11/21/2017
Greetings,
We urge you and/or your organization to submit comments and/or speak at the upcoming CA FGC meeting in San Diego (Dec 6, 2017) and OPPOSE the egregious proposed hound-hunting amendment that will allow GPS collars on dogs to hunt mammals—deer and pigs—and for training.
California must keep the prohibition on the use of GPS collars and “tree switches” when hound hunting (radio telemetry collars are allowed) for many reasons (talking points below).
Urge CA FGC to Not Allow Hound Hunting with GPS Collars—Vote NO!
First deadline (Meeting Document for commissioners): this Wed, Nov 22—5 pm
Second deadline (“Late comment”): Fri, Dec 1—12 NOON
All comments may be emailed to [email protected]
Dec 6, 2017, San Diego FGC meeting, Agenda Item: “6. Adopt proposed changes to regulations for the use of GPS-equipped dog collars and treeing switches for dogs used to pursue/take mammals or for dog training (Section 265, Title 14, CCR)”
This proposed amendment is almost identical to the one approved last year. Our lawsuit for noncompliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) subsequently resulted in two FGC motions (April 26, 2017 meeting). The first was to (1) bring back the ban in order to conduct required studies under CEQA and (2) delay implementing that ban for one year. An immediate second motion was also approved to go to notice to, “…delete the prohibition as related to GPS collars and tree switches for dogs” (once again drop the ban). Unfortunately, there is still no compliance with CEQA—no EIR or its CEQA equivalent, “Draft Environmental Document” (DED)—which the FGC often mentioned would be forthcoming.
As long as written and/or oral comments are received before the vote, planned for Dec 6, they become a part of the administrative record—which could be very helpful. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Thank you,
Marilyn Jasper
[email protected]
Public Interest Coalition, Sierra Club Placer Group, Humane Society of the Sierra Foothills
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Talking points: The topic should be limited to GPS/treeing switch collars. However, “Fair Chase” and “Ethical Hunting” issues are related to the disadvantages these high-tech electronic devices impose on wildlife. Because lifting the ban on GPS collars has the potential to cause negative environmental impacts, the FGC must comply with CEQA and prepare a DED with proper studies. Allowing GPS/treeing switches will:
~create an incentive to release untrained dogs into wildlife habitat which will increase wildlife disruption, injuries, and/or deaths. Many dogs, especially in “training” modes, will cross scent, maul, severely injure and/or kill non-targeted vulnerable mammals.
~may create a loophole to kill bears/bobcats after they’ve been treed by hounds (illegal to hunt bear or bobcat with hounds).
~allow dogs to range miles from hounders who will be less inclined to keep up with them, especially in rough, rugged, terrain, and/or roadless areas when they can simply watch an electronic screen.
~potentially increase poaching opportunities by releasing hounds in desolate back woods areas where wildlife officers do not have the manpower to patrol. With GPS collars and treeing switches, poachers will know where the dogs are and when they have treed or cornered wildlife. With GPS collars, poachers have additional advantages of texting coordinates of the hounds’ locations to others.
~not provide any meaningful timely “intervention” to stop altercations between dogs and other species; nor to stop either trespassing on private lands where dogs are not welcome; nor stop dogs from crossing public or private roadways to avoid being hit by vehicles. If critical “intervention” is warranted to stop an unwanted activity, it will hardly be immediate or timely because when the dogs are miles away, hounders cannot reach them when every second counts.
Ojai Wildlife League (OWL) was formed in response to the killing of a bear in downtown Ojai by the CA Dept. of Fish and Game.
