carnage is downrightunfair to everyone except the would-be killers.

    Sadly for any deer wary enough to survive the sport-archers intrusion into their wild homes, next week marksthe start of “general” deer season. That means anyone witha gun and an unwholesome urge to kill will be out blast-ing at anything that moves or even remotely appears deer-like.

    But you can count on C.A.S.H. To keep track of theirfollies and barbarism, and let you know whenever a huntershoots or impales anyone of a non-game species (i.e.,human), or just generally breaks the few rules governingtheir “sport” they've supposedly agreed to.

    Visit: http://abolishsporthunting.org/hunting-accidents/ Thank you again for all of your support,JimJim RobertsonPresident, the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting

    Please see inside for C.A.S.H.’S participation in publichearings to stop the expansion of hunting.

  • PAGE 3

    BRIEF HISTORYContinued from page 1

    day trophy hunters often don’t both-er to eat their kills either.

    Other species hunted to extinctionpartly for hubris or bragging-rightsincluded mammoths, mastodons andany other relative of today’s ele-phants, as well as any early rhino orhippo human hunters could get theirspears into.

    Early species of giant armadillo andbeaver, cave bear, camel, horse andground sloth were all wiped outwhen pioneering pedestrians stum-bled onto this continent full ofunwary mega-fauna who had nevermet humans before and found theirhorns, hooves or bulk were no matchfor the weaponry of these newsuper-predators. This “Americanblitzkrieg” (as Jared Diamond, authorof The Third Chimpanzee, Collapseand Guns, Germs and Steel labeled it)marked the tragic, catastrophic endof 75% of North America’s indige-nous large mammals, including theAmerican lion, dire wolves andsaber-toothed cats—none of whomwere prepared for humans’ huntingtactics.

    Even back in the Pleistocene, so-called “modern” humans (not theones of today’s world, glued to theirsmartphones), armed only withprimitive weapons, quickly wipedout the noble mega-fauna that hadtaken millions of years to evolve.

    The Pleistocene was a time of greatdiversity of life—it was in fact themost diverse period the Earth hasever known—but a few centuriesafter our species were on the scenethey had already hacked away atNature’s masterpiece and started anunparalleled extinction event. It wasthe first time that one intelligentspecies was responsible for eternallysnuffing out so many of its larger-bodied brethren. No other specieshad caused the kind of damage asdid this cleverly destructive, self-cen-tered, weapon-wielding primate.

    Early in pre-human evolution,bipedalism became a necessity forprimate-predators, if only to free up

    a couple of appendages to carry clubsand spears—followed by bows, riflesand harpoon cannons. It seems ourspecies never took the time (untilnow?) to look back to their earliestdays of living by plant-eating. But, if a500 lb gorilla can, surely the humanprimate can survive without animalflesh.

    One of our species’ closest relativesis the orangutan, a highly intelligentprimate who, like the gorilla, wouldn’tbe caught dead eating meat. Bothspecies are among the most criticallyendangered animals on Earth, hunted(poached) nearly to extinction outsidezoos or other captive situations.

    Human beings are one of four cur-rently living species of “great” apes,including gorillas, chimpanzees andorangutans. Only one of those speciesis grossly (morbidly) overpopulatedand routinely eats the flesh of otheranimals to excess. Care to guess whichone? (No fair peaking at the shiny frontcover of the grocery store ads thatmagically end up in your mailbox orthe ubiquitous golden arches on thestreet corner.) Of course, it’s thehumans. It’s interesting that the USDAstill places meat and dairy in theiressential food pyramid, when no otherprimate really needs those things.Hmm, it seems that the government iswrong about that. Do you suppose?Perhaps they need to take another

    look at that in context of the situa-tions the world now faces.

    The only one of our closest apecousins still clinging to existence onthe planet who has been observed tostep out of the plant eating regimenof the monkeys, non-human greatapes and other primates are thechimpanzees, who, while normallypeaceful plant-eaters, will on rareoccasions venture out on violent for-ays, killing and eating monkeys orother hapless creatures they comeupon. Once a kill is made, the realexcitement begins for the chimps,who loudly advertise their blood lustwith whoops and screams, proclaim-ing their conquest.

    Therein lies a grim parallel andexposes the roots of modernhuman’s sport hunting behavior.

    Continuing on our rapid flash for-ward, we enter the European MiddleAges and a period when animalswere farmed to feed the peasantry,while hunting became a sportreserved for the “elite.” Wolf trap-ping, sometimes practiced by lowercastes, was smiled upon by the royal-ty since it took out the competitionfor their prized game species: stags,elk and other horned “lordly game”creatures, as Teddy Roosevelt would

    Please see BRIEF HISTORY Page 4

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    BRIEF HISTORYContinued from page 3

    later dub them.Speaking of Teddy, let’s skip ahead

    to Roosevelt’s era. After Europeanshad made it their task to “settle” theNew World, they infamously huntedthe plains bison to near extinction inthe 1800’s. During that same period,over-zealous hunters completelykilled off the once amazingly abun-dant passenger pigeon and Eskimocurlew (both killed en mass and soldby the cartload for pennies apiece),the Carolina parakeet (the only parrotnative to the U.S.), the great auk (aflightless, North Atlantic answer tothe penguin) and the Steller’s sea cow(a Coastal Alaskan relative of themanatee). Of sea cows, the 19thCentury German zoologist GeorgWilhelm Steller wrote in his journalthat this peaceful, plant-eating herdanimal showed “...signs of a wonder-ful intelligence...an uncommon lovefor one another, which even extendedso far that, when one of them washooked, all the others were intentupon saving him.”

    Meanwhile, elk, bighorn sheep,wolves, grizzly bears and prairiedogs—once hunted, trapped and poi-soned down to mere fractions of theiroriginal populations—continue to betargeted today. And when certain

    species, such as black bears, Canadageese and coyotes prove to haveadapted to the human-dominatedworld, they are hated, hunted andtrapped with a vengeance.

    In the words of the Fund ForAnimals founder, Cleveland Amory,“Theodore Roosevelt...could not befaulted for at least some efforts in thefield of conservation. But here thepraise must end. When it came tokilling animals, he was close to psy-chopathic.” Dangerously close indeed(think: Ted Bundy).

