?Canned Hunts: Sports Afoul

TOPIC: The true sportsmen object to “”canned hunts,”" where people pay to kill an animal that is usually docile and lured by “”guides”" into the client’s gun sights.

Ralph A. Saggiomo is an affable sort of fellow, one you probably wouldn’t mind having a couple of beers with, swap a few tales, and discuss just about anything.

He grew up in one of the most rural, most remote parts of the country, and considers himself to have the same values as the Colonials who lived in Pennsylvania more than two centuries earlier. But, he’s also lived in urban America. He was a Philadelphia firefighter for 33 years, the last few in command positions.

After retirement, he moved back to his 75-acre family farm in Sayre, Pa., and continued his work in local civic organizations, becoming president of both the Greater Valley Emergency Medical Services and the Sayre Business Association. He’s a member of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing & Conservation; and was president of the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, an association that claims about 20,000 members.

For 60 years, Ralph A. Saggiomo has proudly been killing fish and game, both small and large. Name a domestic species, and he’s probably shot at it, wounded it, or killed it.

He says he was told one of his more recent kills was a Dall Sheep; more likely, it was a Texas Dall ram, a lucrative target because of its thick curly horns. The rams, a hybrid of Corsican and Mouflon sheep, are primarily bred to look like the Dall Sheep, native to the mountainous regions of Alaska and the northwest part of Canada. Dall sheep are a challenge to hunters because of their adept ability to escape into the steep mountainous slopes. Domesticated Texas Dall rams pose no such problems.

Whatever he killed–”"dispatched”" and “”harvested”" are the terms hunters euphemistically prefer–Saggiomo didn’t have to go more than 3,000 miles to the subarctic mountains, he only had to go about 50 miles from his home to the Tioga Boar Hunting Preserve. Saggiomo’s day of killing, a gift from his family, was in a fenced-in area.

“”It was a wonderful experience,”" Saggiomo told the Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee, which was holding a hearing in equally remote Towanda, an hour’s drive east of Tioga, away from the major media and in an area not likely to bring many protestors. The Committee was in Towanda to hear testimony about a bill to ban what has become known as a “”canned hunt.”" For a few thousand dollars, Great White Hunters–complete with rented guides, dogs, and guns or bows–can go into a fenced-in area and shoot an exotic species. In most canned hunts, the animals have been bred to be killed, have little fear of humans, and are often lured to a feeding station or herded toward the hunter to allow a close-range kill. In some of the preserves–Tioga denies it ever used these techniques–animals are drugged or tied to stakes. Some of the “”big cats,”" recorded in investigative undercover videos by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Fund for Animals were declawed, placed in cages, and then released; the terrified and non-aggressive animals were then killed within a few yards of their prisons; some were killed while in their cages.

Canned hunts attract not only ethics-challenged pretend-hunters, but ethics-challenged celebrities as well. Among celebrities who have participated in canned hunts, and who mistakenly believe they are hunters and not cold-blooded killers, are Vice-President Dick Cheney, who has been on several hunts in which the kill was assured; and Troy Gentry of the country-rock duo, Montgomery Gentry.

In December 2003, Cheney and nine of his friends–including former Naval Academy and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and some Texas high-roller Republican party donors–went to the exclusive Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier, Pa., about an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh. The owners of the country club, being the good hosts they were, released 500 domesticated and penned-up ring-necked pheasants in the morning. Bird Dog and Retriever News reports that about 40 percent of all domesticated pheasants, if not shot by pretend-hunters, either starve or are killed by predators within the first week of their release; about 75 percent die within a month.

At Ligonier, starvation wasn’t a problem. A game keeper told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Cheney alone killed about 70 of the 417 killed that day. In the afternoon, having hardly raised a bead of sweat, the good ole boys slaughtered dozens, perhaps hundreds, of equally tame mallards that had been hand-raised and shoved in front of waiting shotguns for the massacre. No one kept score, but by the time Cheney flew out of the area, the mallards were plucked and vacuum-packed, according to the Post-Gazette, ready for flight aboard the taxpayer-funded Air Force 2. The pheasants the hunting party didn’t keep, according to the Dallas (Texas) Morning News, were donated to a local food bank. However, no one involved indicated which food bank, nor did they acknowledge that preparing pheasant is cumbersome, and that such a donation, if it did occur, was probably more of a public relations ploy or a tax-deduction to justify their killing orgy than community service. Nor does any “”donation”" alleviate the reality that people in these non-challenging fenced-in grounds kill because they like the excitement of killing a live animal, often mixed with the sheer joy of watching their prey die. After awhile, the animals are seen only as things to be blasted, essentially living clay pigeons; it is an attitude that true sportsmen abhor.

The owners of the country club didn’t say how much, if anything, the Cheney Pot-Shot Safari paid, but others who go to the exclusive country club/canned preserve pay for each bird or duck killed. It’s in the financial interest of the owners to make sure there’s easy prey.

Even easier prey was a black bear named Cubby. In October 2004, Troy Gentry, who had paid about $4,650 for the tame bear, killed it on a private “”preserve”" in Sandstone, Minn., and then tagged it as if the bear was killed in the wild. There was even an edited videotape of the “”stalking”" and killing by the singer who envisions himself to be an expert archer. There is no law against the murder of animals if done on private property. But, in August 2006, Gentry was in federal court to defend himself against a violation of the Lacey Act, which forbids the false tagging of any animal.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), with 10 co-sponsors, introduced a bill (S. 304) in February 2005 to ban the interstate transport of exotic animals for the purpose of them being killed on private preserves. “”There is nothing sportsmanlike or skillful about shooting an animal that cannot escape,”" said Lautenberg at the time he introduced the bill, and emphasized, “”In an era when we are seeking to curb violence in our culture, canned hunts are certainly one form of gratuitous brutality that does not belong in our society.”" That bill is buried in the Senate’s Subcommittee on the Judiciary. A companion bill (HR 1688), introduced in the House of Representatives by Sam Farr (D-Calif.), with 39 co-sponsors, is buried in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Under the Republican-controlled Congress, neither bill is likely to emerge from committee.

