The debate over property rights and hunting continues as many western states scramble to regulate an industry being attacked by both those who support hunting and those who are opposed to hunting. Tom over at the Black Bear Blog has been following this attack on the elk farming industry for a while now.
A bill has been introduced in Colorado that is so badly written and vague that any hunting on property with a fence would be outlawed. Animals behind any enclosure no matter the size of the enclosure will be off limits to hunting.
When it comes to record book submission I have no issue with disallowing them but telling property owners that they can’t raise elk or other game animals I think that steps over the line. Issues with disease can be addressed and really the private rancher has more incentive and ability to keep his ranch disease free then the state and the wild population.
Is a “can hunt” really hunting or not? I think it is up to the individual hunter to make that decision based on their own views of fair chase. Fair Chase is really such an individual definition that it’s nearly impossible to get two hunters to agree on what it is, I may see no issue with using bait whereas another hunter sees this as unsporting.
No matter which side of the issue you come down on as an outdoorsman you certainly can’t support this bill as written.
