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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend March 21, 2005 Bill proposes hound hunting for cougars Committee will consider use of radio-collared dogs in Jackson and nine other counties By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — A legislative committee will travel to Baker City Thursday to conduct the first hearing on bills that would reinstate hound hunting for cougars in areas with high populations of the big cats. The two-year pilot project is opposed by conservationists who contend it is merely a thinly veiled attempt to overturn a 1994 initiative banning the use of dogs. Sport-hunting groups are supporting the project. No one is predicting an early resolution to an issue that could rival the controversy over wolves coming to Oregon. The hearing by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will be held at 1 p.m. at the Baker City Armory. The chairwoman, Rep. Patti Smith, R-Corbett, hopes to conclude by 4 p.m. Advertisement Two bills have been introduced to assess the impact of cougar predation on big-game animals and livestock, and whether the big cats pose a threat to humans. House Bill 2549 would allow the use of radio-collared dogs in 10 Oregon counties, including Jackson County. It attracted 50 sponsors, mostly rural legislators, including five of six members of the Jackson County delegation. The only holdout was Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland. The second measure, House Bill 2781, is sponsored by Rep. Tom Butler, R-Ontario. The only difference is that the program would be carried out in the six counties with the greatest number of cougars. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said that would probably mean the pilot program would be confined to Northeastern Oregon, although Douglas and Curry counties appear to have significant numbers of the big cats. Ron Anglin, director of the wildlife division of ODFW, said his agency has not taken a position on either bill. "What we have to do is take a look at the issues and point out potential problems," he said. One stumbling block could be the two-year provision. Anglin said that would give the agency only one hunting season in 2006 to collect data, which would make it difficult to come up with an effective evaluation. Anglin also noted that a pilot program in two separate regions of the state — five counties in southwestern Oregon and five in the northeast corner — could present a "logistical problem" for the agency. There is no question that the cougar population in Oregon is healthy, with an estimated 5,000 animals, according to Larry Cooper, deputy director of the wildlife division. That wasn’t the case in the early 1960s, when cougars were considered vermin to be shot on sight. Their numbers at that time had dwindled to around 200 animals. Pushed by then-Gov. Tom McCall, the 1967 Legislature agreed to classify the cougar as a game animal, with ODFW setting hunting seasons. The population shot up to around 3,000 animals by 1994 when voters approved Ballot Measure 18, outlawing the use of dogs in hunting both cougars and bears. Sport-hunting groups attempted to overturn the ban two years later, but that failed at the ballot box. Smith, who supports the pilot program, believes the burgeoning population of cougars poses a hazard to livestock and humans. "We’re facing a problem in this state," she said, adding the dilemma will be to come up with an acceptable plan that will pass muster both with the Senate and the governor. That won’t be easy, Smith said, adding that she is open to any amendments that can enhance the bill’s chances. "I’m willing to consider all sides," she said. Dogs can be used to track down cougars preying on livestock, so long as the rancher bags the cat on his own property. A separate statute permits hound hunting of animals that show up in populated areas and pose a potential threat to residents. There has never been a recorded human death in Oregon attributed to a cougar. Don Jepsen is a freelance writer living in Salem. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s