Update: 1/2022

Veteran hunters AND  amateur sportsmen also use the "hunting preserves" to "hone their skills". Many of these hunters use "Bow and Arrow" that injure animals leading to long-suffering before the animal is actually killed. Soon after the animal is taken to the on-sight slaughtering station to be processed. The current hunting age is 12 + in New York State.  

• There are hunting preserves in New York State. One preserve is located in Cambridge NY.  And, they are known  for "World Class Trophy Hunting"
• Other animals that are hunted on the preserves are deer, pheasants, stags, boars..
  

Buck Up and Ban Canned Hunting 

"Free the Captives"  

About Canned Hunting: There are over one thousand captive hunting preserves in the United States.  Captive hunts, also referred to as "canned hunts" take place on private property where animals are trapped and ultimately killed.  These private captive hunts can be held on a small estate or hundreds of acres. Hunting preserves are "Big Business" and sadly Canned hunting preserves are having a grievous impact on animals, not to mention the environment.  Why should captive hunting be banned? One of the many reasons why canned hunting should be banned is the threat of a deadly infection called Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Scientific research shows that CWD is spread by captive animals to the wild animal population when a captive animal escapes like deer, moose and elk.  The disease can spread through urine, saliva and feces. In 2016 twenty-one states tested positive for chronic wasting disease.  Allegedly, there is recent evidence that CWD may spread to humans.  Research also demonstrates the only way to stop the spread of this fatal disease is to shut down captive hunting preserves. Aside from the disastrous effects on humans, canned hunting also has a horrific effect on the animals. For a large fee, hunting preserves offer their clients a chance to shoot and kill domestic and exotic animals, including endangered species.  Furthermore, many hunting preserves do not require their customers to possesses a hunting license, so many  aspiring hunters have no experience with a gun or a bow.  Therefore, numerous animals are often needlessly tortured by amateur shooters.  Laws and Regulations: There has been an increase in state legislation - nationwide, however the majority of states have made fruitless attempts to regulate enclosures, breeding and the transportation of animals. Current regulations are very poor and do not protect the animals.  For example, Texas, the Mecca of captive hunting businesses has over five- hundred canned hunting preserves. Many exotic animals are transported from other countries to the ranches in Texas to be hunted down and eventually killed. 

 Administrative agencies like the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation play a crucial role in the canned hunting problem. Agencies like the DEC issue standard hunting licenses, but they also regulate shooting preserves and the transportation of animals to the preserves in New York State.

It is our responsibility to take care of one another, the animals and the environment.  Don’t wait for someone else to solve a problem you deeply care about.

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If you have questions about canned hunting -

Contact: 

melissaann.argaywenner@gmail.com  

Melissa Ann Argay-Wenner