The HSUS Applauds Vermont Officials for Tightening the Lid on Captive Hunting

December 18, 2008

The Humane Society of the United States today praised the Vermont Board of Fish and Wildlife for finalizing regulations clamping down on cruel captive shooting operations, otherwise known as canned hunts.

Following years of development and setbacks, the rule adopted last night by the Fish and Wildlife Board prohibits the permitting of future captive shooting facilities and restricts those currently operating.

"Shooting animals trapped within a fenced enclosure and calling yourself a sportsman is like hiring an escort service and calling yourself a ladies' man," said Joanne Bourbeau, The HSUS's New England regional director. "The Humane Society of the United States thanks the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board for taking steps to protect animals from cruel and unsporting captive hunting."

These shooting facilities have innocent names like "hunting parks" and "preserves," but in reality they are commercial killing fields where customers pay to kill animals within fenced enclosures.

The animals — from buffalo, to exotic deer, to elk — are bred on the ranch or bought from dealers. They are typically semi-tame, hand-reared animals who have lost most of their fear of humans. In some instances, they are accustomed to being fed by humans before being set up as living targets.

The rule goes into effect Jan. 4, 2009, but captive hunt operators currently operating have a year to comply. The rule bars new captive shoots from opening; prohibits captive shooting of native species such as moose and white-tailed deer; mandates inspections and requires that operators and shooters hold operator permits and hunting licenses. A copy of the rule can be found on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Web site.

Facts

• More than 1,000 captive hunting facilities operate nationwide.
• With the adoption of the Vermont regulation, captive hunts are illegal or restricted in 24 states. The HSUS tracks individual state statutes and regulations, which are viewable at humanesociety.org/cannedhuntsmap.
• Animals at captive hunts are confined in highly concentrated numbers. Consequently, the risk of disease transmission is greater, posing a threat to animals on the inside and outside of the fences. Diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis and chronic wasting disease have been diagnosed in captive wildlife, and cannot be contained by a fence.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.