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50 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, October 21, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend September 13, 2003 Protesters target youth pheasant hunt By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune An animal-rights group is launching a campaign next week to end state-sponsored youth bird hunts, arguing the state should start severing its ties to hunting by no longer encouraging "bloodsports" for kids. Activists organized by the group In Defense of Animals plan to demonstrate at some of the ODFW’s youth pheasant hunts planned this month across Oregon — including the Denman Wildlife Area in White City. In the youth hunts, kids under 18 years old go afield with adults to shoot pen-raised pheasants planted in the wildlife area fields. The ODFW organized the events here in 1990 as a way of introducing hunting to teens. "They’re trying to recruit the hunters of tomorrow by encouraging children to commit a violent act — killing birds," said Matt Rossell, In Defense of Animals’ northwest outreach coordinator in Portland. "The state shouldn’t encourage bloodsports." Advertisement Rossell said he and other activists will fan out to as many of the 10 wildlife areas hosting youth hunts Sept. 20-21 as possible. Three others, including Denman, have youth hunts scheduled for Sept. 27-28. During the hunts, activists attempt to discourage the young hunters and their parents from participating, Rossell said. Any interference with a legal hunt is against Oregon law, and any saboteurs face possible arrest. "Whether people will sabotage or actively interfere with an animal being killed, I can’t say," Rossell said. "As an organization, I think it’s inappropriate for us to ask people to break the law. But individual people make up their decisions about what they want to do." ODFW leaders statewide have anticipated the youth-hunt protests, and a meeting was scheduled Tuesday to discuss how to handle the protesters. "We’ll have a spot for them here on the lawn," said Mark Vargas, the ODFW’s Rogue District wildlife biologist stationed at Denman. "As long as everybody’s civil, everything’s fine. "We’ll see what happens." ODFW Director Lindsay Ball said he would not cancel the hunts unless there was a danger of injury to employees or the public. "These people are entitled to their opinions," Ball said. "I’m very comfortable with where we are." A demonstration also is planned for Thursday at the ODFW’s Clackamas office near Portland. Rossell organized a similar protest against a February rabbit hunt near Corvallis, and the event was canceled after ODFW officials received death threats. Rossell’s group has voiced concerns in the past that the ODFW should focus its effort on wildlife management and less on hunting, which Rossell calls a special-interest minority in Oregon. "The fact that the ODFW is so much in bed with the hunting lobby is so out-dated," Rossell said. Ball, however, said his agency is required by the Oregon Legislature to manage wildlife and offer hunting opportunities. Neither the legislature nor the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, which sets ODFW policy, has told the ODFW to back off hunting or stop youth hunts, Ball said. Rossell also said he wants meetings with Ball and Gov. Ted Kulongoski to press the issue. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] 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 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder 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