Buck Up and Ban Canned Hunting 

                                    "Free the Captives" 

 

To stand up for something one believes in takes courage, But if we can't speak up for ourselves, how can we speak up for others? 

  

About Canned Hunting: There are over one thousand captive hunting preserves in the United States.  Captive hunts, also referred to as "canned hunts" take place on private property where animals are trapped and ultimately killed.  These private captive hunts can be held on a small estate, a ranch or thousands of acres land. Hunting preserves are "Big Business" and sadly Canned hunting preserves are having a grievous impact on animals and the environment.  

 

Why should captive hunting be banned: One of the many reasons why canned hunting should be banned is the threat of a deadly infection called Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Scientific research shows that CWD is spread by captive animals to the wild animal population when a captive animal escapes like deer, moose and elk.  The disease can spread through urine, saliva and feces. To date, twenty-one states have tested positive for chronic wasting disease.  Allegedly, there is recent evidence that CWD may spread to humans.  Research also demonstrates the only way to stop the spread of this fatal disease is to shut down captive hunting preserves. Aside from the disastrous effects on humans, canned hunting also has a horrific effect on the animals. For a large fee, hunting preserves offer their clients a chance to shoot and kill domestic and exotic animals, including endangered species.  Furthermore, many hunting preserves do not require their customers to possesses a hunting license, so many  aspiring hunters have no experience with a gun or a bow.  Therefore, numerous animals are often needlessly tortured by amateur shooters.  

 

Laws and Regulations: Recently, there has been an increase in state legislation - nationwide, however the majority of states have made fruitless attempts to regulate enclosures, breeding and the transportation of animals. Current regulations are very poor and do not protect the animals.  For example, Texas the Mecca of captive hunting has over five hundred canned hunting preserves. Many exotic animals are transported from other countries to the ranches in Texas to be hunted down and eventually killed.  New York State enacted legislation that require animals to be only ten acres away from the shooter before an animal is hunted down and shot.   Administrative agencies like the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation play a crucial role in the canned hunting problem. Agencies like the DEC issue standard hunting licenses, but they also regulate shooting preserves and the transportation of animals to the preserves in New York State.

 

TBC...

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What can you do to help the animals? 

It is our responsibility to take care of one another, the animals and the environment.  Don’t wait for someone else to solve a problem you deeply care about.

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If you have questions about canned hunting 

Contact: 

melissaannargay@gmail.com  

Melissa Ann Argay-Wenner