Unfortunately, this is not what it might seem like and will likely continue to frustrate hound hunters hoping for a chance once again to hunt mountain lions in Oregon. Hunting with hounds was banned in 1994 by referendum vote.
A new law being proposed by the Oregon Hunter’s Association would give the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife the authority to use “volunteer” cougar hound hunters to deal with problem animals. At present when cougars are determined to be a nuisance, landowners can kill the cat provided it stays on their own land. Beyond that, officials are called in to deal with the animal. The new bill would allow for officials to recruit “selected hunters” to go after the problem animals.
The Statesman Journal has more on this.
Tom Remington
