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SUNNY Temp: 52 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, October 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 28, 2003 Protesters watch kids hunt birds By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune WHITE CITY — Hunters and animal-rights protesters kept their distance from each other during a Saturday youth hunt run by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Seventy-eight hunters stalked pen-raised pheasants planted in the Denman Wildlife Area fields as about 10 protesters stood quietly on the lawn near the wildlife area office. The protesters, both local and from Portland, carried signs but didn’t heckle or even speak with any hunters during the two hours they spent at the nine-hour hunt. The protesters held signs urging the ODFW to stop promoting hunting and saying that kids and guns do not equal family fun. Advertisement "We’re just going to stand there and bear witness and talk to people if they want to talk with us," said Ron Elterman, the Ashland spokesman for Southern Oregon Animal Rights Society. "We’re not going to do anything that might get us shot." Hunters and their families drove past the protesters to reach the sign-in area, with most waving as they went by while the media chronicled the moment. "It was pretty low-key," said Mark Vargas, the ODFW’s Rogue District wildlife biologist. "They stated their message calmly and left when the television cameras left. "It was sort of a non-event," Vargas said. A dozen ODFW employees — four times the regular youth-hunt crew — were joined by three Oregon State Police officers in orchestrating the youth hunt, knowing protesters would show up. For 13 years, the ODFW has staged youth-only hunts with pen-raised pheasants as a way to introduce youngsters to upland game-bird hunting, with no protests occurring. But groups like In Defense of Animals this year have lobbied the ODFW to stop what they call state-funded recruiting for hunting. The ODFW has refused to stop the hunts, saying it is following its legislative directive to manage wildlife and recreation. Matt Rossell, In Defense of Animals’ Portland field coordinator and the organizer of similar protests statewide, attended the Denman protest. The hunt continues today. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times