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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 26, 2005 Cougar-hunting revision re-emerges An Oregon House panel adds language allowing the use of dogs to hunt cougars and bears to a bill prohibiting Internet hunting By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — An amendment to reinstate hound hunting for cougars and bears was attached to legislation prohibiting hunting over the Internet and sent to the floor of the House Wednesday. The amendment would allow the use of dogs on a county-by-county basis, subject to approval of voters in the affected jurisdictions. Any resident could file an initiative petition seeking an election on the question. The county by ordinance could then refer it to the voters. The amendment was added to Senate Bill 389 at the request of Jerod Broadfoot, representing the Oregon Chapter of Safari Clubs International, a pro-hunting group. As passed by the Senate, the bill allows the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to adopt rules prohibiting the use of the Internet or closed-circuit media to remotely control a weapon to take wildlife at a distant game park. That proposal passed the Senate unanimously. Advertisement Voters in 1994 approved an initiative to outlaw the use of dogs in hunting cougars and bears. It also banned bait piles to lure bears within range. The Legislature referred a repeal proposal two years later, but that was turned down by voters. Citing the growing population of cougars, rural legislators pushed for a pilot program to reinstate hound hunting for cougars in 10 Oregon counties. ODFW would then study the impact of cougar predation on game animals and livestock and their threat to public safety. But the price tag — some $6.5 million — quickly sank that measure in the Ways and Means Committee. "In these tight budget times, I just don’t think we can justify that kind of expense," said Rep. Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Point, a committee member. The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a brief hearing before reporting it to the House floor. The only no vote was Rep. Mark Hass, D-Raleigh Hills. Sally Mackler of Jacksonville, wildlife chairwoman for the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Kelly Peterson of the U.S. Humane Society opposed the new hunting ploy. "One bill curbs high-tech hunting," said Peterson, "now this amendment brings it back." She referred to the practice of using radio collars on dogs to guide hunters to their target. "The bill as introduced was supposed to uphold ethical standards of hunting," said Mackler. "Then they tack on this amendment. What’s ethical about bear baiting or radio- collared hounds?" Broadfoot, an avid hunter, defended the amendment. He said rural residents are deeply concerned by the growing populations of the two species. "This proposal allows local control using the tools that are available for bear and cougar management," he said. A petitioner could hand-pick which parts of the ban he wanted his initiative to overturn or seek a vote on overturning the whole thing. "This is everything the people wanted; just not Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties," Broadfoot said. He said ODFW would continue to set seasons and harvest under the new provision. The bill is expected to reach the House floor next week and Broadfoot predicted the Republican-controlled chamber would approve it. Getting the Senate, controlled by Democrats, to go along may be another matter. "We’re working very hard to make sure the Senate concurs on this amendment," Broadfoot said. Don Jepsen is a free-lance 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 Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s