(WA) Animal rights activists get hunting licenses for protest

[Drizzt]

Animal rights activists get hunting licenses for protest

The Associated Press
10/22/01 7:24 AM


MONROE, Wash. (AP) -- Kathy Woods of Tacoma never expected to buy a hunting license, much less tote a shotgun to a popular duck hunting area.

Of course, she never took aim at any ducks. And, as it turned out, there were practically no ducks to aim at.

Woods was among about half a dozen protesters who fired at random to scare ducks away from real hunters Saturday morning at the Crescent Lake Wildlife Area south of town.

The protesters also launched a 7-foot-tall papier mache and fiberglass duck on a metal boat, and one played a clarinet.

"It felt really weird getting a hunting license," Woods said. "That was a creepy thing. It just bothered me that people thought I was going to go around killing animals."

Washington state law bars harassment of wildlife and interference with hunting, so one of the activists, Bob Chorush, 40, of Seattle, came up with the idea of declaring themselves members of the Field of Dreams Hunting Club who happen to be bad shots.

"Our hunting method is to just go out there and keep shooting," Chorush said. "Near as we can tell, we're legal hunters."

Legal, maybe, but not very savvy. Most of the migrating ducks had not arrived at the lake.

Jay Clark of Kenmore, who brought his camouflaged 6-year-old son Sam to scout for waterfowl, was not amused by the protest. They quickly gave up.

"If there were any ducks, there's not going to be any more with those yahoos out here," Clark said. "They're violating every rule of etiquette there is."

Others cited safety issues.

Michael Selders of Everett said he and others were peppered with falling shot while hunting for pheasant across the slough from the protest. The shooting, which "sounded like a war over there," didn't faze the pheasants but confused the hunters' dogs, he added.

Many hunters make a determined effort to educate the public about gun safety, and an activist wearing, for example, red high-tops, could easily slip in the mud and misfire, Selders said.

"I'm not a crusader, but I just think what they're doing is unsafe," he said. "I don't care what they do, as long as they don't shoot at people."


http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/...wsflash-oregon

[dZ]

i thank them for their donation to the Washington State Fish and Game Department

lucky thing they did not AD the boat

[C.R.Sam]

Would have been cool if they did AD the boat. Thin the herd.

Sam

[buzz_knox]

With the mentality of these scumbags, I'd expect to see them shooting at hunters at some point. They are irrational and armed, and the first time one of them sees a hunter drop a bird, they'll probably react by shooting at the hunter.

[Dead]

"Woods was among about half a dozen protesters who fired at random "

Seems to me they endangered anyone in the area if they were shooting randomly. Throw them in jail.

[Don Gwinn]

The new standard duck loadout: two rounds of bismuth shot and one 1 oz. slug, just in case.

[Marko Kloos]

They were not concerned about their lead hitting and killing a person...just about those poor birds not getting shot. That just reinforces my opinion of these yahoos: they don't love animals, they hate people.

[eviltravis]

If these anti's pull the trigger too many times they are going to start to like it. I've taken people gopher hunting who were totally grossed out by the idea of it. Now they can't get enough. Let them turn to the dark side of the force!

[dZ]

one does wonder where they aquired the guns

my state game laws require shooting only at well identified targets

[Cap n ball]

Man! Those people are really stupid! One of the quickest ways to get a knuckle sandwich is to spoil a fellow's shot or scare the game on purpose. If they tried that out in the woods with turkey hunters...well, lets just say they might have an unfortunate 'accident'. This is a tactic that is going to get someone killed.

[Master Blaster]

They were violating the law and should not be allowed to carry firearms in the field. In DE a report to the game officer would result in them losing thier hunting license and having their shotgun confiscated.

If they pointed a gun at me I would have to assume it was loaded and I would take appropriate action

Unfortunate hunting accidents do happen and sometimes people get killed by accident.

Obviously these folks are very very STUPID they just admitted to the news paper that they are intentionally commiting a crime.
I would expect that the Fish and game service or washington state police would be obligated to arrest them, and relieve them of any firearms they own.

[Poodleshooter]

Were they using non-toxic shot? Were they legal in every way? If not-hang 'em high!

[MeekAndMild]

Call 911 and file assault charges.

[Dave R]

"The protesters also launched a 7-foot-tall papier mache and fiberglass duck on a metal boat, and one played a clarinet. "

Hmmm, the trend in duck decoys is to make 'em larger, so they can be more visible from far away.

And if they play clarinet like they shoot, it may have actually sounded more like a duck call...

I wonder if they were actually attracting ducks?

[Jay Baker]

These unmitigated Marxist manipulated idiots are nothing more than terrorists. Each and every one whould be treated accordingly, as should their masters.

J.B.

[jimpeel]

One of the unexpected benefits of the 1994 Crime Bill is section 320802:

Subtitle H-Recreational Hunting Safety

SEC. 320801. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the "Recreational Hunting Safety and Preservation Act of 1994".

SEC. 320802. OBSTRUCTION OF A LAWFUL HUNT.
It is a violation of this section intentionally to engage in any physical conduct that significantly hinders a lawful hunt.

