The battle for property rights in Idaho has not ended and proof of that can be found in a war of words between individuals and representatives of some groups. Back on March 12, 2007, I published an editorial by Erik Simpson, an Idaho Falls resident and outspoken fighter for property rights. Erik worked hard and was instrumental in defeating the citizens initiative in that state that would have banned bear hunting and trapping for the most part.
In his editorial, Simpson accuses the Idaho Sportsman Caucus Advisory Council of using the same “divide and conquer” tactics that the Humane Society of the United States used in 1996 during the bear initiative.
Matt Compton, who in an editorial rebuttal (pdf) to Simpson titles himself as the Public Affairs Coordinator for the Idaho Sportsman Caucus Advisory Council, is also a registered paid lobbyist for the ISCAC.
Compton accuses Simpson of not telling the facts. Simpson said that in ISCAC’s opposition to elk ranching and elk ranch hunting, one of the divide and conquer tactics they used was to team up with the HSUS in a protest in Boise against the Idaho Elk Breeders Association. Compton disputes that allegation.
Once again on March 30, 2007, Simpson rebuts Compton with another editorial (pdf) in the Idaho Falls Post Register. In it he provides evidence that ISCAC did team up with HSUS. Newspaper and eyewitness accounts verify that both representatives of ISCAC and HSUS attended that rally, called “Camo Day”. Simpson claims that a simple trip to the Idaho Humane Society website (pdf) will reveal that they claim to have done exactly that.
The Humane Society of the United States and the Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus Advisory Council will be teaming up to
stop canned hunts in Idaho. Animal protection advocates will be meeting with their legislators, lobbying and rallying alongside Idaho hunters and fisherman. Idaho sportsmen will be arriving dressed in camouflage;
When news first broke about this team effort, the main Humane Society website maintained by the offices in Washington, D.C. also carried a page declaring they had teamed up with the ISCAC and other sportsmen’s groups to stop canned hunts in Idaho and planned on attending Camo Day. Shortly after an unsuccessful attempt by me to contact someone in that office, HSUS removed the web page with that information on it.
Compton states in his editorial that because no legislation was passed concerning elk ranching that the opportunity passed to help protect wild elk herds and stop bad actors. It must first be explained that there has never been any evidence found of any disease among domestic elk herds. The Idaho elk industry is the only entity in the state of Idaho that conducts any kind of consistent and thorough testing of its animals. Certainly the Fish and Game Department does none of this and therefore they have no idea whether diseases that people like Compton fear, even exist now in the wild. One thing is for certain. It does not exist on any elk ranches in the state of Idaho.
Compton also speaks of “bad actors”. This is in reference to last summer’s incident with former elk rancher Rex Rammell. There were no bills presented that would have addressed the so-called “bad actors”. One bill presented by the IEBA would have required licensing but it fell short on any substantial meat and potatoes to have effectively dealt with bad actors. Some members within the IEBA didn’t feel that this bill would adequately address bad actors, so they fought to get the bill shot down.
Compton also tries to point a finger at Rulon Jones and his elk ranch calling him another bad actor. The biggest bad actors as far as Jones’ ranch is concerned comes from the Idaho Fish and Game Department. After Jones got approval for his operation, several attempts were made to chase any remaining wild animals – deer, moose and elk – off his land before the fencing was complete. Not all animals where chased as the land is widespread, heavily wooded, with steep and challenging terrain.
Some animals remained trapped within his enclosure. Immediately following the announcement that no legislative bills dealing with elk ranching had passed, IDFG sent staff out to Jones’ ranch to begin hunting down these animals and killing them, telling the press they had to because of the threat of disease. Fortunately, Governor Otter put a halt to that in hopes of finding a better way to deal with it. “Bad Actor” Rulon Jones has offered to chase or trap the remaining animals, at his own expense, to get them off the land. Once again it has to be pointed out that Jones was able to prove to the governor that all of his animals were free of disease. Can the state say that about their animals?
What is really sad though, is that Compton has to use the example of Internet hunting to prove that he knows more about hunting ethics than Simpson does. All that I want to say about that subject is that if an individual cannot see the difference between Internet hunting and hunting game on a ranch, there is no hope.
People like Compton and the HSUS resort to distortions of the truth in painting a picture of what ranch hunting is like by trying to paint a picture that domestic or “tame” as they like to use, animals are caged or tied up and shot by so-called hunters. This is so far from reality it is sickening.
I have said before that hunting ethics is an individual’s choice. It need not be legislated. If Compton and his ilk are so concerned about hunting ethics, why don’t they expend their energy on issues that really have substance? What’s really their agenda?
Another discrepancy that needs addressing, concerns the issue of a citizen’s initiative. Even before any of the legislative debates took place in Boise, Compton and other members of the ISCAC threatened an initiative. Simpson makes reference to that in his article by referring back to an interview that Compton had with New West and Bill Schneider. “We would rather see the legislative process work. If it fails, then we’ll go forward with an initiative.”
To support that accusation, yesterday’s Twin Falls Times had a short story quoting Kent Marlor, president of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, as saying the ISCAC was planning an initiative and they were listening to what they were saying and debating whether to get involved. ( I apologize for not having the exact link to that article. What was there yesterday has disappeared today.)
If the residents of Idaho are going to be subjected to a citizen’s initiative that will be voted on in November 2008, they need to know right off the bat who to believe. The battle for the rights of Idaho elk ranchers is only in the beginning stages and already the opposition is struggling to come up with the truth and facts. Idaho residents need to know that this initiative, should it happen, isn’t just about elk ranching. It cuts at the heart of Americans everywhere. This is an attempt by misinformed and uninformed individuals who have no respect for an individuals rights or the Constitution of the United States.
Accusing someone of twisting facts is one thing. Being able to substantiate those claims is quite another and one I’m betting will be a difficult chore for some.
Mark Twain once said: “Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn’t.”
Tom Remington