For his part, President Bush wants to amend the Endangered Species Act to allow trophy-hunting Americans who kill endangered species in other countries to import them into the U.S. The proposal has roots in the Safari Club International; its political action committee has given about $800,000 in campaign contributions, mostly to Republican candidates, since 2000, according to an investigation by the Humane Society of the United States. The plan has the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose former deputy director was chief lobbyist for the Safari Club before his appointment by Bush. He is now with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Many of the animals on canned hunts are surplus animals bought from dealers who buy cast-off animals from zoos and circuses; the animals sold to the preserves are often aged and arthritic. Dozens of preserves have bought black bears, zebras, giraffes, lions, boars, and just about any species of animal the client could want, solely to be killed, photographed, and then skinned, stuffed, and mounted. Ralph Saggiomo’s sheep may have come from a breeder in Missouri. The proprietors at Tioga, said Saggiomo, “”were gracious, humane and helpful.”"

Those “”humane”" proprietors are the Gee family, which believes their “”preserve”" is really a private farm. Like ones that grow alfalfa and corn. A 1,550 acre private farm–with a fenced-in area of about 150 acres to make that “”sure shot”" more probable. And, while people “”from all over the world”" are killing animals at Tioga, the “”farm”" operation provides significant “”economic benefits”" to the community, according to Michael Gee. There are 14 Pennsylvania farms and about 1,000 in the nation that the proprietors believe are the poster children for the Chambers of Commerce and, most certainly, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.

This particular “”farm,”" according to its website, “”features high success rate hunting, youth hunts, hunts with dogs, guided hunts, trophy hunts, Sunday hunting . . . virtually any type of big game hunt you can imagine.”" Whatever “”you can image”" costs $70 a day for food and lodging, plus a kill fee and supplementary costs for skinning and mounting. Pay $595 and you can kill a Texas Dall ram, rocky mountain ram, or Corsican ram. Buffalo are at least $1,250. Elk bulls come for $2,000. And, just in case you have trouble killing one of the nation’s 30 million white-tailed deer–1.6 million of them in Pennsylvania alone–during the bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, rifle, or shotgun seasons, just come to Tioga. For $1,000 “”and up,”" you can get that elusive buck, with a 10-point rack suitable for mounting in your very own trophy room in suburban America. Tioga’s rates are at the lower end of the scale. At other preserves, prices for white-tailed deer, with trophy-sized racks, can be more than $5,000. The costs for some of the exotic “”trophy”"-class animals, usually found only in sub-Saharan Africa, are well over $15,000.

Tioga, like most preserves, guarantees a kill. The clients are told they “”may hunt as long as you wish until you get what you wish.”" No hunting licenses are required, there are no limits, Sunday hunting is permitted, and “”kills are usually made from 25 to 100 yards.”" This “”farm”" even tells prospective clients, “”Wild goat and sheep with large horns are numerous. Hunting them is great sport for the hunter.”" The rocky mountain ram, with “”their big, sweeping, curled horns make a great trophy,”" the Gee family tells prospective clients. Of course, there are some restrictions. No one under the age of 10 is allowed to shoot.

Heidi Prescott, undoubtedly feeling like a peace activist in a convention of Army recruiters, was the only one at the House committee hearing who didn’t fish, hunt, or had close ties to the hunting industry. Prescott is senior vice-president of the Humane Society of the United States, which has a membership of 9.5 million, more than three times that of the National Rifle Association. Prescott showed members of the committee news stories and a separate undercover videotape of canned hunts. Before the hearing, Michael Gee had told a local newspaper that animal rights groups “”just try to bring up extreme cases to prove their point,”" and use it as a “”stepping stone”" to ban hunting. “”If she says anything in that video is from Tioga, that’s a lie,”" Pete Gee, Michael’s father, retorted to the undercover investigation by Emmy-winning investigative reporter Melanie Alnwick of WTTG-TV (Fox News), Washington, D.C. The news story–but not the videotape of the brutal killing of a boar, probably at another game preserve in Pennsylvania–was filmed in early May 2006 at Tioga, according to Aaron Wische, WTTG’s executive producer for special projects.

Most “”kills”" on the “”farms”" are from animals bleeding out. Animals suffer minutes to hours, says Prescott. Canned hunting, says Prescott, “”is about as sporting as shooting a puppy in pet store window.”" Most sportsmen agree with her. The concept of the “”fair chase”" is embedded into hunter culture. The Boone & Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club (bowhunters), two of the three primary organizations that rate trophy kills, refuse to accept applications from persons who bagged their “”trophy”" on a canned hunt. The Safari Club does allow persons to seek recognition, but only under limitations that most preserves can’t meet.

Members of the committee weren’t convinced that canned hunts need to be banned. Rep. Tina Puckett (R-Towanda) told a reporter before the hearing she believed banning the canned hunt “”could be the beginning of an attempt to say ‘no preserve hunting,’ which then leads to no hunting.”" She said she wouldn’t favor the bill “”because of those down-the-road concerns.”" Rep. Thomas Corrigan (D-Bucks County) says he submitted the bill, which carries 38 cosponsors, for consideration because canned hunts are “”unsporting, cruel, and tarnish the image of all hunters.”"