    In his two-volume, African GameTrails, Roosevelt lovingly muses overshooting elephants, hippos, buffaloes,lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffe,zebra, hartebeest, impala, pigs, theless-formidable 30-pound steenbokand even a mother ostrich on hernest.

    But don’t let on to a hunter whatyou think of their esteemed idol,because, as Mr. Amory wrote in hisbook, Mankind? Our Incredible Waron Wildlife “...the least implicationanywhere that hunters are not theworthiest souls since the apostlesdrives them into virtual paroxysms ofself-pity.” Amory goes on to write,“...the hunter, seeing there wouldsoon be nothing left to kill, seized

    upon the new-fangled idea of ‘conser-vation’ with a vengeance. Soon theyhad such a stranglehold [think: TedNugent] on so much of the movementthat the word itself was turned fromthe idea of protecting and saving theanimals to the idea of raising andusing them–for killing. The idea ofwildlife ‘management’–for man, ofcourse–was born.”

    Almost without exception, stateand federal wildlife “managers” arehunters themselves. Being both dele-gates and lackeys for the huntingindustry, they would have us believethe preposterous party line that hunt-ing helps animals—that they won’tcontinue to live unless we kill them.This is particularly outrageous in lightof how many species have beenwiped off the face of the earth, ornearly so, exclusively by human hunt-ing.

    Nowadays, hunting season is like abunch of weapon-wielding, over-sizedpre-schoolers on an Easter egg huntcreeping around the back-roads hop-ing a deer will jump out in front ofthem and stand still long enough forthem to get a shot off. It doesn’t evenhave to be a good, clear shot, either.I’ve heard hunters bragging about tak-ing a few “sound shots” at whateverthey heard in the bushes, as if blastingtheir noisy rifles is the main reason tobe out there (never mind the target).

    But, it’s never quite as satisfyinglythrilling for them as making an actualkill, the carcass of which they are fondof displaying on the hoods or in theopen beds of their brand new$60,000 pickup trucks.

    “Survival” of the fittest? Don’t evenget me started...

    This article includes excerpts fromthe book, Exposing the Big Game:Living Targets of a Dying Sport

    --------------------------Jim Robertson is the President of

    C.A.S.H. and the author of Exposingthe Big Game: Living Targets of aDying Sport

    https://www.animalsinthewild.com

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  • PAGE 5

    COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH SPORT HUNTINGPARTICIPATES IN THE KENAI NATIONAL

    WILDLIFE REFUGE LIVE PUBLIC HEARINGBY VICTORIA CYMBAL

    On 10/27/2020, the United States Fishand Wildlife Service (USFWS) held apublic hearing titled, “Proposed RuleChange to Public Use in Kenai NationalWildlife Refuge.”

    The Alaska National Wildlife RefugeSystem staff of the United States Fish andWildlife Service published a proposedrule to amend the public use regulationsfor Kenai National Wildlife Refuge onJune 11, 2020 that would weaken huntingrestrictions on the wildlife refuge land.

    The proposed rule can be seen here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/06/11/2020-10924/refuge-specific-regulations-public-use-kenai-national-wildlife-refuge.

    In summary, the regulatory changesproposed by this rule include:

    • allowing the harvesting of brownbears at registered bait stations

    • allowing for trapping under Statelaw without a Federal permit

    • allowing the discharge of firearmsalong the Kenai and Russian Rivers atselect times of the year

    • increasing access by bicycles andgame carts and allowing snowmobiles,all-terrain vehicles and utility taskvehicles on certain lakes when there isa sufficient amount of snow and ice.

    The state claims that the purpose ofthe rule is to align with Alaska’s regu-lations and management of fish and

    wildlife and the Federal law broughtforth by the Trump administration.The current administration has beenactively working towards expandinghunting territory and debilitatinghunting restrictions since 2017 whenPresident Donald Trump persisted thatRepublicans repeal a federal restric-tion on hunting predators.

    During the public hearing on June11, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicereceived many requests from Alaskanand out-of-state residents to extendthe public comment period past theinitial 60-day period. The USFWSdecided to allow comments from thepublic until Nov. 9. As required byService regulations, a public hearingvia teleconference on Zoom was heldon Oct. 27. The Oct. 28 public hear-ing, the day for which C.A.S.H. hadregistered to comment was can-celled without further explanationas to why.

    The hearing on the 27th took placeat 4 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time (8 pmin NY) and proceeded for about 4hours. With over 70 participantsinvolved in the teleconference, arange of state agencies and depart-

    ments, as well as Alaskan residents,were able to share their opinionsabout the proposed rule.

    Over tens of thousands of people allover the country had shared theiropinion where the majority of thecomments were similar concerns andoppositions regarding the proposedchanges to the regulation.

    Many of the public comments weresimilar in language stating in so manywords, “I urge you to reject the pro-posed regulation that would roll backprotections for bears and other ani-mals on the Kenai National WildlifeRefuge. Refugees should be places ofsafety for wild animals not play-grounds for trophy hunters.”

    Americans nationwide made it clearthat they fully oppose the revision ofrules that would allow for trophyhunting on national land that is meantto be a wildlife refuge.

    To read the proposed amendmentsand submit a comment electronically,visit www.regulations.gov and searchDocket Number: FWS-R7-NWRS-2017-0058.

    Please see KENAI NATIONALWILDLIFE REFUGE Page 6

  • PAGE 6

    KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGEContinued from page 5

    Victoria Cymbal is beginning to intern at C.A.S.H. Shehad fortunately registered for the first hearing, thanks toan alert by Wilderness Watch www.wildernesswatch.org

    that was sent to us by C.A.S.H. member Richard Firth.C.A.S.H. quickly sent her the official C.A.S.H. comment.You can see it below.

    C.A.S.H. COMMENTS AT THE KENAI NATIONALWILDLIFE REFUGE PUBLIC HEARING 10/28/2020

    COMMENTS PRESENTED BY VICTORIA CYMBALShould hunting and trapping be expanded in the

    Kenai National Wildlife Refuge? The Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting strongly

    opposes this expansion, and would, in fact, like to seethe reversal of hunting and trapping here and elsewhere.

