Transcript Public March 7 2012 Riverside Strategic Vision - CAL

Comments About
The Strategic Vision ProcessThe Case for Hunting
By
Anthony Canales
March 7, 2012 Revision
Two Key Points of Presentation
1) The hunting of game is an ongoing heritage from Man’s
Hunter- Gatherer tradition and philosophy, and needs to be an
integral component of the Strategic Vision Program.
2) Hunting can be regulated to account for population changes of
species, reduce natural predation to protect ESA Species, and
otherwise scientifically manage wildlife, unlike natural
predation where predators prey upon female ungulates and/or
their young year-round.
a) Mountain lions as a case example- Proper management
can assist the DFG in accomplishing other worthwhile
goals.
Point Number 1: Hunter-Gatherer Tradition
• The Hunter-Gatherer Tradition predates all forms of
agriculture, and has been practiced by numerous
adherents from pre-history to this very day…
Point Number 1: Hunter-Gatherer Tradition
…Which Even Includes The Activities Of
The Early Vegetarians
Point Number 1: Hunter-Gatherer Tradition
• When properly managed, modern hunting is a
sustainable practice that can be more merciful to
prey species than natural forms of predation.
Point Number 1: Hunter-Gatherer Tradition
• In the Hunter-Gatherer Tradition, man is an integral
part of the Nature’s Predator- Prey relationship,
rather than the detachment of being a wildlife
“observer”.
Point Number 2: Modern Management Benefits
of Hunting
• Modern Scientific Management using hunting as a
tool has allowed for the restoration of species
adversely affected by past market hunting practices
Point Number 2: Modern Management Benefits
of Hunting
• Modern Scientific Management using hunting as a
tool generates the revenues that are critical for
biological study, habitat management, and providing
for enforcement logistics.
Point Number 2: Moutain Lions As A Case
Study
• Of US WAFWA Member States with measureable Mountain Lion
populations, California is the only state that limits mountain
lion hunting to government-approved hunters with depredation
permits- 140-150 mountain lions depredated per year in CA.
• Other states with mountain lion hunting AND depredation
control programs continue to have robust mountain lion
populations
Examples: Oregon Fish & Wildlife – Annual quota of 777
mountain lions
Idaho Fish & Game - USDA-APHIS controls for few
lions per year
Point Number 2: Mountain Lions As A Case
Study
• Mountain lions prey on a wide variety of wildlife in California,
but primarily prey on ungulates
• Mountain lions are known to prey upon Listed Endangered
Species
Examples- Peninsular Big Horned Sheep (Boyce et al 2009)
California Condors (Rideout et al 2012)
Point Number 2:Mountain Lions As A Case
Study
• Current Mountain Lion Populations in California Are Estimated
to Be 4000-6000 statewide (CA DFG).
• Mountain Lions Are Estimated To Consume 1 Ungulate Every
7-8 Days (Oregon DFW 2006 Cougar Management Plan).
• In California, 4000-6000 mountain lions could thus be estimated
to consume some 180,000- 270,000 ungulates each year
• By way of Comparison- Lawful hunters reported taking
16,088 deer in the 2009 California Deer Season
Point Number 2: Mountain Lions As A Case
Study
Permit-based Control of Mountain lions is Sustainable, based
upon current levels in California and Other StatesNumber of Mountain lions controlled per DFG permit statewide1972 to 1990 prior Prop 117 -
520
1991 to 2009 post Prop 117 -
1846
% increase depredation permit
mountain lions controlled,
post-Prop 117, baseline 1972- 355%
Point Number 2: Mountain Lions As A Case
Study
Permit-based Control of Mountain lions is Sustainable, based
upon current levels in California and Other StatesSelect County Control Data, Post Prop 117, compared to Baseline 1972-2009
(Depredation Post Prop 117 over total, then %):
San Diego-
39/44,
88.64%
Mendocino-
253/317,
79.81%
Napa-
81/82,
98.78%
Sonoma-
68/72,
94.44%
Lake-
34/49,
69.39%
Monterey-
43/79,
54.43%
S.L. Obispo-
54/82,
65.85%
Kern-
51/74,
68.92%
San Diego-
39/44,
88.64%
Point Number 2: Mountain Lions As A Case
Study
Recommendations For Consideration & Study Under An EcoSystem-Based, “Holistic” Approach:
• To Protect Listed Endangered Species
• To Reduce Predation on Ungulates So as To Justify Increased
Tag Quotas Which Will Enhance DFG Revenues
and
• Because Prop 117 Prohibits Sport Hunting of Mountain Lions,
Permit an Increase of State Depredation Permits and Utilization of
USDA-APHIS-provided services to reduce Mountain lion
populations in ESA Critical Areas and Condor Country On the
Order of some 300-400 mountain lions.