The House committee kept throwing pointed questions to Prescott; she adeptly batted them back.

The bill that prohibits canned hunting would also be the first step to eliminating all hunting. Not so, said Prescott. Of the 22 states that already ban such practices, “”the hunting culture is still strong.”" She pointed to Montana, which has one of the nation’s strongest hunting cultures. In 2000, following a hunter-led initiative, it became the first state to ban canned hunts, reinforcing the values that true sportsmen believe in fair chase.

The state’s 900 deer and elk farms would be banned. The bill specifically excludes deer, elk, and all other cervidae.

The bill would prohibit farmers or butchers from killing livestock for food. “”No judge in his right mind would interpret it that way,”" retorted Prescott, who said the Humane Society “”would be happy to work with representatives to amend it if members were truly concerned about it.”"

Ralph Saggiomo, according to his official biography published by the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing & Conservation, has a “”love for the outdoors,”" and has “”spent the greater part of his life enjoying the outdoors and has been able to pass his passion on to all of his children, who have become successful hunters, fishermen, and trappers. His grandchildren are now carrying on the tradition, which his father and grandfather passed on to him.”" Although still active in the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, if Saggiomo was a sportsman, he wouldn’t have shot a domesticated animal that was lured into his sights and had no way to escape. If he truly understood the beauty and grandeur of the outdoors, he would have allowed animals to live their lives without the intrusion of people who kill not for food or clothing but because their hormones are infused with the ecstasy they get from the kill and the resultant “”trophy,”" which he says now hangs in his den.

[Walter Brasch’s current books are America’s Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government’s Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights and ‘Unacceptable’: The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina. Both are available through amazon.com and other on-line sources.

?Canned Hunts: Sports Afoul

TOPIC: The true sportsmen object to “”canned hunts,”" where people pay to kill an animal that is usually docile and lured by “”guides”" into the client’s gun sights.

Ralph A. Saggiomo is an affable sort of fellow, one you probably wouldn’t mind having a couple of beers with, swap a few tales, and discuss just about anything.

He grew up in one of the most rural, most remote parts of the country, and considers himself to have the same values as the Colonials who lived in Pennsylvania more than two centuries earlier. But, he’s also lived in urban America. He was a Philadelphia firefighter for 33 years, the last few in command positions.

After retirement, he moved back to his 75-acre family farm in Sayre, Pa., and continued his work in local civic organizations, becoming president of both the Greater Valley Emergency Medical Services and the Sayre Business Association. He’s a member of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing & Conservation; and was president of the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, an association that claims about 20,000 members.

For 60 years, Ralph A. Saggiomo has proudly been killing fish and game, both small and large. Name a domestic species, and he’s probably shot at it, wounded it, or killed it.

He says he was told one of his more recent kills was a Dall Sheep; more likely, it was a Texas Dall ram, a lucrative target because of its thick curly horns. The rams, a hybrid of Corsican and Mouflon sheep, are primarily bred to look like the Dall Sheep, native to the mountainous regions of Alaska and the northwest part of Canada. Dall sheep are a challenge to hunters because of their adept ability to escape into the steep mountainous slopes. Domesticated Texas Dall rams pose no such problems.

Whatever he killed–”"dispatched”" and “”harvested”" are the terms hunters euphemistically prefer–Saggiomo didn’t have to go more than 3,000 miles to the subarctic mountains, he only had to go about 50 miles from his home to the Tioga Boar Hunting Preserve. Saggiomo’s day of killing, a gift from his family, was in a fenced-in area.

“”It was a wonderful experience,”" Saggiomo told the Pennsylvania House Game and Fisheries Committee, which was holding a hearing in equally remote Towanda, an hour’s drive east of Tioga, away from the major media and in an area not likely to bring many protestors. The Committee was in Towanda to hear testimony about a bill to ban what has become known as a “”canned hunt.”" For a few thousand dollars, Great White Hunters–complete with rented guides, dogs, and guns or bows–can go into a fenced-in area and shoot an exotic species. In most canned hunts, the animals have been bred to be killed, have little fear of humans, and are often lured to a feeding station or herded toward the hunter to allow a close-range kill. In some of the preserves–Tioga denies it ever used these techniques–animals are drugged or tied to stakes. Some of the “”big cats,”" recorded in investigative undercover videos by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Fund for Animals were declawed, placed in cages, and then released; the terrified and non-aggressive animals were then killed within a few yards of their prisons; some were killed while in their cages.

Canned hunts attract not only ethics-challenged pretend-hunters, but ethics-challenged celebrities as well. Among celebrities who have participated in canned hunts, and who mistakenly believe they are hunters and not cold-blooded killers, are Vice-President Dick Cheney, who has been on several hunts in which the kill was assured; and Troy Gentry of the country-rock duo, Montgomery Gentry.

In December 2003, Cheney and nine of his friends–including former Naval Academy and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and some Texas high-roller Republican party donors–went to the exclusive Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier, Pa., about an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh. The owners of the country club, being the good hosts they were, released 500 domesticated and penned-up ring-necked pheasants in the morning. Bird Dog and Retriever News reports that about 40 percent of all domesticated pheasants, if not shot by pretend-hunters, either starve or are killed by predators within the first week of their release; about 75 percent die within a month.