    The larger issue that is mostly hidden from thepublic and general taxpayer is that the excise taxeson every bullet and firearm used against animals inour forests and fields, and used against people in thecities, pays into the USFWS and state wildlife man-agement bureaus to promote more use of firearmsand ammunition in our fields and forests.

    The only way to stop management of our wildlifefor this purpose is for the public to prevent their tax

    dollars in their state general fund from supportingthis circular and exclusive economy that you see inaction now. Millions of dollars of your taxes andmine are supplementing the management of wildlifeto be recipients of bullets, while human victims ofbullets are left to pay for their hospitalizations ontheir own, and families are left to pay for funerals offamily members.

    State General Funds must STOP supplementing thesystemic slaughter of our wild animals. An economybuilt on wildlife watching must replace firearms as thefoundation of wildlife management. For more info,visit: www.abolishsporthunting.org

    It’s All the Same To the VictimTEXT AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY©JIM ROBERTSON

    Lately we’ve been hearing from a lot of holier-than-thoutypes quick to make a distinction between sport and subsis-tence hunters. Truth is, there’s not all that much differencebetween the two. Sport hunters and pseudo-subsistencehunters are often such close kin they’re practically kissin’cousins. I know a lot of hunters, but I’ve never met one whodidn’t boast about “using the meat.” By the same token, I’venever met anyone who openly admitted to being just a sporthunter.

    There are a lot of needy poor folk out there these days,including myself, but I don’t know anyone who really needsto kill animals to survive. Like sport hunters, subsistencehunters do what they do because they want to, they enjoythe “lifestyle.” If one thing differentiates the two, it’s thatmeat hunters have an even stronger sense of entitlement.

    But, everyone has a right to feed themselves and theirfamily, don’t they? Well, does everyone—all 7.8 billionhumans and counting—have the right to subsist off thebacks of other animals when there are more humane andsustainable ways to feed ourselves? How many self-pro-claimed “subsistence” hunters are willing to give up all theirmodern conveniences—their warm house, their car, theircable TV or their ever-present and attendant “reality” film

    crew—and live completely off the land like a Neanderthal?Not many I’m sure—at least not indefinitely.

    It’s unclear what makes some folks believe they havethe right to exploit wildlife as an easy source of protein,but animal flesh is by no means the safest or healthiestway for humans to get it. While a steady diet of decayingmeat slowly rots your system, millions of vibrant peoplehave found a satisfying and healthy way to eat that doesn’tinvolve preying on others.

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    A killing contest is one of the more egregious aspects ofsport hunting, and we at C.A.S.H. applaud the efforts ofmany organizations that have been on this journey foryears with some success. We especially applaud ProjectCoyote for being the prime mover of successful laws thatprotect coyotes and other animals from contests in certainstates.

    The League of Humane Voters/NY has been presentinga bill that would ban killing contests in their entirety (noifs, ands, or buts) for many years, yet each year passeswithout the bill passing into law.

    There are presently seven states that have laws to bankilling contests to some degree. The states are: Arizona,California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico,Vermont, and Washington.

    If there are demonstrations, a rallying cry for New Yorkcould be, “If California can do it, so can we! Make NYkilling contest free!”

    Out of interest and to better understand how other statessucceeded, we decided to take a look at the existing laws.We’re presenting them here to see if you notice any wiggleroom for the folks who would participate in or host akilling contest.

    C.A.S.H. is giving a prize to anyone who detects loop-holes so that they can be plugged up in future statutes (lawspassed by a legislature) or regulations (laws passed by anagency).

    LAWS BANNING KILLING CONTEST IN THESEVEN STATES

    ARIZONA KILLING CONTEST LAWArizona Admin. Code Section R12-4-303 in 2019

    4. A person shall not by any means:i. Participate in, organize, promote, sponsor, or solicit

    participation in a contest where a participant uses orintends to use any device or implement to capture or killpredatory animals or fur-bearing animals as defined underA.R.S. § 17-101. For the purposes of this subsection, “con-test” means a competition among participants where par-ticipants must register or record entry and pay a fee andprizes or cash are awarded to winning or successful par-ticipants.

    CALIFORNIACalifornia Fish and Game Code Section 2003 in 2014

    (a) Except as specified in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), itis unlawful to offer a prize or other inducement as areward for the taking of a game bird, mammal, fish, reptile,or amphibian in an individual contest, tournament, orderby.

    (b) The department may issue a permit to a personauthorizing that person to offer a prize or other induce-ment as a reward for the taking of a game fish, as definedby the commission by regulation, if it finds that there wouldbe no detriment to the resource. The permit is subject toregulations adopted by the commission. The applicationfor the permit shall be accompanied by a fee in the amountdetermined by the department as necessary to cover thereasonable administrative costs incurred by the depart-ment in issuing the permit. However, the department maywaive the permit fee if the contest, tournament, or derby isfor persons who are under 16 years of age or have a phys-ical or mental disability, and the primary purpose of thecontest, tournament, or derby is to introduce those anglersto or educate them about fishing. All permits for which thefee is waived pursuant to this subdivision shall comply withall other requirements set forth in this section.

    (c) This section does not apply to a person conductingwhat is generally known as a frog-jumping contest, or, inwaters of the Pacific Ocean, what is generally known as afish contest.

    (d) This section does not apply to a person conducting anindividual contest, tournament, or derby for the taking of agame bird or mammal, if the total value of all prizes orother inducements is less than five hundred dollars ($500)for the individual contest, tournament, or derby.

    BANNING KILLING CONTESTS:AN ARDUOUS PATH TO LAWS WITH LOOPHOLES GALORE

    BY ANNE MULLER

    Please see KILLING CONTESTS Page 8

  • PAGE 8

    COLORADOColo. Rev. Stat. § 33-6-118 in 2020

    It is unlawful for any person to advertise, conduct oroffer to conduct, or otherwise promote or participate inany contest or competition involving two or more personsand the monetary payment or awarding of any other prizewhen the object of the contest or competition involves thekilling of any big game or the display for comparison ofany big game or any part thereof. Certificates issued byorganizations solely for registration and recognition ofanimals legally taken are not prohibited. Any person whoviolates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, uponconviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of five hun-dred dollars and an assessment of twenty license suspen-sion points.

