[az-leader] Blood gunners at night
- From: "Al Anderson" <grayhawk@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <az-leader@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 19:54:26 -0700
I apologize for any cross postings but.....
Allowing night hunting is a horrible idea. The Game and Fish
Commission needs to know your thoughts on this issue. I can not imagine
anything more reckless than allowing people to go into the night and
shoot wildlife.
I can not imagine anything more disruptive to nesting birds than allow
hunters to shoot at night.
From a safety prospective, about the only good thing they are suggesting
is that only shotguns may be allowed. This brings to mind some gruesome
images. What kind of sicko would even want to hunt small furbearers at
close range, at night, with a shotgun and spot light?
Do we want these people out at night? And what would one do with what
was left over from a small furbearer after been shot at close range with
a shot gun?
Picture your favorite riparian birding area with shot gunners with
spotlights. I would hope that any owls would have sense enough to stay
away.
ARIZONA'S PREDATORS UNDER ATTACK AGAIN --
COMMISSION CONSIDERING NIGHT HUNTING PROPOSAL
Letters and e-mails urgently needed to oppose night-hunting of
predators.
It's no secret that the current AZ Game and Fish Commissioners and some
Department officials believe the only good predator is a dead predator.
Despite the overwhelming public opposition to body count contest hunts
and an annual estimated predator/furbearer body count of nearly 56,500
in 1999, the Commission is now considering a new proposal that would
allow hunters to kill predators and furbearers at night. The species
potentially affected include coyotes, bobcats, foxes, skunks, muskrats,
beavers, otters, weasels, badgers, and ringtail cats. At present, only
raccoons can be hunted at night in Arizona.
IF NIGHT HUNTING IS ULTIMATELY APPROVED, PREDATORS, LIKE COYOTES, COULD
BE KILLED 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR!
PLEASE HELP STOP THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE IT GOES ANY FURTHER. CALLS,
LETTERS, FAXES, AND E-MAILS OPPOSING THE PREDATOR/FURBEARER NIGHT
HUNTING PROPOSAL
ARE URGENTLY NEEDED. THE COMMISSION IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON THIS
PROPOSAL
AT ITS MEETING IN YUMA TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 22ND. WHILE THIS IS NOT THE
FINAL VOTE, NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO DEMAND THAT THE COMMISSION STOP ITS
WAR ON PREDATORS.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO: Mr. Michael M. Golightly, Chairman,
Arizona Game and Fish Commission, 2221 W. Greenway Avenue, Phoenix, AZ
85023-4399. Telephone (contact Director Duane Shroufe): (602) 942-3000;
Telefax: (602)
789-3299; E-mail: ljarrett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx IDEALLY, PLEASE SEND MAKE
YOUR
CALL OR SEND/FAX/E-MAIL YOUR LETTER BEFORE FEBRUARY 22ND. EVEN IF YOU
CAN'T MAKE THAT DEADLINE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT
ARIZONA'S PREDATORS MAKE THEIR OPINIONS ON THIS PROPOSAL KNOWN ASAP.
When preparing your letter, you may want to make the following points:
* Neither the Department nor the Commission have any idea as to impacts
of this proposal on targeted wildlife. The Department has no valid
estimates of predator/furbearer populations, numbers killed annually, or
the impact of such killing on the species. Without knowing the impact
of the existing predator/furbearer hunts, increasing the body count by
allowing night hunting is biologically reckless. Since many
predators/furbearers are most active at night, they may be more
susceptible to killing at night.
* There is no evidence that killing predators -- whether done by day or
night -- provides any short or long-term benefits to ungulate fawn
survival unless focused on a limited area and if the majority of the
predators are killed. Even then, whatever benefit occurs is only
short-term as predators,
particularly coyotes, quickly replenish their numbers. The impact is
significant on any animal killed and their dependent young who
ultimately die because of starvation, exposure, accidents, or predation.
* Allowing the spotlighting and killing predators/furbearers at night
facilitates the illegal spotlighting and killing of deer, elk,
pronghorn, and other "game" species by providing hunters with an excuse
to be in the field at night, with a light, and a weapon, thereby
complicating law enforcement efforts. Night hunting also increases
threats to the safety of law enforcement officers since it is more
difficult to see hunters at night and since some people may be more
inclined to drink at night. Several western states have reported these
problems with night hunting.