At Ligonier, starvation wasn’t a problem. A game keeper told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Cheney alone killed about 70 of the 417 killed that day. In the afternoon, having hardly raised a bead of sweat, the good ole boys slaughtered dozens, perhaps hundreds, of equally tame mallards that had been hand-raised and shoved in front of waiting shotguns for the massacre. No one kept score, but by the time Cheney flew out of the area, the mallards were plucked and vacuum-packed, according to the Post-Gazette, ready for flight aboard the taxpayer-funded Air Force 2. The pheasants the hunting party didn’t keep, according to the Dallas (Texas) Morning News, were donated to a local food bank. However, no one involved indicated which food bank, nor did they acknowledge that preparing pheasant is cumbersome, and that such a donation, if it did occur, was probably more of a public relations ploy or a tax-deduction to justify their killing orgy than community service. Nor does any “”donation”" alleviate the reality that people in these non-challenging fenced-in grounds kill because they like the excitement of killing a live animal, often mixed with the sheer joy of watching their prey die. After awhile, the animals are seen only as things to be blasted, essentially living clay pigeons; it is an attitude that true sportsmen abhor.

The owners of the country club didn’t say how much, if anything, the Cheney Pot-Shot Safari paid, but others who go to the exclusive country club/canned preserve pay for each bird or duck killed. It’s in the financial interest of the owners to make sure there’s easy prey.

Even easier prey was a black bear named Cubby. In October 2004, Troy Gentry, who had paid about $4,650 for the tame bear, killed it on a private “”preserve”" in Sandstone, Minn., and then tagged it as if the bear was killed in the wild. There was even an edited videotape of the “”stalking”" and killing by the singer who envisions himself to be an expert archer. There is no law against the murder of animals if done on private property. But, in August 2006, Gentry was in federal court to defend himself against a violation of the Lacey Act, which forbids the false tagging of any animal.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), with 10 co-sponsors, introduced a bill (S. 304) in February 2005 to ban the interstate transport of exotic animals for the purpose of them being killed on private preserves. “”There is nothing sportsmanlike or skillful about shooting an animal that cannot escape,”" said Lautenberg at the time he introduced the bill, and emphasized, “”In an era when we are seeking to curb violence in our culture, canned hunts are certainly one form of gratuitous brutality that does not belong in our society.”" That bill is buried in the Senate’s Subcommittee on the Judiciary. A companion bill (HR 1688), introduced in the House of Representatives by Sam Farr (D-Calif.), with 39 co-sponsors, is buried in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Under the Republican-controlled Congress, neither bill is likely to emerge from committee.

For his part, President Bush wants to amend the Endangered Species Act to allow trophy-hunting Americans who kill endangered species in other countries to import them into the U.S. The proposal has roots in the Safari Club International; its political action committee has given about $800,000 in campaign contributions, mostly to Republican candidates, since 2000, according to an investigation by the Humane Society of the United States. The plan has the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose former deputy director was chief lobbyist for the Safari Club before his appointment by Bush. He is now with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Many of the animals on canned hunts are surplus animals bought from dealers who buy cast-off animals from zoos and circuses; the animals sold to the preserves are often aged and arthritic. Dozens of preserves have bought black bears, zebras, giraffes, lions, boars, and just about any species of animal the client could want, solely to be killed, photographed, and then skinned, stuffed, and mounted. Ralph Saggiomo’s sheep may have come from a breeder in Missouri. The proprietors at Tioga, said Saggiomo, “”were gracious, humane and helpful.”"

Those “”humane”" proprietors are the Gee family, which believes their “”preserve”" is really a private farm. Like ones that grow alfalfa and corn. A 1,550 acre private farm–with a fenced-in area of about 150 acres to make that “”sure shot”" more probable. And, while people “”from all over the world”" are killing animals at Tioga, the “”farm”" operation provides significant “”economic benefits”" to the community, according to Michael Gee. There are 14 Pennsylvania farms and about 1,000 in the nation that the proprietors believe are the poster children for the Chambers of Commerce and, most certainly, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.

This particular “”farm,”" according to its website, “”features high success rate hunting, youth hunts, hunts with dogs, guided hunts, trophy hunts, Sunday hunting . . . virtually any type of big game hunt you can imagine.”" Whatever “”you can image”" costs $70 a day for food and lodging, plus a kill fee and supplementary costs for skinning and mounting. Pay $595 and you can kill a Texas Dall ram, rocky mountain ram, or Corsican ram. Buffalo are at least $1,250. Elk bulls come for $2,000. And, just in case you have trouble killing one of the nation’s 30 million white-tailed deer–1.6 million of them in Pennsylvania alone–during the bow, crossbow, muzzleloader, rifle, or shotgun seasons, just come to Tioga. For $1,000 “”and up,”" you can get that elusive buck, with a 10-point rack suitable for mounting in your very own trophy room in suburban America. Tioga’s rates are at the lower end of the scale. At other preserves, prices for white-tailed deer, with trophy-sized racks, can be more than $5,000. The costs for some of the exotic “”trophy”"-class animals, usually found only in sub-Saharan Africa, are well over $15,000.

Tioga, like most preserves, guarantees a kill. The clients are told they “”may hunt as long as you wish until you get what you wish.”" No hunting licenses are required, there are no limits, Sunday hunting is permitted, and “”kills are usually made from 25 to 100 yards.”" This “”farm”" even tells prospective clients, “”Wild goat and sheep with large horns are numerous. Hunting them is great sport for the hunter.”" The rocky mountain ram, with “”their big, sweeping, curled horns make a great trophy,”" the Gee family tells prospective clients. Of course, there are some restrictions. No one under the age of 10 is allowed to shoot.