    MASSACHUSETTS2.16 : Prohibition on Contests for the Capture, Take or

    Waste of Predator and Furbearer Animals in 2019It shall be unlawful for any person to organize, sponsor,

    promote, conduct or participate in a contest in which par-ticipants compete for prizes or other inducements thatresults in the capture, take or waste of those predatory orfurbearing animals regulated by the Division pursuant to321 CMR 3.02(3) or 3.02(5)(b)(2.) and (5.-11.).

    NEW MEXICO

    New Mexico Stat. § 30-18-16 in 2019A. It is unlawful for a person to organize, cause, sponsor,

    arrange, hold or participate in a coyote-killing contest.B. As used in this section, “coyote-killing contest”

    means an organized or sponsored competition with theobjective of killing coyotes for prizes or entertainment.

    C. Organizing, causing, sponsoring, arranging or hold-ing a coyote-killing contest consists of a person knowing-ly:(1) planning, organizing or enticing a person to partic-ipate in a coyote-killing contest; or(2) providing the venuefor a coyote-killing contest.

    D. Participation in a coyote-killing contest consists of aperson knowingly taking part in a coyote-killing contest.

    E. A person who organizes, causes, sponsors, arrangesor holds a coyote-killing contest is guilty of a misde-meanor.

    F. A person who participates in a coyote-killing contestis guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

    G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibita person from protecting a person or property or the stategame commission from carrying out the statutory authori-ty allowed by Chapter 17 NMSA 1978 in a non-coyote-killing contest setting.

    VERMONTSec. 14. 10 V.S.A. § 4716 COYOTE-HUNTINGCOMPETITIONS; PROHIBITION in 2018

    (a) As used in this section, “coyote-hunting competition”means a contest in which people compete in the capturingor taking of coyotes for a prize. No. 170 Page 15 of 172018 VT LEG #333636 v.1

    (b) A person shall not hold or conduct a coyote-huntingcompetition in the State.

    (c) A person shall not participate in a coyote-huntingcompetition in the State.

    (d) A person who violates this section shall be fined notmore than $1,000.00 nor less than $400.00 for a firstoffense. Upon a second and all subsequent convictions orany conviction while under license suspension related tothe requirements of part 4 of this title, a person who vio-lates this section shall be fined not more than $4,000.00nor less than $2,000.00.

    It’s interesting to note that this was an actual statutethat passed without the governor’s signature on5/22/2018. David Deen, the sponsor, retired that year.

    For comment by the VT governor, which offers insightabout why he did not veto the law but let it pass without hissignature, please see this website: https://www.vnews.com/Coyote-hunting-contests-banned-in-Vermont-17770235

    It’s clear that the bill bundled together the ban withreforms that were advantageous to the game department.

    WASHINGTONWash. Rev. Code § 77.32.540 in 2020

    A person shall not promote, conduct, hold, or sponsor acontest for the hunting or fishing of wildlife or a competi-tive field trial involving live wildlife for hunting dogs with-out first obtaining a hunting or fishing contest permit.Contests and field trials shall be held in accordance withestablished rules.

    KILLING CONTESTSContinued from page 7

    Please see KILLING CONTESTS Page 9

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  • PAGE 9

    KILLING CONTESTSContinued from page 8

    SUMMARY OF KILLING CONTEST LAWSSTATES. . . . . . . . . . . DATE ENACTED . . STATUTE .. . . . . . . SPECIES SPECIFIED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GAME DIVISION

    OR REGARIZONA . . . . . . . . . Sep-19 . . . . . . . . . . R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PREDATORY AND FURBEARING. . . . . . AZ GAME AND FISH COMMISSION CALIFORNIA. . . . . . . 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PREDATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CA FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONCOLORADO . . . . . . . May-20 . . . . . . . . . . R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMALL GAME AND FURBEARERS . . . . CO PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMISSIONMASSACHUSETTS . Dec-19 . . . . . . . . . . R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PREDATORS AND FURBEARERS . . . . . MA FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE BOARD NEW MEXICO. . . . . . 1/10/2019 . . . . . . . . EXEC. ORDER . . . TOTAL HUNTING CONTEST BAN . . . . . NM LAND COMMISSIONER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/1/2019 . . . . . . . . . S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COYOTES ONLY

    VERMONT . . . . . . . . 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COYOTES ONLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill sponsored by David Deen (retired)WASHINGTON . . . . . Sep-20 . . . . . . . . . . R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Protects species that have no bag limits . WA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION

    C.A.S.H.’s PRIZE FOR THE MOST INSPIRINGAND COMPLETE LAW OPPOSING KILLING CON-TESTS GOES TO THE NEW MEXICO COMMIS-SIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS.

    Stephanie Garcia Richard assumed office on January1, 2019. Then, faster than the speed of light, on January10th, she issued her VERY FIRST executive order:Commissioner Garcia Richard banned killing contestson 9,000 acres of land under her jurisdiction!

    Whether she would like a shoutout from C.A.S.H. or not,we feel that Commissoner Stephanie Garcia Richarddeserves to win a prize for having the strongest law of all.Please let us know if you agree.

    Her words are worth printing in their entirety as report-ed in the official press release…

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2019 Contact:Tarin Nix, Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs [email protected] Garcia Richard Signs Executive Order

    Banning Killing Contests on State Trust Land SANTA FE, NM– SANTA FE, NM – Commissioner Stephanie Garcia signed herfirst Executive Order (2019 – 001) today banning killing contestson State Trust Lands. As she signed the order, Garcia Richardwas joined by animal and wildlife advocates from AnimalProtection Voters, The Sierra Club, Project Coyote, Wild EarthGuardians, Prairie Dog Pals and Wildlife ConservationAdvocacy Southwest. “These are not hunting contests. Theyare animal cruelty contests. It is an inexcusable practice, andtoday I used my authority to ban organized killing contests ofunprotected species on any of the nine million acres of StateTrust Land that I am charged with overseeing.” Garcia Richardstated in her remarks. “The position of the State Land Officeunder my direction is that all wildlife are sacred and all wildlifeplay a vital role in our environment. This action does notrestrict a rancher’s ability to humanely remove or kill an ani-mal causing harm to agriculture or domestic pets on StateTrust Lands. What we are addressing is the blood sport whereparticipants kill dozens of animals without sound justificationand play for cash and prizes,” Garcia Richard added.

