This is a petition asking the biggest decision makers of the nation of the United States to crack down on the practices of hunting and trapping in areas where they don't belong. For the purpose of mutual understanding I would like to make it known that the person writing this petition is a hunter himself, he hunts many types of big and small game and it is as a hunter that he is calling for non-negotiable justice and safe sanctuary for persecuted wildlife. There is a profound difference between enjoying the timeless sport of hunting in an ethical manner and uneducated gun toting to kill for the sake of killing. There is evidence for this in various cases of hunters chasing or luring animals outside of national parks and into areas where they can legally be shot. This has been particularly damaging to predators such as wolves, coyotes, cougars, lynx, bobcats and bears that respond to artificial calls made to sound like wounded prey as well as herd animals such as elk that can be driven into hunting areas. In the case of the already widely persecuted gray wolf, a hunter was believed to have used the sound of crying pups to entice adult wolves to come in and investigate. Most hunters recognize the value of preserving America's wildlife heritage which requires designated pockets of protection to ensure the survival of all native species. Animals who wander outside these protected areas of their own volition populate areas where hunting is allowed. Unfortunately some hunters fail to respect this beneficial and common sense method of populating wilderness open to hunting, preferring to encroach on these vulnerable seeding populations that in the long run could lead to serious depletion or extinction of ecologically necessary participants that will gradually fill up our world with wildlife for all people, hunter and tourist alike to enjoy. Some examples of this include:

Two Yellowstone wolves killed within the past year, both of them radio collared and well known and one an alpha female and another one thought to have been illegally baited. This is referenced by numerous news sources including the New York Times.

A planned cull of close to one thousand bison in Yellowstone National Park this winter. This too is covered by several news sources. 

Elk are actively hunted annually in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and not only is this allowed but recently angry park visitors watched as hunters legally herded elk out of the park and trapped them with their vehicles before shooting them. Many news sites are covering this and there are whole websites devoted to guided hunts within the park and hunting tips for the park.

Moose are sometimes hunted in or at least near Denali National Park in Alaska and this is casually advertised by numerous websites on the internet.

Federal law already exists to minimize actual poaching in national protected areas. An effective buffer zone should be created bordering these reserves to discourage attempts to intentionally lure or drive park animals into areas where hunting is legal. No one should be allowed intentionally to target protected wildlife. Any such measures should not be intended to interfere with legitimate attempts to protect livestock, pets and other human beings from imminent attack.  However, intentionally luring park wildlife onto private property with a view towards local extinction cannot be an accepted way to protect private property.  In addition to a buffer zone, research should be extensively funded to determine and implement ecologically sound methods of livestock and pet protection.  As a conclusion of this petition, all who sign it simply ask that any form of hunting or trapping for any animal except for immediate defense be banned inside national parks, forests, grasslands, wetlands and other federal wildlife establishments and within a ten to fifteen mile radius of these reserves out of range of park animals being able to hear or smell any attempt at baiting and that any violations be subject to heavy fines and possible jail time. Ten to fifteen miles is all that is needed and all that we ask. The current practices are the exact opposite of what the great president Theodore Roosevelt who established our park system and who himself was a hunter as well as a politician would have wanted. He would be deeply disappointed and would expect better of us in managing the rich natural heritage he helped leave us with. We have plenty of good hunting land in this country and our national reserves shouldn't be  on that list. All creatures big and small, predatory or herbivorous need a place of refuge in this constantly developing world where everyone can enjoy them without fear that they will not be there the next day. Thank you President Barack Obama and members of Congress for your time and consideration. Sincerely, the American people.