Heidi Prescott, undoubtedly feeling like a peace activist in a convention of Army recruiters, was the only one at the House committee hearing who didn’t fish, hunt, or had close ties to the hunting industry. Prescott is senior vice-president of the Humane Society of the United States, which has a membership of 9.5 million, more than three times that of the National Rifle Association. Prescott showed members of the committee news stories and a separate undercover videotape of canned hunts. Before the hearing, Michael Gee had told a local newspaper that animal rights groups “”just try to bring up extreme cases to prove their point,”" and use it as a “”stepping stone”" to ban hunting. “”If she says anything in that video is from Tioga, that’s a lie,”" Pete Gee, Michael’s father, retorted to the undercover investigation by Emmy-winning investigative reporter Melanie Alnwick of WTTG-TV (Fox News), Washington, D.C. The news story–but not the videotape of the brutal killing of a boar, probably at another game preserve in Pennsylvania–was filmed in early May 2006 at Tioga, according to Aaron Wische, WTTG’s executive producer for special projects.

Most “”kills”" on the “”farms”" are from animals bleeding out. Animals suffer minutes to hours, says Prescott. Canned hunting, says Prescott, “”is about as sporting as shooting a puppy in pet store window.”" Most sportsmen agree with her. The concept of the “”fair chase”" is embedded into hunter culture. The Boone & Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club (bowhunters), two of the three primary organizations that rate trophy kills, refuse to accept applications from persons who bagged their “”trophy”" on a canned hunt. The Safari Club does allow persons to seek recognition, but only under limitations that most preserves can’t meet.

Members of the committee weren’t convinced that canned hunts need to be banned. Rep. Tina Puckett (R-Towanda) told a reporter before the hearing she believed banning the canned hunt “”could be the beginning of an attempt to say ‘no preserve hunting,’ which then leads to no hunting.”" She said she wouldn’t favor the bill “”because of those down-the-road concerns.”" Rep. Thomas Corrigan (D-Bucks County) says he submitted the bill, which carries 38 cosponsors, for consideration because canned hunts are “”unsporting, cruel, and tarnish the image of all hunters.”"

The House committee kept throwing pointed questions to Prescott; she adeptly batted them back.

The bill that prohibits canned hunting would also be the first step to eliminating all hunting. Not so, said Prescott. Of the 22 states that already ban such practices, “”the hunting culture is still strong.”" She pointed to Montana, which has one of the nation’s strongest hunting cultures. In 2000, following a hunter-led initiative, it became the first state to ban canned hunts, reinforcing the values that true sportsmen believe in fair chase.

The state’s 900 deer and elk farms would be banned. The bill specifically excludes deer, elk, and all other cervidae.

The bill would prohibit farmers or butchers from killing livestock for food. “”No judge in his right mind would interpret it that way,”" retorted Prescott, who said the Humane Society “”would be happy to work with representatives to amend it if members were truly concerned about it.”"

Ralph Saggiomo, according to his official biography published by the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing & Conservation, has a “”love for the outdoors,”" and has “”spent the greater part of his life enjoying the outdoors and has been able to pass his passion on to all of his children, who have become successful hunters, fishermen, and trappers. His grandchildren are now carrying on the tradition, which his father and grandfather passed on to him.”" Although still active in the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, if Saggiomo was a sportsman, he wouldn’t have shot a domesticated animal that was lured into his sights and had no way to escape. If he truly understood the beauty and grandeur of the outdoors, he would have allowed animals to live their lives without the intrusion of people who kill not for food or clothing but because their hormones are infused with the ecstasy they get from the kill and the resultant “”trophy,”" which he says now hangs in his den.

[Walter Brasch's current books are America's Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government's Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights and 'Unacceptable': The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina. Both are available through amazon.com and other on-line sources. You may contact Dr. Brasch at brasch@bloomu.edu, or through his website, www.walterbrasch.com. Readers may also wish to order Making Burros Fly: Cleveland Amory, Animal Rights Pioneer, by Julie Hoffman Marshall.]

?Charming Chesapeake Bay Vacation Rentals

Chesapeake Bay is an all-encompassing name that includes the likes of Baltimore and Annapolis in Maryland as well as Norfolk and Virginia Beach, in Virginia. The bay itself is huge, making for a scene of rich activities, history and wildlife fit for a steady stream of vacationers. If you’ve yet to visit, consider checking out a quiet corner of the bay sometime. Specifically, if you find yourself actually needing a vacation and not just half-heartedly accepting one, rent yourself a waterfront retreat that will reward you for all your hard work in more ways than one.

There’s no doubt about it, life is simpler, kinder and gentler by the water. Bay front homes invite easier breathing at first sight, and their tendency to bring people together for games, meals and laughter is pretty universal. As you’ll see when you arrive, having a home rather than a hotel room will add a sense of fortune and enchantment to your gathering, so bring the whole crew along and see what merriment occurs.

Larger homes make great excuses for family reunions, formal or informal. Maybe, in this day in age, getting mom, dad, and the kids all in the same room can seem practically impossible, so accomplishing it during your upcoming trip will be like a reunion of epic proportions. Many vacation rentals are pet-friendly, too, so even Rover will be able to join in the fun.

But back to Chesapeake Bay, picture a gem of a vacation rental located along the east shore; a short drive from DC, St. Michaels, and Easton. These towns have all you’ll need as far as restaurants, nightlife, marinas and festivals, but you won’t be spending all of your time there by any means. Nope; believe it or not, you might end up pretty attached to your beach front estate. The fact that is has a kitchen for whipping up quick meals, a room filled with games, a luxurious patio overlooking the serene bay views, and even a heated pool in the backyard all mean that everyone will be perfectly satisfied with spending a day (or two, or three…) at “”home.”"

If you fancy yourself more of an upper shore person, there’s a place for you, too. Located on the Elk River, a great spot for canoeing and kayaking, you’ll find a restored 1850′s farmhouse that might make your heart flutter. It also has a heated pool, as well as a screened in porch, central air, and a DVD player. Conveniently located near a boat slip, you’ll be able to head to the Delaware Canal in the space of just 10 minutes. This region is a hotspot for antiques, and a theatre and several dining establishments will help to make each day complete.

