Bill would make enclosed hunting illegal
With penning, captured wildlife, such as foxes and coyotes, are typically released into large pens, where hunters release hounds to hunt the animals.
Posted — UpdatedWith penning, captured wildlife, such as foxes and coyotes, are typically released into large pens, called preserves, where hunters also release hounds to hunt the animals.
"This is basically staged animal combat," she said. "This is a newer phenomenon, and this competition is, of itself, to judge these dogs, complete with trophies, prizes and how well the (dogs) can corner these animals and, often times, tear them apart."
"We try to do everything we can to prevent this from happening," said Pete Warren, president of the Eastern Fox Hunters Association and owner of a 750-acre pen that holds approximately 50 foxes and 15 coyotes. "But I'm not going to stand here and tell you it does not happen once in a while."
"It's one of the few true family sports, I know of, left," Warren said. "When we have one of those events, we have mothers, fathers, grandparents, children."
"I'm pro-hunting. I'm pro-gun, but this is absolutely barbaric," Hunt said. "It's a notch above dog-fighting. They say there are ways for the foxes and coyotes to escape, and that may be true, but ultimately, they're going to be caught."
"Remove the fences. Make it a sport," he added. "Let's see how good ol' Rover is in chasing after the foxes in an open area."
Warren says growth in the state over the past few years has forced the need for pens because development has overtaken areas that used to be for hunting.
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