Why It Matters: The use of dogs is a deep-seated component of our hunting heritage. Naturally, this includes hunting for a variety of upland species and even larger game such as mountain lions and bears and, without dogs, sportsmen’s success afield would be severely limited for many types of hunting. Additionally, the use of tracking dogs improves the rate of game recovery, allowing hunters to fulfill their ethical obligation to do everything possible to recover game. Some anti-hunting advocates are outraged by this method of hunting and have made repeated attempts to outlaw the activity, such as most recently in Colorado with Proposition 127. Even though many hunters do not use dogs to hunt game, these repeated attempts to ban dog hunting are one of the most consistent angles of attack against hunting in general, therefore all hunters should pay close attention to them and oppose them in their own states when they arise.
Highlights:
- On November 25, anti-hunting groups filed a petition to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) Commission to prohibit the use of dogs while hunting mountain lions, black bear, and other wildlife.
- The Commission has 60 days to respond and is using that time to have attorneys review the validity of the petition.
- The Commission will place the petition on the agenda for the January 2025 meeting in Phoenix.
- Sportsmen and women are encouraged to attend the December and January Commission meetings.
On Monday, November 25th, several anti-hunting groups filed a petition to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission seeking a decision to prohibit the use of dogs while hunting “mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, foxes, coyotes, coatis, ringtails, and other mammals.” They also claim that dog hunting can result in harm to ocelots and jaguars because even if they can escape by climbing trees, their lung capacity is outmatched by the dogs. They also complain that wolves can’t escape up trees, and furthermore, they say that dogs put hikers and other outdoor recreationists at risk as well.
The petition cites several Arizona laws and rules, and Commission attorneys are reviewing it to see if the petition falls within the parameters of a legal petition in accordance with Arizona law. Notably, the petition attempts to draw parallels with standing rules and regulations pertaining to prohibitions on hunting with certain forms of technology. The petition complains that, because hound hunters typically use GPS tracking for their dogs, this is a violation of both the anti-technology regulations and fair chase principles.
Of course, these sorts of arguments are nothing new as these anti-hunting groups have a long history of proposing similar petitions, bills, and ballot initiatives nationwide. However, the use of dogs when hunting mountain lions is among the most effective and selective way to properly identify the sex of the animal because it allows the hunter to most safely get close to the cat up in a tree, assisting hunters in their pursuit to remain consistent with existing regulations designed to protect the sustainability of our time-honored traditions.
Further, taking this very effective wildlife management tool away from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, limiting their ability to work with hunters to manage populations and control numbers, will have several additional side effects. For starters, it is reasonable to expect increased instances of negative human-wildlife conflicts. Naturally, the Department will then need to spend funding from other sources, including the potential of taxpayer funding, that could be used elsewhere to manage the numbers and/or deal with specific animals.
Additionally, through the American System of Conservation Funding, a unique ‘user pays–public benefits’ structure, money derived from hunting and fishing license sales and excise taxes on certain sporting goods provides the vast majority of conservation dollars for state fish and wildlife agencies. The revenue collected through this system is crucial for AZGFD and its ability to conduct on-the-ground projects that benefit all Arizona residents and visitors. Anything that causes decreases in hunting and fishing access and opportunity leads to decreased participation, and less participation means fewer license dollars that AZGFD can leverage against federal funds to conduct their conservation work that benefits the broader public, and game and non-game fish and wildlife populations alike.
The anti-hunting groups that submitted the petition are already telling their members and followers to show up at the December Commission meeting. AZGFD Director Tom Finley has stated that the matter will be placed on the January agenda, so the anti-hunting groups are expected to attend that meeting as well. Any sportsmen and women who wish to attend themselves and make sure our voices and values are heard are encouraged to go. The meetings are on December 6th and January 24th, both at AZGFD headquarters at 5000 West Carefree Highway in Phoenix.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) will continue to monitor and oppose this latest anti-hunting effort, and report back as the situation develops.
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