Even if you’re taking an intimate trip with your significant other, the one who you can barely remember thanks to both of you being so busy lately, there’s a rental to fit your needs. Properties come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, including mini, cute, and affordable. Get cozy with your sweetheart in a tastefully decorated cottage a mere 50 feet from the water’s edge and about thirty miles from Washington. You may want to take a trip to the city, or you may end up snuggling your days away. The point is, it’s your choice.

If you’re picky about where you stay, go online to check out detailed pictures, descriptions and reviews of all the Chesapeake Bay Vacation Rentals available. You’ll surely come across something that speaks to you, so get ready to make a reservation sooner rather than later.

?Choosing A Wedding Photographer – Does Price Trump Everything Else?

Your wedding day ranks up there as one of those all important milestones next to your First Communion, Baptism, Bar Mitzvah and Graduation.

Who you eventually entrust the responsibility of documenting your special day will depend on your budget, your preference on the style i.e. traditional or the documentary style of wedding photography.

Chances are your search will start on the internet or through recommendations or word-of-mouth.

Though the internet is a great place to begin your search, you should resist the temptation to hire someone without meeting them in person unless you are getting married in Hawaii or a location where it is impractical for you to meet with them.

In that instance, you might consider contacting a local photographer and asking them if they do “”destination weddings.”"

If time is on your side, then you should meet with all your prospective photographers.

I cannot emphasize enough how important this is because the best photographer in the world with the worst attitude no matter how good a price, is a sure guarantee for a super stressful wedding day for everyone.

The interview is important to both sides because it allows both sides to gauge how they will get along.

That’s why a contract that spells out the details will prevent any misunderstanding.

So don’t base your decision on a hiring a photographer on a price quote over the phone . Your initial phone call should just be to see if they are available on your wedding date.

Once you’ve established that, you should keep an open mind and meet them.Most don’t charge for that consultation so you have nothing to lose.

If you can’t make the appointment, at least call the photographer to reschedule or tell them you changed your mind about meeting them. They are after all extending you the courtesy of a free consultation.

By looking at the bride’s pictures at the end of the evening, you should be able to see if she was a “”trooper”" or a “”bride-zilla.”"

It shouldn’t matter if the wedding was at the Edwards Mansion, the Mission Inn or someone’s backyard.

So there is no question your search should start online but you should be aware that the pictures on most photographer’s website are not necessarily a good representation of their true abilities.

What you’ll be seeing are their best images taken over mulitple weddings and over the length of time they’ve been in business. Keep in mind, that your needs are different, you’re hiring them to document your all-important day from “”start to finish.”"

So it is a good idea to ask to see pictures from several different weddings. from start to finish or as a “”whole.”"

What you are looking for is consistency in the imagery. Don’t confuse consistency with repetition. There should be consistency in how the photographer handles the light.

Are the images well exposed? Is there a lot of variety in their shots i.e. does it look like they moved around using different angles, lenses and shooting from different locations?

The skillful photographers and truly professional ones do all this. Some even set up lights of their own when the lighting conditions are bad. Examine the pictures of the brides. Are they all pretty, slim and slender?

This is important because it is far easier for a photographer to make good pictures of great-looking people than ones who aren’t so photogenic.

Similarly, it is easier for a photographer to make good pictures at a scenic place like the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel or the Mission Inn in Riverside than the local park or the Elks Lodge or just someone’s backyard.

Good wedding photography tells a story of how that day went for the bride and groom.

By looking at the bride’s pictures at the end of the evening you should be able to see if she was a “”trooper”" or a “”bride-zilla.”"

It shouldn’t matter if the wedding was at the Edwards Mansion, the Mission Inn or someone’s backyard.

The truly skillful photographer makes the most of the settings and makes the wedding couple look their best.

Also, the observant and creative wedding photographer recognizes little details like place settings, party favors and center pieces which you have painstakingly chosen.

If they have an appreciation for style, they will definitely include those pictures as backdrops or backgrounds for your photo albums or DVD menus.

Most photographers offer slideshows with music either on CDs or DVDs. It might be a good idea to borrow one or two of these to view at home instead of during the interview.

Just be a good sport and return those when you’re done. DVD samples are expensive to produce. On that subject, ask if they author those DVDs themselves or they outsource those.

Naturally the photographer who does their own is more skillful and probably cares more about their work than one who outsources that work.

Besides, how can someone else who wasn’t at the wedding do as good a job?And for all these reasons, in terms of cost, it is probably a good idea for brides-to-be to realize that after the cost of food, drinks and the banquet hall, the photographers fee should be next highest on the list.

When you consider all the vendors working on your big day, who will be there the longest? Does the photographer get to kick back and relax while everyone is having a good time?

He/she is charged with the responsibility of capturing and documenting the day. If you asked for their presence when you were getting ready, they will be there when your bridesmaid and you are dressing up.

In between they have to sneak in some pictures of your groom as well, not to mention the bantering before that stroll down the aisle for both of you as single people hopefully one last time.

And afterwards when the party is over, the photographer’s work is only beginning. Hundreds of pictures have to be edited and fixed for various flaws in post production. Portraits have to be re-touched, albums have to be designed, DVD slideshows have to be created and enlargements have to be ordered. The list goes on.

The post production can take as much as 20 hours or more depending on how elaborate a package a bride wants.

So remember the next time you get a quote from a wedding photographer and you think it is very high, consider what you’re paying for.