    Of the Order, Jessica Johnson, Chief Legislative Officerfor Animal Protection Voters said, “Commissioner GarciaRichard has a long history of advocacy and leadership onimportant wildlife protection and land conservation issues.She has risen to the occasion at every opportunity to be aproud voice of the humane treatment of animals and soundland management. She proved that today by banning inhu-mane killing contests of unprotected species.”

    Aside from today’s Executive Order, she has success-fully pushed for the Oil Conservation Commission torehear an application from a Texas oil company that wouldallow them to double their drilling presence in the San JuanBasin and has sparked an important conversation on theuse of traps and snares on state trust and public lands.

    [Note that later in 2019, the NM Legislature voted to bancoyote killing contests (See NM statute above). ] Ph

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  • PAGE 10

    PLEASE DON’T BUY DUCK STAMPSTHE CONSERVATION MESSAGE:

    DUCK CALLS AND PLASTIC SHOTGUN SHELLS All waterfowl hunters MUST purchase a duck stamp

    every year, it’s their permit to hunt waterfowl. Every yearthe stamp art changes. Selection of the new art gets a lotof attention.

    Not only do hunters purchase the stamp, but many non-hunters purchase the stamp believing that they are sup-porting conservation, but not fully understanding howthey are supporting hunting.

    A recent Audubon article about the new federal guide-lines for duck stamp art is a must-read. You can see ithere: https://www.audubon.org/news/duck-stamp-artists-turn-spent-shotgun-shells-meet-new-pro-hunting-mandate?fbclid=IwAR1bPNeXURSVe2ZCbg03TAJnme-dyhqryjoKlWFA8SxLIIuIy7q8XjJS_vU

    Incredibly, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) hasnow changed the stamp’s name to “The Bird HuntingStamp.” The money goes toward the purchase of landfor waterfowl hunting. They claim that 98 percent of thepurchase price goes directly to help acquire and protectwetland habitat and purchase conservation easements forthe National Wildlife Refuge System.

    The new contest rules demand that the message ofhunting be put into the picture of conservation. Thisdemand to prospective artists unbelievably appears on theFWS website: https://www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/duck-stamp-contest-and-event-information.php

    It says:You must also include waterfowl hunting related

    accessory or scene that illustrates the theme “celebrat-ing our waterfowl hunting heritage.” Waterfowl hunt-ing related accessories include, but are not limited to,such elements such as hunting dogs and waterfowldecoys.

    Now that the election has been called for Biden,C.A.S.H. is free to say that Trump has been a disaster forwild animals. It’s not a secret that his son, Don Jr., has

    been working overtime to ensure more hunting opportu-nity in the country, as hunting is a favorite pastime of thetwo Trump sons. Even the Audubon, which has cooper-ated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in furtheringtheir goals, and never speaks out against hunting, voicedtheir disapproval of guidelines that wanted hunting litteradded to the bird stamps that waterfowl hunters need topurchase.

    In the photo here, the winner of the 2020 contest showsa bird next to lost duck calls used by hunters to lure themto their death.

    Understandably, someone at Audubon feels that spentshells floating in the water, along with other huntingdebris counteracts the conservation image.

    At C.A.S.H. we know that this is truly theCONservation message.

    IN MEMORY OF PPRRIISSCCIILLLLAA CCOOHHNN FFEERRRRAATTEERR MMOORRAA,,

    AANNDD LLIINNDDAA DDEESSTTEEFFAANNOOC.A.S.H. was terribly sorry to learn that two of the best wildlife protectors we’ve known had passed away.We will always remember and cherish them and the work they did on behalf of animals. What is written

    about them doesn’t begin to express how much they added to our movement and all they were.Linda’s obituary can be seen here:

    https://www.syracuse.com/crime/2020/06/longtime-syracuse-activist-was-leaving-friends-funeral-when-she-was-hit-killed-by-car.html

    Priscilla’s obituary can be seen here: https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/priscilla-cohn-jose-ferrater-mora-professor-heiress-publicker-fortune-animal-activist-20190702.html

  • PAGE 11

    THE FAMILY THAT SLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER!*

    THE DEC WANTS A HOLIDAY HUNTING SEASON!

    Believe it or not, the NYS Department ofEnvironmental Conservation (DEC) ACTUALLYBELIEVES THAT !

    Witness their proposal for a “Holiday Hunting Season”:3. Needs and benefits: This rulemaking will provide

    additional opportunity for New York deer hunters andtheir families by creating a second portion of the latebow and muzzleloading deer seasons in the SouthernZone, adding the holiday week of December 26 throughJanuary 1. During the Christmas to New Year holidayweek families gather, many people are off from work,and students are on school break. This provides time forfamilies to hunt together, share memories and make newones, and gather venison for the next year. This newopportunity is consistent with the department’s efforts torecruit, retain, and reactivate New York hunters.

    THANKS TO A WILDLIFE REHABBER, C.A.S.H.was made aware of the DEC’s nefarious proposal for aholiday hunting season just two days before the commentperiod ended, and C.A.S.H. sent out the following, whichwas also turned into our comment:

    URGENT DEADLINE: COMMENTS NEEDED BY11/8, TO OPPOSE A BOW AND MUZZLELOADERDEER HUNTING SEASON DURING CHRISTMASAND NEW YEAR, THROUGH JAN 1!

    Comment points to make in opposition to this proposal:The DEC is desperate to increase hunting as the

    cruel activity is declining. Hunters are less than 3% ofthe NY population, yet our wildlife is managed to betargets for this small minority. The game division isfunded by excise taxes on firearms and ammunitionthus, they have turned our wildlife into targets forhunters.

    Deer hunting now would end on December 22nd.We need to ensure that the majority of New Yorkerscan enjoy the holiday without muzzleloaders blastingthroughout the day, and without witnessing animalswho’ve been injured by firearms or arrows. That sure-ly will ruin the holiday for the 97% of the public.

    · As Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is killingmany deer now, it’s puzzling that the DEC is encour-aging even more deer to die by bullets.

