Ban Cruel and Dangerous Night Hunts

In mid-April, Assistant District Attorney Paul Humphrey made an unprecedented move and charged hunter Kurt Rausch with two felony counts of mistreatment of animals for fatally shooting two dogs while coyote hunting on public land in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

Rausch was hunting at night on Jan. 22 in Badfish Creek Wildlife Area; public land managed by the Department of Natural Resources. He used a calling device to attract coyotes and told a sheriff’s deputy that he “saw the eyes of what he believed to be a coyote and a face and pointy ears and pulled the trigger.” Rausch stated that he did not realize he had shot a domesticated dog. Rausch also shot a second dog who ran up to him moments later. Rausch had called 911 after the shootings and wrapped one of the dogs in his coat to carry back to the parking lot. Tragically, one dog died at the scene and the other died days later.

The terrible incident has devastated the dogs’ guardian Dr. Deanna Clark, DVM. Dr. Clark wore a powerful headlamp while walking with her four dogs, all of whom were wearing reflective vests. Dr. Clark wept quietly during much of Rausch’s preliminary hearing, saying that nothing will bring back her lost family members, but she hopes the case will bring attention to the fact that it is unsafe for people and their animal companions  to enter public land accessed by night hunters.

Night hunting clearly has the potential for deadly conflicts with members of the public when public land is used for both recreational and hunting purposes.

It is time for legislators to protect citizens and their animal families from risky night-hunting.

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