On October 2, the Pagosa Daily Post gave a forum to a retired Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) staff person who was instrumental in advocating for the unsporting practice of high-tech hounding of bears during his long career there.
At CPW, Jerry Apker promoted packs of dogs chasing animals to death. So it’s not surprising he’s defending what most hunters and all animal advocates consider to be a cruel form of hunting — where the kill shot is delivered to an animal trapped in a tree after being attacked by a pack of dogs.
Is it possible that Mr. Apker’s professional promotion of hound hunting influences his opinions? Of course it does. He was at CPW when Colorado voters — with a 70 percent majority — banned the hound hunting of bears. This is the exact same type of hunting used on mountain lions today. It features radio collars on dogs and horrific animal fights preceding an upward-facing shot to kill a terrified animal.
Why is the hounding of bears wrong, and not the hounding mountain lions?
The absurd comment about trophy hunting being illegal in Colorado is a misrepresentation by Mr. Apker. There’s not a single word in any Colorado statute or regulation banning ‘trophy hunting.’ There is a law that requires removing the animal from the woods. And that’s what a trophy hunter does when he delivers the dead mountain lion to a taxidermist, making a trophy to show off to his friends.
If there’s no trophy hunting, why do the guides — who make their dogs chase mountain lions — guarantee a trophy kill? Just take one look at the guides’ websites.
I am standing with dozens of independent-minded wildlife biologists — including Jane Goodall — and innumerable number of nonprofit organizations who know cruelty when they see it. Let’s stop this.
Vote Yes on Prop 127.
Mike Stabler
Boulder, CO