    · Car-deer collisions have been shown to increase ashunting starts, surely there will be more injury anddeath as deer flee hunters during a time when morecars will be on the road as people travel to be with fam-ily.

    · More lead will be pumped into the environment asit is not illegal to use lead bullets or shot in NY. Leadammunition seeps into the ground water, and poisonsraptors and carrion feeders who eat animals shot withlead. For heartbreaking video of what lead does to ani-mals, please see: https://www.facebook.com/fffwildlifecenter/

    We urge the DEC to do the right thing and notextend this carnage.

    Zelda Penzel has a loud megaphone for anything thathelps animals, and she sent the word out farther. We’reprinting some of the comments that were shared withZelda.

    CommentsI urge the DEC not to add a Christmas-to-New Year’s-

    Day deer hunting season in the Southern Zone.Deer are sentient beings. They play, care deeply for

    their young, warn one another in times of danger, and

    Please see FAMILY THAT SLAYS, Page 12

  • PAGE 12

    FAMILY THAT SLAYSContinued from page 11

    experience fear, anger, and grief. Theyhave individual personalities. Andthey want to live as much as we do.There’s already too much killing ofthem.

    In addition, they currently sufferfrom new diseases, and the holidayseason will be a time of more cars onthe road. Hunters will increase theirdeaths by scaring them out of thewoods onto roads.

    Have mercy.William Crane

    --------------------------We are very much opposed to

    extending the 2020 deer hunt for anadditional 7 days during the holidayseason.

    Considering that the number oflicenses sold for this year apparent-ly broke records, it should not be ahardship for hunters to foregothis extension, especially when itinconveniences and presentspotential danger to others.

    We expect to have several grandchildren here, with theirpets, which are an addition to our own. They all spendconsiderable time playing outside in our rural location.In general, I am very glad to know when hunting season isover, so this holiday “surprise” is most unwelcome to ourfamily. We do not wish to keep children and pets indoors,for their own safety, in order to accommodate additionalhunting opportunities which are already very liberal.

    Again, we are definitely NOT in favor of the plan toextend deer hunting season in the southern zone.

    G.C.--------------------------

    I am writing to express my opposition to this HolidayDeer Hunt Proposal which I find to be an audacious,self-serving intrusion by the DEC on the rights of 97%of the non-hunting population of New York! The right to“peace and quiet”, free from the sights and sounds ofsenseless violence, suffering, bloodshed and killing, andespecially during the sacred period of the Christmas andKwanzaa holidays is surely due us, after a year that willgo down in the annals of history for the suffering andhardships it has caused to so many people – with thedeaths and illness due to Covid-19, as well as loss of jobsand income!

    The DEC is apparently desperate to increase hunting,as this cruel activity is declining. Hunters are less than3% of the New York population, yet our wildlife is stillmanaged to be targets for this small minority. The gamedivision is funded by excise taxes on firearms and ammu-

    nition, thus the DEC have turned ourwildlife into targets for hunters. Thehandwriting is on the wall and it islong past time to find alternate waysto fund the DEC. Teaching youngpeople to be compassionate, to“hunt” with cameras, to view, appre-ciate and value wildlife and the out-doors, while learning to live in har-mony with other species, is whatwould demonstrate true, responsible,leadership and stewardship.

    Deer hunting now would end onDecember 22nd. We need to ensurethat the majority of New Yorkers canenjoy the holiday without muzzleload-

    ers blasting throughout the day,and without witnessing animals

    who’ve been injured byfirearms or arrows. That sure-ly will ruin the holiday for the

    97% of the public.· As Epizootic Hemorrhagic

    Disease (EHD) is killing manydeer now, so it’s puzzling that the

    DEC is encouraging even more deer to die by bullets.· Car-deer collisions have been shown to increase as

    hunting starts, surely there will be more injury and deathas deer flee hunters during a time when more cars will beon the road as people travel to be with family.

    · More lead will be pumped into the environment as itis not illegal to use lead bullets or shot in New York. Leadammunition seeps into the ground water, and poisons rap-tors and carrion feeders who eat animals shot with lead.For heartbreaking video of what that does to animals,please see: https://www.facebook.com/fffwildlifecenter/

    We urge the DEC to do the right thing and at the veryleast not extend this carnage.

    Zelda Penzel

    --------------------------*An Ann Ilkiw slogan

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    ...And think about this; In order to hunt during this specialseason, you would need to buy a muzzleloader and ammunitionfor a muzzleloader. That will increase revenue for the firearmsindustry, thus increasing income for the NYS Bureau ofWildlife within the DEC.

    $389.

  • PAGE 13

    LTE BY MELANIE WEBERG TELLS IT LIKE IT IS!(MELANIE WEBERG IS THE STATE DIRECTOR OF LOHV/WISCONSIN)

    Dear Editor: As a Wisconsin citi-zen, I would bet that you think theWisconsin Department of NaturalResources works for you and otherstate citizens. Unfortunately youwould be wrong. On everything thatthe Wisconsin DNR is statutorilyrequired to “manage,” from wildlifeto environmental enforcement, theyhave to answer to and get approvalfrom the seven unelected members ofthe Natural Resources Board.

    Why is this an issue you may ask? Itis an issue because the NRB isstacked with political appointees thatoften make decisions on the verythings that put money in their ownpockets and those of their ideologicalallies. One member, the board chair,has the eminent environmental quali-fication of being a dentist, another a

    realtor, another a hunting equipment“outfitter,” and founder of a huntinglobbying group, and yet another is theformer president of, you guessed it, abig agriculture industry lobbyinggroup.

    Even more appalling is that thevoice of the average citizen that doesnot hunt or farm is essentially mutedthrough law because the majority ofthe political appointees are requiredto have a hunting license or be partof agriculture. In other words, thevoices of the 90% of citizens thataren’t a part of these special interestsare brushed off and ignored by thewalking and talking conflicts ofinterest sitting on the board. Don’tbelieve me? Watch any of the NaturalResources Board hearings on theDNR website and you will see hubris,

    eye rolling, misinformation, and atotal disregard for non-consumptivecitizen input from several of theseboard members on every topic fromwater pollution to wolves. If youaren’t part of their ideological nicheyour voice does not matter. 10% lord-ing over and discounting the 90%?How is this democracy or representa-tive government?

