From: james@csn.org (Jim Phillips)
Subject: The truth comes out!
Organization: Colorado SuperNet, Inc.
Date: 18 Dec 92 09:44:56 CST
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

[Moderator's note: I am posting this for information purposes only.
All followup should be directed to t.p.animals.  tjr]

For information only, if the moderator(s) permit.  The following
article appeared in yesterday's RMN.  We passed a number of strange
ammendments in Colorado last month and #10 was a big winner.

The #10 supporters stated over and over to the non-hunters that their
goal was not to stop all hunting.  The supporters claimed that they
were only after the obviously unethical practice of hunting bears in the
spring when dependant cubs could be orphanned. Never mind that killing
lactating female bears is already illegal, AND AND AND...

Better stop here if I want to get this past the moderators :-)

The following is reprinted without permission from page 10 of the 
December 16 issue of the Rocky Mountain News...

-------------


                      Bowhunting of bears under fire. 

Animal rights group asks wildlife commission to ban practice in state.


by Deborah Frazier

A national animal rights group has fired another round in its fight
against sport hunting in Colorado.

The Maryland-based Fund for Animals, which wants to stop all sport
hunting, has now asked the Colorado Wildlife Commission to ban
bowhunting for black bears.

The Fund for Animals backed Amendment 10, which bans Colorado's spring
bear hunt and use of bait and dogs in any bear hunts. It said passage
of the amendment proves the commission has ignored the public's
wishes.

"It (the commission) must no longer sanction entirely unsporting and
unethical hunting practices," said Wayne Pacelle, the fund's national
director. "You make a mockery of the hunting ethic that demands quick
and clean kills."

The group also has a greater goal.

"Our objective is to eliminate sport hunting. We try to take on those
hunts and methods that are most objectionable. As we whittle it down,
we convert non-hunters to anti-hunters," said D.J. Schubert, directory
of investigations.

More than 25 studies on bowhunting for deer show the wounding rate is
about 50% and the kill rate is 50%, Schubert said. Since bears are
larger than deer, their wound rate would be higher, he said.

"Maybe we can eliminate bowhunting without a referendum. The state
wildlife commission shouldn't promote an activity that is cruel an
ineffective," said Schubert.

Larry Baker, past chairman of Colorado Bowhunters and past president
of United Sportsmen's Council of Colorado, said bowhunters have to get
within 10 to 30 yards of a bear to kill it.

"Bowhunting is a proficient way for hunting bear and other big game
animals in Colorado," he said. "I've taken a bear with a bow and arrow
and find it no different than taking any other big game."

Dennis Bergstad of the Colorado Outfitters and Guides Association said
Bowhunting for bears is difficult because of the close range required.
Fewer bears are shot by archers as a result, he said.

Mike Smith of Coloradans United for Bears, which launched the
anti-spring bear hunt drive, said bowhunting for bears is a less
significant ethical issue, and he is more concerned about hunting
mountain lions with dogs and bait.

----------------------

-- 
 James K. Phillips       Sprocket Scientist     james@pvi.com 
  Precision Visuals, Inc.                       james@teal.csn.org
  6230 Lookout Rd      				
  Boulder, CO 80301    				(303) 530-9000 x308


Newsgroups: rec.hunting