Unlike the other vendors you hire for the day, the caterers, disc jockeys, florists and wedding planners, the wedding photographer is not done at the end of the evening.

In fact, depending on how many exposures they made at the wedding, their post production work can take as much as 30 hours or more.

Depending on their particular clients’ needs, they may have to fix blemishes on images in photoshop, convert images to black and white , design albums or author slideshows with music. They will probably have to meet with you, the client, to finalize layouts for albums and send your print orders out and deliver them when ready.

All in all, these hours need to be accounted for and included in their quote so that they can be profitable and remain in business.

In the end, like most things in life, the calibre of photographer you end up with depends on what you’re willing to pay. Just remember that the food and music is for your friends and family, but the pictures are for you. After all, that’s what you’ll be looking at years after when you reminisce…

?Choosing a Deer Rifle

Deer season is one of those magical times of years for those of us who enjoy it as a marker of one of the seasons of the year. There are hundreds of gear options you can consider, but one that every deer hunter will have to obtain is a firearm or bow. In this article, we will look at how to choose a firearm, and more specifically a rifle to meet your personal deer hunting needs.

When you begin this process, first you will need to be honest with yourself about three things. One is what the rifle will be used for. I know we are talking about deer hunting here, but the reality is that a lot of hunters will need their rifle to serve multiple purposes. For example, they might use their rifle for hunting whitetail deer and also for hunting elk. Of course one rifle will not serve every need of every hunter. A deer rifle will not likely be the same rifle you use when you hunt turkeys or squirrels. The second thing you should be honest with yourself on is your ability or desire to fire a heavy caliber rifle if you are considering one rifle say for hunting deer and moose. Finally, cost is a limiting factor for many of us. You do not need to spend an excessive amount of money on a deer rifle, but you can if you wish. Having said all of this, let’s go through the factors that will go into your decision.

The caliber of your rifle will take care of a couple of issues. First and foremost, the caliber needs to be suitable for hunting deer. Generally, the 243 caliber is considered to be the smallest caliber rifle commonly used for deer hunting. I do not want to imply here that the 243 is too small. It will handle the job just fine with plenty of muzzle velocity and knock-down power with a properly placed shot. What the 243 will not be very good at is hunting larger big game species. An option that is nice for those who want to mix in some elk hunting, or at least have the potential to do so, is the 270 caliber. It really does not add in much in the way of recoil, and it does offer significantly more knock down power than the 243. If you will be hunting moose or bear (especially brown bear or grizzly), I would suggest minimally looking at a 30-06. These great all-purpose rifles offer such a wide range of factory ammunition that you really can hunt about anything with them. Unless you are of the lightest of frames, the recoil is not so severe. The final caliber I will discuss is the 7mm magnum. This rifle will certainly do the job for deer and is also noted for its flat trajectory due to a high muzzle velocity. The trade-off is that the recoil is sharp and its knock down power is marginal for the largest of the North American big game species. It has been one of the stand-bys for those hunting species where very long shots are required (such as mountain goat hunting). In recent years some other caliber rifles have begun to supplant the popularity of the 7mm magnum.

Another issue associated with the caliber and rifle you choose is ammunition cost. As an example, if you go to your local sporting goods dealer and compare 150 grain deer cartridges from caliber to caliber, you will see an enormous spread in cost. It really comes down primarily to which calibers are very popular and which are less so. For example, 7mm magnum ammunition will be much more costly than 30-30 ammunition. If you will not be reloading ammunition, this is a factor you may wish to consider. Also, for a cartridge like the 30-30, every sporting goods store in every small town will likely have a ready supply. This is not true for some of the less often used calibers.

Another consideration when choosing your rifle is the rifle’s action. We will discuss four of the most common actions available. Most likely, the most popular action for deer rifles is the bolt action. Bolt action rifles are easy to maintain and offer some nice safety features for deer hunters. Bolt action rifles are easy to clean and are easy to bore site at the range. For hunters that hunt from a tree stand, they add a degree of safety in that you know when that bolt is open or out of the gun, the rifle will not operate. Bolt action rifles are much easier to safely raise via rope to a deer stand when you are in the woods by yourself. The next most popular perhaps is the lever action, most often in the 30-30 caliber. These rifles made primarily by two manufacturers (Marlin and Winchester), have killed a tremendous number of deer. While they do offer a very fast reloading action, they also have drawbacks. They are harder to clean, have some safety disadvantages, and sometimes are harder to scope to name a few. Having said all of this, we have one and I love it. It’s short barrel and maneuverability in the dense woods of Missouri is hard to beat. Given that most of the shots here are 50 yards and in, the typically short barrel length is not much of a factor for aim. With a scope it is even less an issue. Semi-automatic actions are also used some by hunters. Some hunters would question the need for the ability to fire off rounds in quick succession when deer hunting. Other hunters question the reliability of some of the semi-auto actions on the market. Maintenance is also a bit more labor intensive. Finally, some hunting purists believe strongly in the single shot action. Some excellent hunters use these rifles, and develop excellent marksmanship skills so as to make sure there first and likely only shot counts.

Maintenance of your rifle is also important. We have discussed many issues regarding this already as they relate to the rifle’s action. One other point I would urge the reader to consider is the stock material. Of course maintenance is not the only factor that relates to stock material selection. But I would say that if you are a hunter like me who will not go out of his way to protect a fine and expensive stock, why spend the money for it? One option is a synthetic stock.

When you start your search, you will have lots of buying options. Consider sporting goods stores at the local level as opposed to the just the larger national chains. You may receive better service over the long haul and not much extra cost. If you know you can do it all on your own, there are a few online auction sites that cater specifically to firearm purchases. There are some hoops to jump through such as shipping from and to a federally licensed firearms dealer. The cost savings however can be great.