    Melanie WebergOsceola

    --------------------------If you wish to send a letter, you can

    do so here: [email protected] .Include your full name, hometownand phone number. Your name andtown will be published. The phonenumber is for verification purposesonly. Please keep your letter to 250words or less.

    HOW NON-HUNTERS ARE AFFECTEDBY HUNTING

    Lucy McKernan, aC.A.S.H. member, has beenactively trying to stop bowhunting in her neighborhood.She sent images of a horrify-ing blood trail across a popu-lar hiking path and wrote:

    Unfortunately, my cityallows bow hunting. It'slegal!

    I'm feeling a lot of rage andI'm crying a lot. One of theonly sources of reducingstress that I have in my liferight now is to go out walkingand I feel I've been robbed ofthat.

    I also keep imagining thispoor deer flailing aroundgurgling on her own blood.

    Blood Trail From a Wounded DeerTurns Joy to Sorrow, Rage, & Pain O

    ver the years, theC.A.S.H. Courierhas been giving a

    voice to people who have beenterribly affected by hunting.While hunters are only 3% ofthe population, unfair laws pro-tect this “sport” that causes somuch grief, angst, and wildlifedeath.

    We’ve been pointing out thatwildlife management divisionsare the only recipients of thefirearms excise tax but, toreceive it, they must managefor hunting -- for more use offirearms and ammo. Whethergun control organizationslike it or not, they will need torout out the firearms indus-try inside our government,and stop appealing to thefoxes (the governors) who areguarding the hen houses.

  • PAGE 14

    Dear Amy, This time of year is the worst. We try to keep

    the deer safe, but it’s challenging becausehunters apparently don’t know how to read post-ed signs! Do you have any advice?

    Sally J. Walker, Lebanon, MEDear Sally, Something tells me you’re not just dealing

    with cases of illiteracy here. Almost everyone Iknow who owns property has dealt with trespass-ing hunters at one time or another. Although statewildlife agencies refer to them as “a few badapples,” trespassing is often the rule, rather thanthe exception, among hunters.

    First, make sure your land is properly postedaccording to your state’s guidelines. My familyand I replace our signs annually since theyweather and fade. We indicate the current year oneach sign. We also photograph our property linesprior to hunting season so that a hunter can’tdestroy a sign and then claim it wasn’t there.Additionally, because you’ve already had tres-passing issues, you might be able to request spe-cial signs from your sheriff’s department. Thesesigns state that the property is being “surveilled,”and may be more of a deterrent.

    I recommend using outdoor cameras that con-nect with your phone or computer for instantviewing. I am technologically challenged, and Iassure you, it’s easier than it sounds! Not onlywill this allow you to monitor your property,you’ll have documentation if trespassing occurs.

    I’ve found more success in staying off our landduring hunting season, and monitoring with cam-eras, since the deer KNOW where it’s safe. Mybiggest fear is scaring them out of their hidingplaces and onto adjacent, hunted land. However,every property is different. A friend of mine hasa very large property—over 100 acres—and hashad success with perimeter patrolling. If youpatrol, be careful. Wear orange and carry yourphone with you. We’re often not dealing with thebrightest or kindest folks out there.

    Finally, think about what you can do to keepthe deer on your property. Is there a watersource? Is there cover for them? We used to mowa field on our land, but have let it go wild to pro-vide more cover. Selective mowing can also keepdeer close. They love hidden areas, along withareas to browse.

    May the deer find shelter on your land this sea-son. May you all stay safe.

    Amy-------------------------

    Hey Amy,I’m guessing you saw the recent viral video of

    a cougar stalking that hiker in Utah. I’m a proudMontana sportsman (hunting, trapping, fishing,you name it) and what I can never understandabout all you crazies out to steal our rights iswhat kind of fantasy world you live in. Do youseriously think we can “coexist” with predatorswho stalk people? Do you just not get howvicious wild animals are? Instead of you cidiotspitching a fit about a sportsman posting a photoof the predator they’ve harvested, maybe youshould say “THANK YOU!” instead. We’re theones keeping you and your kids and pets safe.

    Brent David Leffler, somewhere nearBozeman, MT

    Dear Brent, Yes, I’ve seen the video you’re referring to!

    For those who haven’t, it’s worth a watch, butI’ll summarize here: A lone human hikerencounters cougar kittens, and is promptlyescorted from those kittens by their protectivemom who sometimes runs at the hiker as hebacks away and films, but who mostly keepshim marching slowly backward, away from herkittens, before turning around and high-tailing ithome to them. Start to finish, the encounter lastsa little more than six minutes.

    First, it’s important to consider how the videowas portrayed by the media. “Stalking” was theterm chosen by most outlets to describe thecougar’s behavior. “Aggressive” was also afavored characterization. While there’s no doubtthis was a terrifying experience for the hiker,anyone who seeks to understand wildlife behav-ior knows that is was equally terrifying for thecougar. Let’s dismantle this notion immediate-ly: Cougars don’t show themselves in plainsight when “stalking” their prey. Cougars arestealthy predators, unseen and silent, until thefinal moment. This isn’t a crazed beast lookingfor human lunch—cougars, like other predatorspecies, want nothing to do with humans.

    Nonetheless, the human encroached on thiscougar’s territory. Like any good mom, thiscougar was clear in her request: Leave my kidsalone, she’d have said if she could. Instead, sheuses the language innate to her. She growls. Shemakes herself look larger than she is—turningher body to the side, as we often see our domes-tic cats do—showing her paws and running afew steps to tell him she’s serious, and other-

    wise, walking the hiker away from her littleones. The hiker, to be fair, does a good jobdoing as he’s told. This isn’t his first hike, andhe’s clearly educated on how to behave in suchan encounter (though it would have been wiserto hike with a friend and carry bear spray).

    Brent, your assertion that killing wildlife pre-vents this kind of encounter is baffling. Huntingand trapping aren’t the answer here—educationis. And it’s not just the general public that needsto be educated, it’s the media, too. “Stalking”and “aggressive” are inaccurate, sensationalterms. If we’re being generous, we mightassume that ignorance is the source of that lan-guage; more likely, those terms are intentional,chosen to sell stories. Both the media andsportsmen know that language matters. If any-one should be accused of living in a “fantasyworld,” it’s sportsmen themselves, who envi-sion recreational killing as the only barrierbetween balance and chaos. Guess what? Theanimals do just fine without us. The environ-ment thrives in the absence of people. And insituations where people and wildlife overlap—like a hiker encountering a cougar family—edu-cation saves both human and nonhuman lives.

