Washington Hunter
Well-known member
KInd of strange that I'm in agreement with Humane Society of the United States on this issue! 
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Court to mull ban on ‘canned hunts’
By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press writer
Case covers concerns about exotic animals’ disease tolerance
SALEM — The Oregon Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether state wildlife officials should have the authority to ban the “canned’’ hunting of captive exotic animals on closed reserves.
Arguments will be heard in March in the case, which stems from the state Fish and Wildlife Commission’s efforts to crack down on the owner of a game ranch who was charged with possessing and hunting several species of exotic deer without proper permits on an enclosed game farm.
The charges were brought in 2001 against Clark Couch, owner of the 2,200-acre Clover Creek Ranch northeast of Madras, after an investigation by State Police game officers.
He was accused of violating a rule passed in 1999 by the Fish and Wildlife Commission banning so-called canned hunting of exotic, or non-native, species of animals such as deer and elk. Canned hunting of native big game species was already illegal.
The charges against Couch were dismissed by the trial court, though, and the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal on the same grounds that non-native exotic species could not be considered wildlife subject to the commission’s control.
State wildlife officials are hoping the state Supreme court will reverse that decision. They say the lower court’s ruling removes the commission’s authority to protect native wildlife from the spread of diseases carried by exotic game animals brought into the state.
“Disease is a very huge concern,’’ said Ron Anglin, head of the state Wildlife Division. “Some exotic species have developed a tolerance for certain diseases, but native species might not have that same tolerance.’’
The Humane Society of the United States has filed a “friend of the court’’ brief in support of the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s position.
“Although advertised under a variety of names — most frequently ‘hunting preserves,’ ‘game ranches’ or ‘shooting preserves’ — canned hunts violate the hunting community’s standard of ‘fair chase’ by confining animals to cages or fenced enclosures,’’ the Humane Society said.
State Police Lt. Randy Scorby, a wildlife officer who was involved in the investigation of Couch’s ranch, said people paid from $500 to $1,000 to shoot captive exotic animals at the central Oregon ranch.
A call to Couch wasn’t returned Monday.
In a 2001 interview, Couch said he had a license to operate the ranch, that he had lawfully purchased the exotic game animals and that the state was taking his property without just compensation.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Court to mull ban on ‘canned hunts’
By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press writer
Case covers concerns about exotic animals’ disease tolerance
SALEM — The Oregon Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether state wildlife officials should have the authority to ban the “canned’’ hunting of captive exotic animals on closed reserves.
Arguments will be heard in March in the case, which stems from the state Fish and Wildlife Commission’s efforts to crack down on the owner of a game ranch who was charged with possessing and hunting several species of exotic deer without proper permits on an enclosed game farm.
The charges were brought in 2001 against Clark Couch, owner of the 2,200-acre Clover Creek Ranch northeast of Madras, after an investigation by State Police game officers.
He was accused of violating a rule passed in 1999 by the Fish and Wildlife Commission banning so-called canned hunting of exotic, or non-native, species of animals such as deer and elk. Canned hunting of native big game species was already illegal.
The charges against Couch were dismissed by the trial court, though, and the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal on the same grounds that non-native exotic species could not be considered wildlife subject to the commission’s control.
State wildlife officials are hoping the state Supreme court will reverse that decision. They say the lower court’s ruling removes the commission’s authority to protect native wildlife from the spread of diseases carried by exotic game animals brought into the state.
“Disease is a very huge concern,’’ said Ron Anglin, head of the state Wildlife Division. “Some exotic species have developed a tolerance for certain diseases, but native species might not have that same tolerance.’’
The Humane Society of the United States has filed a “friend of the court’’ brief in support of the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s position.
“Although advertised under a variety of names — most frequently ‘hunting preserves,’ ‘game ranches’ or ‘shooting preserves’ — canned hunts violate the hunting community’s standard of ‘fair chase’ by confining animals to cages or fenced enclosures,’’ the Humane Society said.
State Police Lt. Randy Scorby, a wildlife officer who was involved in the investigation of Couch’s ranch, said people paid from $500 to $1,000 to shoot captive exotic animals at the central Oregon ranch.
A call to Couch wasn’t returned Monday.
In a 2001 interview, Couch said he had a license to operate the ranch, that he had lawfully purchased the exotic game animals and that the state was taking his property without just compensation.