We hope this information serves you well as you begin the process of buying a deer rifle. Make sure you don’t wait until the last second so you will have plenty of time to get familiar with your rifle and get it sighted in.

?Choosing a New Compound Bow

There are many different types of bows on the market today, but choosing one is not an easy undertaking. The bow-manufacturing industry has been flooded with new innovations and developments in the last decade. Compound bows have gone through many alterations in appearance and architecture, with a number of drastic changes occurring in the past few years. Justifying the purchase of one bow over another these days requires more than just a large wallet filled with greenbacks and plastic. Fortunately, there are a few guidelines and procedures to follow that will help simplify the process.

Choosing the latest advancement in primitive weaponry begins with a decision to shoot a certain type and brand of bow. Draw length, draw weight, accuracy, wheel and cam design, reflex and deflex riser geometry, brace height, let-off, speed and price are all things to take into account when selecting a particular bow. Other factors to consider are its use. Will it be a hunting bow or a target bow? Will the majority of your shooting be indoors or out? Will it require a camouflage finish or not?

Once you have come to these conclusions, the next step is to visit a local pro shop or surf a favorite web site to obtain more information. A bow must “”fit”" its shooter. Having a qualified individual measure your draw length is the most important aspect of deciding to purchase a particular bow. Most bows offer multiple draw length options and adjustments.

Draw weight is yet another matter of importance. Draw weights are also adjustable and allow for various settings in 3- to 5-pound increasing and decreasing increments. Peak draw weights normally range between 45 and 90 pounds. Taking the time to shoot several bows will provide answers and can help determine the significance of each of the aforementioned considerations. It’s wise to test shoot as many bows as possible before laying down your hard-earned cash.

The current trend in manufacturing designs is to create bows with short axle-to-axle dimensions, reduced mass weight, low brace heights and high let-offs. Many companies have shied away from producing bows that feature round wheels, moderate let-offs or measure over 40 inches from axle-to-axle. This is in direct result of the present demand for more compact bows that possess the ability to boost arrow velocities, increase kinetic energy levels and extend downrange efficiency.

Of all the different makes and models of bows in existence, compounds certainly offer the widest variety of choices for today’s archer. Single-cam string and cable harness configurations, split limbs and ultramodern risers forged from high strength multi-composite alloys are just a few of the available upgrades in current production.

There are many advantages to owning a bow with a contemporary look and feel. As mentioned previously, split-limb and single-cam models significantly reduce mass weight. This quality is beneficial to those adventurous hunters who hike into remote backcountry in search of elk and mule deer. Also, in comparison to their two-cam and two-wheel counterparts, single-cam bows are relatively easier to tune and maintain.

In addition, the lightweight aluminum and carbon material used in the limbs, handles and risers, and the fabric used in the strings and cables of new age bows contribute to overall speed and weight reduction. If speed and weight reduction are the determining factors, choose your bow accordingly. These types of bows are better suited to those who utilize a release due to the sharp angle created in the string when a short-limbed bow is fully drawn.

On the other side of the equation, longer axle-to-axle bows are more accurate and forgiving, although this trend is starting to change with ongoing improvements in bow design. If the main concern is supreme accuracy, choose a bow that offers a longer brace height, a riser with deflex geometry, a moderate to low let-off and as long an axle-to-axle length as possible. Deflex risers generally reduce hand torque and are normally found on the most accurate bows. A low to moderate let-off will also yield more accuracy. Those who shoot with a finger tab or a glove require bows that create less of an angle in the string at full draw. This will greatly reduce accuracy problems associated with “”string pinch,”" which occurs at full draw when an acute angle in the bowstring causes extreme tension on the arrow.

Compound bows have one distinct advantage over all other bows — let-off. Let-off is measured by a percentage of the draw weight that is reduced when the wheels or cams roll over at or near full draw. During this process, a fraction of the peak draw weight is decreased or “”let-off.”" The amount of let-off will not only affect accuracy, but also the personal satisfaction of the shooter, and quite possibly, trophy-book consideration. Much controversy has arisen from the limitations that the Pope and Young Club has placed on the amount of let-off a bow can possess. Sixty-five percent is the cut-off point. Any amount of let-off over 65 percent disqualifies an animal from being entered into the archery record book. Some bows offer higher let-offs in the 75- to 80-percent range. Be aware that a legitimately harvested trophy may not be eligible for record book recognition if the bow you choose has a let-off that is prohibited by the club.

Note: The Pope and Young Club currently lists animals taken with bows having a higher let-off than 65 percent. An asterisk is placed next to the name of the individual who harvested the animal. The asterisk denotes that a bow with a higher let-off than 65 percent was used to harvest the animal.

Limb selection is no longer limited to solid one-piece models. The appearance and performance of bows changed dramatically with the inception of split limbs. However, both types of limbs have advantages and disadvantages. Solid fiberglass and carbon limbs are inherently more durable than two-piece limbs. Nevertheless, split limbs not only reduce weight, but also transfer and distribute energy from the bow to the arrow more evenly. Some archers appreciate the appeal of a split-limb bow while others favor the traditional shape of solid limbs. The option of choosing straight limbs or recurved limbs is also available on most bows in production today. Straight limbs are generally faster while recurved limbs are more forgiving. With the overall differences minimal in comparison, personal preference normally plays the biggest role in limb selection.

These are just a few examples of what state-of-the-art engineering has to offer in bow design. It also illustrates the dilemma one will face when attempting to reach a final decision on which model to purchase. Only research and a healthy amount of leg and arm work will assist an archer in the quest for choosing the “”right”" bow.