    Consider another recent example of a wildanimal dubbed “inordinately aggressive” by themedia. Gerald the turkey was a resident of apark in Oakland, CA, where he had begun to“attack” visitors. Headlines described Gerald’sbehavior as “terrorizing.” But most assessmentsreveal that Gerald had lost his natural fear ofhumans after repeated feeding and even possi-ble tormenting. (People feeding and/or wanting“selfies” with wild animals is a serious problem,perhaps meriting discussion in a future column.)

    Wild individuals responding to inappropriatehuman behavior, or even to a human inadver-tently encroaching on their territory, doesn’tjustify killing that individual or others of theirkind. “They’ll get me (or you!) if I don’t getthem” is a simplistic, erroneous mentality prop-agated by sportsmen and the state wildlife agen-cies which represent their interests. It has nobasis in reality. Rather than fear-mongering,let’s embrace education. Let’s reject the lan-guage of sensationalized story-selling. Let’sacknowledge that the cougar, the turkey, and allother wild lives vilified for the sake of thesportsmen’s agenda have every right—as muchright as you and I—to exist in their homes.One day, I hope, the law will reflect that.

    Dear Amy,

  • PAGE 15

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    Front of shirt

    HOW YOU CANHELP US DO MORE:

    √ Become a member√ Include WILDLIFE WATCH, INC. in yourwill (you may earmark bequests for C.A.S.H.).Please include Wildlife Watch Inc. in your Will orTrust, and/or make Wildlife Watch one of the ben-eficiaries of your life insurance policy.√ Donate shares of stock, avoid capital gains,and get a tax deduction! Notify your broker or thecompany whose stock you hold. Ask them to trans-fer stock to Wildlife Watch, Inc. Federal TaxIdentification Number: 13-3076705A copy of our latest annual report may be obtainedfrom Wildlife Watch, Inc., or from the Office of theAttorney General, Charities Bureau, 120Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

    A Voice in the WildernessVideotape approximately 20 minutes.

    $12.00 and $8 for members.This video is an expose of wildlife

    management by Luke Dommer,founder of C.A.S.H. It was producedby Focus on Animals, CT. EstherMechler of Focus has generouslygiven C.A.S.H.the right to sellthis videotape.Copies havebeen generouslydonated byNancy Gordonof HAVE, ana u d i o - v i s u a lcompany inHudson, NY. Luke Dommer

    PETER’S HUMOR?C.A.S.H. apologizes if you are not amused

    Your generous contributions will help us to do much more.

    Thank you for your support. Please visit: www.abolishsporthunting.org

    CONTACTS:Jim Robertson, President

    [email protected] Muller, Vice President, C.A.S.H.

    [email protected] Muller, Editor, C.A.S.H. Courier

    [email protected]

    Fans of Pete’s Humor www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/557305/#

    Q. What's the differencebetween Betsy DeVos and aGrizzly Bear?A. Betsy DeVos is an actualthreat to school children.

    Q. What’s the most terrifyingword a hunter can mutter whilehunting with his kids?A. “Oops!”

    A hunter stumbled upon anotherhunter who was on the groundmoaning. The hunter asked,“What happened to you?” Theguy’s jaw seemed to be broken,but after he was able to pull

    himself together enough to sput-ter, he explained, “I was wonder-ing why the mountain lion keptgetting bigger and bigger…then Ifound out.”

    Q. What's fawn-colored andlooks good on a hunter? A. A mountain lion.

    A mother and son were walkingthrough a cemetery, and passedby a headstone inscribed "Herelies a man with a big heart and agood hunter.” The little boy readthe headstone, looked up at hismother, and asked, "Mommy, whydid they bury two men there?"

    We’d like to thank Lily Wolf for helping tofind, adapt and invent some great stuff here.

  • PAGE 16

    Wildlife Watch, Inc.C.A.S.H. Committee To Abolish Sport HuntingPO Box 562New Paltz, NY 12561Phone: (845) 256-1400 Fax: (845) 501-3175www.wildwatch.orgwww.all-creatures.org/cashwww.canadageese.org

    Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

    PaidNewburgh, NYPermit No. 473

    PLEASE CLIP OUT AND MAIL IN THE ENCLOSED REMITTANCE ENVELOPE:

    C.A.S.H. CATALOG ORDER BLANK

    YES, I WANT TO HELP THE COMMITTEE TO ABOLISH SPORT HUNTING END THE WAR ON WILDLIFE: I AM HAPPY TO BECOME A Basic Plus Member for $50 _____________

    I will receive the C.A.S.H. hat, return address labels, and newsletter. Check if you do not want a hat.____ I am happy to become a Basic member for $35_________

    I will receive the C.A.S.H. newsletter and return address labels. I am happy to contribute but cannot become a member now ________ I would like to make an additional contribution for Wildlife Watch ________C.A.S.H. accepts MasterCard or Visa:Card #_____________________________________________Amount_________________________ Exp. Date:________________Signature______________________________________________

    All donations are tax-deductible.My e-mail address is _____________________________________________You can also pay through PayPal at www.abolishsporthunting.org link to “Donate” Thank You!

    Description Qty $ Each $ Total

    Subtotal: __________Shipping and Handling: __$5.00___

    NYS residents must add appropriate sales tax: __________Additional contribution to help

    C.A.S.H. carry on its work: __________Total: __________

    You can now pay with:Mastercard/Visa # ________________________

    Expir. Date: _____________Signature: _______________________________

    Your Name: ________________________________Street: ____________________________________City: _______________________State: ____________________ Zip: _____________Day Phone: ________________________Eve Phone: _________________________Fax: __________________E-Mail: ____________________Date: ______________________Special Instructions: ____________________________________________________________________Ship to address below (if different from above):__________________________________________________________________________________________

    Please make checks payable to: C.A.S.H. or Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting or Wildlife Watch, Inc.

    Cut out along this dotted line if returning order form

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