Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Canned Hunting

November 9, 2006

SALEM, Ore. – Today, The Humane Society of the United States hailed a decision by the Oregon Supreme Court upholding the State Fish and Wildlife Commission's authority to prevent the canned hunting of captive, non-indigenous deer. The case, State of Oregon v. Clark Zane Couch, involved numerous criminal charges spanning more than a decade concerning Clark Couch's canned hunting facility near Madras, Ore.

"Clark Couch and the Safari Club's bid to make Oregon a haven for canned hunting has been met with a resounding rebuke in today's Supreme Court ruling," said Jonathan R. Lovvorn, vice president of animal protection litigation for The HSUS.  "Responsible hunters and wildlife managers know there's no sport in shooting exotic animals trapped behind fences. We commend the Wildlife Commission's decision to put an end to cruel, drive-thru killing in Oregon."

The Court's decision affirms the state's ban on hunting of captive, exotic animals on enclosed game farms, or "canned hunt" facilities. Animals at these facilities are often bred in captivity, purchased from animal dealers, imported into states, or, in some cases, retired from roadside zoos and circuses, so they don't fear humans and make easy targets. In its opinion, the Court recognized the state's power to protect wildlife includes the authority to regulate hunting of captive, non-indigenous deer, noting that "the answer to that question is an unqualified 'yes'."

The HSUS submitted briefing in the case because the question of whether state fish and wildlife officials can regulate canned hunting has broad implications for a number of states struggling to stamp out these kinds of unfair and unethical hunting operations.

Canned hunts have proliferated over the past decade, with an estimated 1,000 or more operations in the United States alone. Hunting guides escort their clients to feeding and watering stations where the semi-tame prey proves an easy target. Since the land is fenced, the animals have no chance for escape, and many operations offer "No Kill, No Pay" guarantees.

These hunts are generally reviled by the hunting community nationwide for violating the principle of fair chase. The Boone and Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club, which maintain trophy records for big game hunting, will not consider animals shot at canned hunts for inclusion on their record lists.

Nevertheless, extremist hunting groups like the Safari Club International – which represents primarily wealthy trophy hunters – staunchly defend this method of hunting and include exotic animal trophies shot at canned hunts in their record books and support the canned hunting of endangered animals. Safari Club held a fundraising event at Couch's canned hunt facility after the state banned such hunts.

Safari Club awards include "Cats of the World," for which a trophy hunter must kill four of the big cats, such as a lion, leopard, cheetah and jaguar. "Bears of the World" requires the killing of four species, such as a polar bear, grizzly bear, black bear and Eurasian brown bear. The "African Big Five" requires a leopard, elephant, lion, rhino and buffalo; followed by the "Dangerous Game of Africa" that adds a hippo and crocodile to that list.

The "African 29" requires an arrangement of impala, gazelle, pygmy antelope, eland, oryx, waterbuck, wildebeest and others. To complete all 35 "Grand Slam" and "Inner Circle" award categories at the "Diamond" level, a Safari Club hunter must kill hundreds of animals of different species and subspecies.

For more information on canned hunting, please visit: www.StopCannedHunts.org.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than 10 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.