What the hunting community and most sensible Americans support is thoughtful and scientific approaches to dealing with issues and problems. Unfortunately lumping Bobcat trapping with Mountain Lion hunting and Lynx hunting( which isn’t allowed anyway) is two separate issues that should be dealt with separately. To do otherwise just invites more beaurocracy.

The benefit and enjoyment of “the people” regarding wildlife management, directly speaks to using *best science* as the primary management goal.

The hunting/trapping community is approximately 11% of the population (“the people”). *Generally, close to 90% of today’s population is non-consumptive regarding the wildlife. Predators and sound predator stewardship is vital to the ecological health of nature’s well-balanced, Chain of Life. Protecting and placing high priority on value of the predators should be Rule #1.

But nothing will change until people start using their voices against the Hunting/Trapping Community MINORITY. Change CAN happen. It is very “doable.” We only need to be organized and active. Common sense, general compassion, and best science are all on our side.

Up to SIX big hound dogs…running amok in our fields and woods…all year round ! That means in the springtime…when all manner of wildlife are trying to raise their very vulnerable young; including the bobcat and her kittens.

Why is there not an organization with a lawyer threatening legal action, unless better science-based wildlife management is instigated? The wildlife belongs to ALL of us…not just the hunting and trapping community. I would appreciate a response to this issue please. I think it is time to get something started. Packs of SIX hound dogs, running at large over private land (unless posted) with no conceivable means of monitoring the damage done…is simply irresponsible, and an invitation for putting the public in grave and immanent danger of being attacked. There is already an example of this very thing happening to a couple and their dog in Ripton Vermont…walking a public trail; the Sigmans. Vermont’s Wildlife Department has a record of their public testimony regarding this incident: A man, his wife and their dog were all attacked by a pack of “hunting” hound dogs. They all had to receive emergency medical care. They fought off the hound dogs for a half hour, before the owners of the dogs caught up with them. Meryl Sigman testified…” If it hadn’t been for the fact that we were carrying bear-spray, I truly believe we, and most certainly our dog, would have been killed.”

Thank you for your article. I look forward to hearing from you.

This should be the litmus test for every wildlife species managed by our state wildlife agencies. The management plan must directly support the biological and ecological factors that a wildlife species is dependent on for a healthy population. This goes way beyond the wet finger in the air population estimates by our state agencies. Biological factors include kitten survival, age class stratification and other factors.

In Colorado, wildlife are managed for the benefit of the visitors and citizens of Colorado. They are not managed to support the welfare of the species. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission Policy states:

“It is the policy of the state of Colorado that the wildlife and their environment are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of this state and its visitors.”

The welfare of wildlife is not the focus of wildlife management by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.