Citizens protest state-sanctioned canned pheasant hunt for youth

Clackamas, OR...The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is sponsoring the September Youth Upland Bird Hunts in wildlife areas across the state where children as young as 12 years of age are encouraged to kill just-released, pen-raised pheasants. The hunts continue through the next two weekends and In Defense of Animals (IDA) will host a demonstration to voice opposition at the ODFW Northwest Regional Office, 17330 SE Evelyn Street, Clackamas, OR on Thursday, September 18th at 12:00 pm.

In Defense of Animals is targeting ODFW stating,"ODFW has no business sponsoring unethical, unsporting hunts that we liken to a canned hunt, where pen-raised birds are released only for kids to kill them." according to Matt Rossell, NW Outreach Coordinator for In Defense of Animals, "These ringneck pheasants are native to China, not North America and stocking a non-native species, just to be killed, flies in the face of the mission at ODFW to protect native wildlife."

Instead of the hunts, In Defense of Animals is encouraging ODFW to focus youth outreach on other, non-violent wildlife activities such as wildlife photography, bird watching, habitat restoration, biodiversity and conservation classes. In an unprecedented victory last January, IDA forced ODFW to end their connection to a Family Rabbit Hunt amid protests.

In addition to this demonstration, IDA may be demonstrating at some of the actual hunts and are asking concerned citizens to contact Lindsay Ball, ODFW Director, and ask him to cancel these state-sponsored hunts. The hunts are at these Oregon wildlife areas: September  20 & 21 at E.E. Wilson, Fern Ridge, Irrigon, Ladd Marsh and Sauvie Island, John Day, Willow Cr., The Dalles, Ontario, and Maupin-Grass Valley and September 27& 28 at E.E. Wilson, Denman and Baker City. Hunt check stations opens at 6:30 am and hunting hours are 8am to 5pm.

# # #

In Defense of Animals, located in Mill Valley, CA, is a national, animal protection organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare.