Oregon Hunters Jump In Bed With HSUS
January 22, 2007
On the heels of the debate in full swing in Idaho, members of a hunting organization in Oregon have stooped so low as to be partnering up with their biggest enemy, the Humane Society of the United States. The Oregon Hunters Association, along with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, has teamed up with HSUS to put an end to elk farming there.
Using the events in eastern Idaho last summer where elk escaped a ranch there, the unlikely and disturbing coalition is using much of the same misinformation to instill unfounded fear in the people in order to ban elk farming. It is very sad that groups these days, like HSUS, OHA and RMEF, believe that it is American to yank the livelihoods out from under hard working people for reasons not found viable through science.
The MAD-Elk Coalition – HSUS, OHA and RMEF – sent two petitions to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for consideration. The options of the OFWC are varied and open-ended. They can discharge the petitions, recommend to proceed toward rule changes or just about anything in between. The OFWC denied both petitions stating that before any consideration be made for rule changes, more discussion on the topic needs to be addressed.
Members of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously to deny three petitions to change elk-ranching rules for the state.
The consensus was that the issues surrounding the commercial ranching of elk need more discussion before such petitions could be considered.
“We are fortunate in Oregon to have clean wild and farmed populations as far as elk are concerned,” said Zane Smith, a commission member from Springfield. “There are a number of issues that I feel need more consideration before we trigger rule-making.”
The seven members asked biologists and other officials with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to come back at the February commission meeting with recommendations.
Among the issues they were told to consider are the affects of any rule changes, the groups affected by any changes, and a time frame for them to draft and present any recommended rules.
The third petition was one presented to the Commission from a group of Oregon elk breeders.
The two petitions submitted to OFWC call for either ending all commercial elk farms by the year 2012 or capping the limit on farms to 16 and providing for the eventual dismantling of the industries through the inability to transfer ownership in any way.
While it is encouraging to see that the OFWC isn’t interested in jumping into this issue and running roughshod over the elk industry, it is disturbing that once again, like in Idaho, hunting organizations have opted to team up with the likes of the Humane Society of the United States.
Making decisions such as this to ban a clean and safe industry, should not be taken likely. This has to be based strictly on science and whether it can be proven to be a valid and large enough health risk to both humans and other wildlife, to warrant a stripping of one’s rights as an American.
Teaming up with an organization that is systematically using divide and conquer tactics along with chipping away at one small aspect of hunting at a time, is flat-out wrong. I never thought I would live long enough to see the day that true sportsmen would consider HSUS a partner in the preservation of our hunting heritage.
Tom Remington
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There is a kick to the gut for ya!
[...] In today’s Black Bear Blog the Oregon Fight over elk farming and the linking of polar opposite organizations is really a sham. Does anyone really believe that the HSUS and RMEF really see eye to eye on any issue? I’m certain the motives behind the Oregon Sportsmen Organization opposition to elk farming and HSUS motives are not even on the same level. I know a little about the topic but not enough to have formed a firm position on either side of the issue. I have a lot of respect for organizations like the RMEF & NWTF and would submit that if they have concerns about an issue as a sportsman I should too. Just because the HSUS lines up on a particular issue does not mean that we should ignore these groups concerns. I believe the motivation behind the HSUS strategy to end the outdoor activities we hold dear is to divide and conquer. Trapping inhumane sport…. Bow Hunting to much game loss… dove hunting who would want to kill the symbol of peace…. Etc. Lets not play into the antis hand by encouraging such behavior, we can debate but lets not offend each other by calling names. [...]
The issue is more of a property rights issue. What if someone decided that you shouldn’t have dogs in your yards anymore due to an outbreak of flees in Florida? It’s the same thing… the only difference now is where you live and that there are laws that are enforced regarding dogs in your area. Is there anything wrong with Elk farming or “Shooter Bull” operations IF there are enforcable regulations regarding how they are operated.
Maybe you and I don’t like some of these things, but obviously there are folks that do, because those folks wouldn’t be able to keep their business open if they didn’t have support for them. I know a guy that hunted for Elk for 18 years, he was in a wheelchair and the first one he was ever able to shoot was at one of these operations (by the way, the “shooter bull” operations in Idaho are all set-up to and abide by the SCI fair chase rules). The guy was 42 years old and cried because he never thought he’d have a chance at bagging a bull… it took them a few days to get him where he needed to be, but they did it. Some would think it’s still not right, but put yourself in that guys …. chair, as a longtime hunter, I’d still want a chance to get out in the woods and see if I could still find some meat.
How many wild Elk are tested for CWD now in OR? I know when that question was posed to the ID F&G it was less than 2% (and that’s in a good year!). If we are concerned about the transmission of CWD and other issues, shouldn’t we be cleaning up our own State agency backyards before we throw rocks at those that have a good record of doing the right thing?
… just my 2 bits…
I don’t think that teaming up with the Humane Society of the United States – an organization that notoriously fight hunters with tooth, nail and smear campaigns – is a very wise idea. They will turn around by the next opportunity and stab the RMEF in the back. All I am left to do is shaking my head in disbelieve.
-Othmar Vohringer-
What amazes me is that animal rights groups have made no secret of the fact that they intend to propose legislation that will ban all kinds of bear hunting. They are only waiting on the ODFG to complete the bear management plan before formulating their attack.
This is all wrong!
The problem is not at all like the example describing fleas and domestic dogs. Fleas do not typically kill and all dogs are domestic dogs (i.e. no wild stocks to worry about). First of all Chronic Wasting disease is not prevelant in wild stocks, however, in close quartered farmed animals if it emerges it runs the whole stock. Again sad for the farmer who is left with huge losses, but if it jumps to the wild stocks u could lose them too. Is it worth it to risk the lose of wild stocks so some individuals can make a living off farming some of them? I would hope that as sportsmen u would place preservation of wild stocks above all else? No matter what regulations are in place for farmers domestic ungulate herds always have an inherent risk of disease tranmission to wild stocks. The fear or concern for transmission to wild stocks is NOT unfounded, remember rinderpest in Africa? Canine distemper in black-footed prarie dogs? Chronic wasting disease in elk in Canada? All from domestic sources, with devastating effect on the wild populations. The science is correct, has been studied and documented….I would ask what science background any of the authors of these comments have? And I point out u mention the striping of livelyhoods from farmers as unAmerican, what about the stripping of rights from other americans who rely on the existence of wild animals for thier livelihoods ( a much greater number…i.e. biologists, outfitters, tourism, etc.)
Brent Young Bsc. Wildlife Biology
As is the case in Idaho, ranchers have proven that a well run, regulated and tested facility presents virtually no risk to the wild stock. In this case I believe that the risks are far too minimal to justify banning the industry.
Define virtually? And yes i agree that well run, regulated and tested facilities have minimal risk. The risk however is still there. In Canada the disease escaped from a well run, regulated facillitiy that regularily tested thier animals. Unfortunately, chronic wasting disease is caused by something similar to a vrius but much smaller called a prion, typically 20 bp or less. Thus when an animal is infected you cannot detect it untill visible signs of the disease appear. This was the case in Canada and by the time testing revealed infection it had already spread to the wild stocks.
brent, I’ll tell you what “proof” I have that are domesticated elk are NO THREAT to the wild herds. #1 we test 100% of all animals over 16months of age for TB, Brucellosis and CWD. In 8 years of strong surveillance there has never been 1 positive case. In addition, you are partially correct when you say that disease is more prevalent in smaller groups. This is why we vaccinate our herds on a regular basis including extensive testing for possible parasite infestations. In Wyoming for instance, the F&G dept continues to contribute to disease by artificially feeding their wild elk herds in confined ares, without any disease management plan nor testing. Therefore they are creating one of the biggest sources of disease in our wild herds in Yellowstone. Please note that in the recent years Idaho lost it’s Brucellosis free status for cattle due to the disease infested wild elk in surrounding areas. Wyoming hasn’t allowed domestic elk ranching for over 30 years, yet is riddled with Brucellosis and CWD in their wild herds. Thus further proving that these diseases are not originating from our domestic herds. The problem with people such as yourself is we can show you thousands of negative tests and thousands of health records, and it would be just as effective as us banging our heads against the wall. I appreciate your concern, but once again you are contributing to the scare tactic techniques of these anti-hunting, environmentalists which are trying to destroy our livelihoods based on non-scientific data and fear.
I cannot believe RMEF partnering with HSUS! The RMEF needs to worry about terminal idoitcy in their ranks instead of worrying about mad cow disease. How unAmerican can one get?
As I do not know all the details of the elk ranching I cannot make a decision what should be.
I do know this; The Oregon Hunters Association is no friend to the common blue collar hunter! And In time there true goal of elitist hunters obtaining big game tags and limiting the seasons thru expensive license and tag fees will be appearent.
They have not supported other hunters rights such as houndsmen concerning the Oregon cougar plan. As well as chuckar hunters , by supporting shortening their season.Due to Mule deer conflicts.They do continually support raising hunting tag fees. It appears OHA is only concerned with Trophy hunting , especially the large horned types.
Currently the OHA consist of only 3 % of Oregon hunting license holders.Yet they are in tight with the ODFW, and I am quite suprised to see them not agree.Evidently there is more political pull on the Elk ranching position. The OHA is already loosing its members and will hopefully by reinvented thru new elected leaders. Then possibly we will see a Organization which truely represents Oregon hunters.
I do not know much about the RMEF or its members, other than the fact they are BIG and Well funded. There fore they have little concerns with other hunters rights , and only focus on the elk hunting.
These two groups seem very short sighted and appear to be aiding in the Anti hunting divide and conqour stratagy.
RMEF has a focus of which I understand very much similar to that of the National Wild Turkey Federation. These groups focus on elk and turkeys. Generally speaking they shouldn’t be opposing other forms of hunting.
All too often these hunting organizations become run by a few who have an agenda while the masses don’t get involved and let it go. This is unfortunate and as you say, doesn’t do ALL hunters the justice they deserve.
Once again, this is a divide and conquer tactic used by the antis to achieve their own goals.
I certainly hope that if the Oregon Hunters Association is what you say, enough concerned hunters will get involved and right that organization.
Thank you for your imput and comments.
Have you contacted the RMEF to find out its official position on this story? The RMEF is not in any way a political machine and just because its members do something in regards to this issue does not mean that the RMEF as a whole is in anyway involved in this issue!
That being said, I HATE GAME FARMS! They lead to nothing but trouble!
The RMEF has not made an official statement on this issue!