Judge Approve's Mountain Lion Hunting
Pierre, S.D. (United States):
A judge ruled Thursday that South Dakota's first-ever hunting season on mountain lions can start as scheduled on Saturday.
Circuit Judge Max Gors said the Mountain Lion Foundation and other opponents failed to show that hunting will cause irreparable harm to the Black Hills lion population.
The opponents argued during an all-day hearing that there was insufficient data for the Game, Fish and Parks Commission to justify a lion season -- warning that hunting could result in extinction of the big cats in South Dakota.
"We are dealing here with a delicate natural resource," said Bruce A. Wagman, a lawyer for the foundation, which is based in Sacramento, Calif.
"Once the lions are killed, we cannot bring them back," he said, pleading with the judge to issue a temporary restraining order and schedule a full-blown trial on the issue.
Wagman argued unsuccessfully that GF&P is violating its charter to protect animals.
Gors ruled from the bench at the end of the day in order to give the foundation a chance to lodge a hasty appeal Friday with the state Supreme Court. Lawyers for the Mountain Lion Foundation were not immediately certain if they would appeal, and no appeal had been filed by midmorning Friday.
A state official said 1,589 residents have obtained licenses so far for cougar hunting. George Vandel, assistant wildlife director in the Game, Fish and Parks Department, said 1,467 of those licenses are for hunting only in the Black Hills and 122 of them went to landowners in other parts of the state.
A 25-lion quota has been set for the Black Hills. However, the killing of five breeding-age females will automatically end the season. Kills must be reported within 24 hours to GF&P.
Oct 02, 2005
Sioux City Journal, IA
Pierre, S.D. (United States):A judge ruled Thursday that South Dakota's first-ever hunting season on mountain lions can start as scheduled on Saturday.
Circuit Judge Max Gors said the Mountain Lion Foundation and other opponents failed to show that hunting will cause irreparable harm to the Black Hills lion population.
The opponents argued during an all-day hearing that there was insufficient data for the Game, Fish and Parks Commission to justify a lion season -- warning that hunting could result in extinction of the big cats in South Dakota.
"We are dealing here with a delicate natural resource," said Bruce A. Wagman, a lawyer for the foundation, which is based in Sacramento, Calif.
"Once the lions are killed, we cannot bring them back," he said, pleading with the judge to issue a temporary restraining order and schedule a full-blown trial on the issue.
Wagman argued unsuccessfully that GF&P is violating its charter to protect animals.
Gors ruled from the bench at the end of the day in order to give the foundation a chance to lodge a hasty appeal Friday with the state Supreme Court. Lawyers for the Mountain Lion Foundation were not immediately certain if they would appeal, and no appeal had been filed by midmorning Friday.
A state official said 1,589 residents have obtained licenses so far for cougar hunting. George Vandel, assistant wildlife director in the Game, Fish and Parks Department, said 1,467 of those licenses are for hunting only in the Black Hills and 122 of them went to landowners in other parts of the state.
A 25-lion quota has been set for the Black Hills. However, the killing of five breeding-age females will automatically end the season. Kills must be reported within 24 hours to GF&P.
Oct 02, 2005
Sioux City Journal, IA
