California Fish & Game commissioner should not resign over legal cougar hunt

News item: Dan Richards, president of the California Fish and Game Commission, announces that he has no plans to step down amid harsh criticism that has not ebbed since a photo surfaced in January, showing Richards posing with a mountain lion he killed during a guided hunt in Idaho.

The calls have come from animal rights groups, not unexpectedly, but also 40 legislators who this week delivered Richards a signed letter admonishing the commissioner for failing to respect "the laws of the people in California," and questioning his ability "to adequately enforce those laws."

Reaction: Richards was participating in a legal hunt and should not be forced to resign under pressure that was inspired, originally, by animal rights groups. At worst, the commissioner exercised poor judgement by providing a photograph of him posing with the dead cougar to an outdoors publication. He should have known that would ultimately land him in the anti-hunters' cross-hairs (see photo above).

But while hunting mountain lions is not legal in California, it is allowed in Idaho and other states, mostly as a means of keeping mountain lion numbers in check. Whatever a person's viewpoint, big-game hunting for meat or trophies is legal, even in California (for species such as bear and deer).

Said Richards to the San Diego Union-Tribune: "I’m not apologizing about anything because I didn’t do anything illegal. I didn’t share [the photo] with the world. The Humane Society of the United States shared it with the world. There is zero resign in me."
 
What's unique about the mountain lion issue in California is that voters, not the Fish and Game Commission or the Department of Fish and Game, were behind the movement to protect the big cats, which have been off limits since the passing of Proposition 117 in 1990. (The ban was not based on scientific evidence that proved sport hunting was a threat to the state's cougar population.)

But Prop 117 mentioned nothing about a citizen's right to travel to other states and participate in legal mountain lion hunts, which are deemed important by those states as a means of managing animal populations.

So the notion that Richards failed to respect the laws of people in California seems ridiculous. If Californians voted to impose a ban on trout fishing, for whatever reason, should Richards be admonished for vacationing in Montana and casting a line for trophy rainbows?

Surely, the Legislature -- unless its hidden agenda is to remove one of only two pro-hunting members from what's supposed to be a balanced Fish & Game commission -- has more important issues to grapple with.

To be sure, Californians would be better off if these Assembly members would get to work on those issues sooner rather than later, because this insignificant issue has received far too much attention.

-- Pete Thomas

Editor's note: This report was not written by a Republican, a hunter or because of any pro-hunting agenda. It's just an opinion, written in the interest of fairness

Comments

[tercüme bürosu]

It would be very good if he stays commissioner. Many people know what he did. He have to do such other good things. We must give him a chance.

[Bill]

The HSUS is a totalitarian group that has no respect for views and lifestyles not their own...after the recent banning of hunting with dogs it looks like any rural minority will now be political cannon fodder for the arrogant politicos in Frisco and Sacramento...soon the day might be here when the CA "Fish and Wildlife" commissioner loses his job for ordering a steak in Reno, a misdemeanor in CA...I say boycott: no more purchases of CA Fish and Game licences/permits...let em collapse into the fiscal disaster that is Democratically run CA.

[CC Simone]

We need to fire the politians who are supporting this man's actions. Clearly they cannot be trusted, because they are trying to protect someone who so blatantly and arrogantly snubbed his job. It is an example of the "Good Old Boy" system in action. This is a clear-cut example of a coflict between the his job and his hobby. Those of who work for the Government must sign a conduct agreement stating that our actions and professional behavior extend beyond the work place.

Further, the examples given (gambling or driving a rented car) do not compare to the act of killing wildlife when that is what you are getting paid, and very well at that, to protect. There is a big difference between killing and playing slots. How can we trust this man to be doing a good job when he obviously does not believe in what he is doing. Please, immediately remove him now. He can go get a job in Idaho.

[Mike]

Richards had every right to go and hunt. He was givrn the choice to shoot a lion that was a problem animal. For some legislator to recommend he resign is a joke. The tree huggers just trying to ruin a good mans career. DON'T RESIGN.

[drudown]

@ Bill

Comparing a legal hunt for cougars with sex with children is completely inapt and simply discredits whatever point you were trying to make- much like suing in federal court to free Killer Whales from "slavery" simply insults the larger public's intelligence.

As someone who is personally opposed to hunting wolves, big cats or even bears- I understand it might be something you look askance upon. But try to be serious.

[Samouel Bernstein]

Since when do California laws extend beyond the borders of California?

An obvious attempt by the inner-city liberal left wing vegan animal rights lobby to load the commission in their favor.

Soon the only thing that you'll be able to hunt for in California are mushrooms and berries!

[Bill]

Really? So if our attorney general went to Thailand to have sex with children (since it may be legal there), that would be OK? He didn't break any law by doing so. Same analogy.

[Steve from MO]

Wow, I never regret leaving my home state of CA. More hysteria per hectare than anywhere else on the planet. Jay, you don't know what a guided hunt is. The term "guided" indicates nothing about the hunters skills. I've done some guiding, and been guided some. Also, many western states actually require guides for wilderness area hunts. And despite whatever it is you apparently get from cartoons, hunting is much more about being a real human than being a "real man".

[Jay]

Wow. A guided hunt. What a real man. Head out on your own and do it with your own skills, then you get my respect. Sounds like a rich CA a** with a gun, too much money and not enough outdoors experience.

[Roy Cornelison]

I hope he stays commissioner. There are plenty of people in California that understand what he did. If it were illegal that would be a different story. There are alot of people in California that hunt and own firearms. It's sad that people in other states think we are all wacked out liberal anti hunters. I know the liberals have the right to their opinions but they need to keep them to themselves and use the energy somewhere else.

[HHHH]

Mountain Lions are still legally hunted in Ca. if the animal in question endangers human life. It can shot right away but has to be given to the DFG within 24 hours. If a lion has killed livestock or pets you apply for special permit to hunt and kill it and again it has to be turned over to the DFG within 24 hours.

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