Sport hunting is not necessary or sensible for management of the mountain lion population. It could lead to local extinction of lions in heavily hunted areas an d would do nothing to address the real issues of public safety. The California State Park Rangers Association strongly urges you to vote no on Proposition 197. Mountain lions should continue to be managed for public safety r easons, not sacrificed for personal egos. Proposition 197 is the trophy hunting lobby's Trojan horse.
Backers claim that it allows the state to manage cougars.
But the truth is, the state already has am ple authority to remove or kill any lion presenting even the perception of a threat. It is absolutely wrong to suggest that trophy hunting would do anything to mitigate the very remote risk of a cougar-human encounter. The State Senate Office of Research points out that a trophy hunt that targets older, larger lions will remove the most mature segment of the population. Such a selective trophy hunt wil l result in an increase in the proportion of younger, juvenile lions. Research reveals that younger lions of either sex are more likely to roam and encounter hu mans.