Take Action Today! Washington sportsmen should contact their state senator and ask them to vote YES for SB 5100. Currently, SB 5100 is in the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee where it awaits further hearings. Washington members can contact their state senator by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance Legislative Action Center.
Washington Sen. Timothy Sheldon (D-Potlatch) pre-filed legislation (SB 5100) that would establish a five-year pilot program to allow dogs to be used for hunting mountain lions. The goal of the pilot program is to provide for public safety, protect property and to assess, conserve and manage Washington’s mountain lion population. More importantly, SB 5100 recognizes the need for dogs as an effective method for managing the mountain lion population in the state of Washington.
Animal-rights and anti-hunting groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, bankrolled a 1996 ballot issue that banned the use of dogs for mountain lions, which has resulted in an increase in depredation calls and public safety concerns.
“The Humane Society of the United States foisted this wildlife management travesty upon Washington’s biologists and citizens. And, after 20 years, the bill for mismanaging their lion population has come due,” said Luke Houghton, Sportsmen’s Alliance associate director of state services. “The state of Washington has gotten into the business of killing mountain lions, as evidenced by the unprecedented number of depredation calls and lion-related issues suffered by their citizens – including a mountain biker being killed just outside Seattle.”
The pilot program would be in effect in the counties of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Chelan, Okanogan, Mason and Klickitat. The counties would establish dangerous wildlife task teams and be comprised of representatives from each county and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. The teams will collect data on the mountain lion population, as well as help with public safety and protect private property.
“Hunting mountain lions with hounds is a proven method in controlling them in many states, including Washington at one time,” continued Houghton. “By allowing the use of dogs, SB 5100 will begin to address the concerns that mountain lions pose to the public, pets and livestock.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
