This is a e-mail sent to me from Chad.
A Call For Action
Paul Askew and I attended the ODFW Commission budget hearings last Friday, June 6. We provided our testimony and listened to the presentation carefully. From what we learned, it is clear that the health our elk and deer populations are not going to be a priority for the Commission and nursing the herds back to true management objective is not going to happen any time soon. This message was delivered by Commission Chairperson, Marla Rae and ODFW Director, Roy Elicker. They both came right out and said that they would not be doing anything at this time concerning reducing cougar numbers.
As some of you know, HB 2971 Agent Use passed last year. This bill legally allows ODFW to utilize volunteer agents for removing problem cougars and bears, potentially saving the department $100,000.00 dollars per year.
Unfortunately, just like in the recent Bonneville Salmon/Sea Lion debacle, the HSUS has threatened law suits if ODFW moves forward with removing cougars. This has paralyzed the Commission and nothing is being done as our herds continue to be decimated.
The HSUS holds all the cards right now and is controlling our wildlife populations. They are doing everything they can to prevent Oregon from managing predators effectively. Their hope is that in a few short years, there will no longer be healthy numbers of elk and deer to hunt (due to predation) and they will be able to petition a law suit, present the facts to a judge and get elk and deer hunting shut down.
The Animal Use Protection Coalition was formed for this very reason. Unfortunately, we are literally brand new and do not have a strong membership yet. I would like to ask that you pass the word around your circles and recruit as many people as you can. All that is required is the willingness to send emails to our local politicians concerning these types of matters.
I will even write a form letter to make it easy for those that don't like writing. Copy, Paste and Send......it will be that easy.
It is critical that we act now, or hunting in Oregon could be a thing of the past in just a few short years.
I would like to have at least 100 members send an email to the Governor concerning this matter in two weeks......500 would be better and then repeat often until he is muttering Animal Use Protection Coalition in his sleep. The Commission works for the Governor and we need him to direct them to get this done.
We need numbers to make this effective. It is time the conservation community finally takes charge and let's Oregon know we will not stand for the HSUS, or any other animal rights group to control our Fish & Wildlife Management any longer.
Thank you,
Chad A. Gooch Animal Use Protection Coaltion