SEC. 320803. CIVIL PENALTIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.-A person who violates section 320802 shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount computed under
subsection (b).
(b) COMPUTATION OF PENALTY.-The penalty shall be-
(1) not more than $10,000, if the violation involved the use of force or violence, or thethreatened use of force or violence, against the person or property of another person; and
(2) not more than $5,000 for any other violation.
(c) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PENALTIES.-The penalties established by this section shall be in addition to other
criminal or civil penalties that may be levied against the person as a result of an activity in violation of section 320802.
(d) PROCEDURE.-Upon receipt of-
(1) a written complaint from an officer, employee, or agent of the Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or other Federal agency that a person violated
section 320802; or
(2) a sworn affidavit from an individual and a determination by the Secretary that the statement contains
sufficient factual allegations to create a reasonable belief that a violation of section 320802 has occurred; the Secretary may
request the Attorney General of the United States to institute a civil action for the imposition and collection of the civil penalty
under this section.
(e) USE OF PENALTY MONEY COLLECTED.-After deduction of costs attributable to collection, money collected
from penalties shall be-
(1) deposited into the trust fund established pursuant to the Act entitled "An Act to provide that the United
States shall aid the States in wildlife-restoration projects, and for other purposes", approved September 2, 1937 (16 U.S.C. 669)
(commonly known as the "Pitman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act"), to support the activities authorized by such Act and
undertaken by State wildlife management agencies; or
(2) used in such other manner as the Secretary determines will enhance the funding and implementation of-
(A) the North American Waterfowl Management Plan signed by the Secretary of the Interior and
the Minister of Environment for Canada in May 1986; or
(B) a similar program that the Secretary determines will enhance wildlife management-
(i) on Federal lands; or
(ii) on private or State-owned lands when the efforts will also provide a benefit to wildlife
management objectives on Federal lands.

SEC. 320804. OTHER RELIEF.
Injunctive relief against a violation of section 320802 may be sought by-
(1) the head of a State agency with jurisdiction over fish or wildlife management;
(2) the Attorney General of the United States; or
(3) any person who is or would be adversely affected by the violation.

SEC. 320805. RELATIONSHIP TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW AND CIVIL ACTIONS.
This subtitle does not preempt a State law or local ordinance that provides for civil or criminal penalties for conduct that violates this subtitle.

SEC. 320806. REGULATIONS.
The Secretary may issue such regulations as are necessary to carry out this subtitle.

SEC. 320807. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to impair a right guaranteed to a person under the first article of amendment
to the Constitution or limit any legal remedy for forceful interference with a person's lawful participation in speech or peaceful assembly.

SEC. 320808. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this subtitle:
(1) FEDERAL LANDS.-The term "Federal lands" means-
(A) national forests;
(B) public lands;
(C) national parks; and
(D) wildlife refuges.
(2) LAWFUL HUNT.-The term "lawful hunt" means the taking or harvesting (or attempted taking or
harvesting) of wildlife or fish, on Federal lands, which-
(A) is lawful under the laws applicable in the place it occurs; and
(B) does not infringe upon a right of an owner of private property.
(3) NATIONAL FOREST.-The term "national forest" means lands included in the National Forest System
(as defined in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a))).
(4) NATIONAL PARK.-The term "national park" means lands and waters included in the National Park
System (as defined in section 2(a) of the Act entitled "An Act to facilitate the management of the National Park System and
miscellaneous areas administered in connection with that system, and for other purposes", approved August 8, 1953 (16 U.S.C.
1c(a))).
(5) PUBLIC LANDS.-The term "public lands" has the same meaning as is provided in section 103(e) of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702(e)).
(6) SECRETARY.-The term "Secretary" means-
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to national forests; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior with respect to-
(i) public lands;
(ii) national parks; and
(iii) wildlife refuges.
(7) WILDLIFE REFUGE.-The term "wildlife refuge" means lands and waters included in the National Wildlife
Refuge System (as established by section 4 of the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C.
668dd)).
(8) CONDUCT.-The term "conduct" does not include speech protected by the first article of amendment to
the Constitution.

[Sportflr]

I wonder what would happen if you showed up at their favorite public golf course and just started wacking balls in every direction? My guess is you would end up sitting in a cop car for a while. Of course the topic at the club house would be gosh can you believe those crazy people hitting balls everywhere someone could have gotten hurt. Some people need to wake up.

[Jeff Thomas]

Note, this is not a threat ... just a common sense observation.

If this kind of foolishness keeps up, two things will inevitably happen: (1) PETA-types will injure or kill themselves or others because of their reckless behavior with firearms, and (2) PETA-types will eventually run into the wrong person, who is not willing to peacefully accept their foolishness. I wouldn't care to pick a fight with well-armed, competent hunters ... out in the middle of nowhere. That is just plain dumb.

These people are impressively aggressive and dangerous, IMHO.

[MatthewM]

JimPeel,

Thanks for the fantanstic work / post.
------

Now, this points out why we have been losing the fight. Identify TFL members in WA. Do a search on local gun stores in the area, etc. Also, local GOA officials. MOTIVATE them to prepare complaints against these individuals and file them. Once the complaints are filed, hound the officials to prosecute.

Who out there is going to do it? We talk about asking who is prepared to take up arms in our defense. How about who is prepared to make a few phone calls and prepare some complaint documents.
The LEOs here can review the docs and we can all work togeather to get these jerks put in jail.

Then, we can hound the press into reporting it!