* Night hunting will increase threats to public safety and incidents
of
illegal trespass onto private land. The safety of anyone who may live,
camp, or recreate in areas open to night hunting would be at risk since
darkness makes it difficult for hunters to know what their bullets may
hit. Other western states have reported problems with illegal trespass
by night hunters including hunting without permission on private land
and artificial lights and hunting dogs disturbing residents and domestic
animals (including livestock).
* Night hunting may result in the killing of non-target species
including ungulates, imperiled species, domestic dogs and cats, and
livestock. Several western states have reported problems with night
hunters killing non-target species, particularly domestic livestock.
* Predators and furbearers play critical roles in healthy ecosystems.
Thank you for immediately responding to this urgent request. Please ask
your friends, relatives, colleagues, and associates to do the same.
SAMPLE LETTER
Mr. Michael Golightly, Chairman
Arizona Game and Fish Commission
2221 W. Greenway Road
Phoenix, AZ 85023-4399
Dear Chairman Golightly:
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposal currently
under consideration by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to allow the
night hunting of predators/furbearers in Arizona. Considering the
overwhelming public opposition to body count contest hunts and
increasing public concern for the welfare of all wildlife, including
predators, nationally and in Arizona, I am stunned that the Arizona Game
and Fish Department and Commission would even contemplate allowing night
hunting of predators/furbearers.
The proposal to permit night hunting must be terminated immediately to
prevent any further waste of Department time and money pursuing such a
ill-conceived idea. Neither the Department nor the Commission, for
example, have any idea of the potential impact of night hunting on
predator or furbearer populations. At present, the Department has no
accurate estimate of predator/furbearer populations, the numbers killed
annually, or the impact of such killing on the species. Without such
information, adding to the carcass count by permitting night hunting, is
biologically reckless. Since many predators/furbearers are most active
at night, they may be more susceptible to killing at night compared to
the day, thereby increasing impacts to these populations.
I understand that the original intent of this proposal was to provide
additional predator hunting opportunities prior to the birthing season
of more popular "game" species like pronghorn, bighorn, deer, and elk in
order to reduce predation on newborn animals. As the Department is well
aware and as it conceded during the body count contest hunt issue, there
is no evidence that such hunting will have any short or long-term impact
on the predator populations (though the impact would be severe on
individual animals and any dependent young) unless highly concentrated
and a significant number of predators are killed. Even then, the
impacts are only short-lived and may not all be positive. Indeed,
coyotes breed earlier, have larger litters, and more pups survive when
exploited compared to unexploited populations completely defeating the
purpose of coyote killing.
Night hunting will also increase threats to public safety. In darkness,
even with an artificial light, it is impossible for a hunter to know
exactly what his/her bullets may hit. Thus, the safety of anyone who
may live, camp, or recreate in areas open to night hunting would be
compromised. Illegal trespass of hunters and/or their dogs onto private
property will also likely be a problem if night hunting is allowed.
Allowing hunters to use artificial lights to locate and shoot predators
and furbearers at night provides a perfect cover for hunters engaged in
the illegal spotlighting and killing of deer, elk, pronghorn, or other
wildlife. Unless caught in the act of illegally spotlighting and killing
a deer, for example, a hunter could always claim that he or she was
night hunting
predators to avoid being arrested. Hunters may also be more likely to
kill
non-target species, including domestic dogs, cats, and livestock at
night since, even with an artificial light, it will be more difficult to
identify an animal at night. Furthermore, the safety of game wardens
will be compromised if they have to monitor night hunting activities as
it will be more difficult to see hunters and more hunters may be
intoxicated at night.
The night hunting proposal is yet another example of the Commission's
anti-predator bias and its failure to recognize the importance of a full
complement of predators/furbearers in a healthy ecosystem.
As a resident, a taxpayer, and someone who cares deeply about all of
Arizona's wildlife, I ask you to reject the proposal to develop a rule
to permit night hunting of predators/furbearers in Arizona.
Sincerely,
Sandy Bahr
AL Anderson
P.O. Box 1657
3918 Gray Hawk Lane
Sierra Vista, AZ 85636
(520) 458-0542
(520)458-0605 fax
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