What is canned hunting? Simply stated, it is the shooting of animals (with guns or arrows) in enclosed areas from which they cannot escape. Fencing or other barricades help prevent the animals from getting away from individuals who pay several hundreds to several thousands of dollars to shoot and kill them.
Many of the animals at canned hunting facilities are accustomed to humans so do not run away as was seen in a widely distributed video of a Corsican ram who just stood still while being shot to death with arrows. Some animals are lured to feeding stations or baited in other ways to better ensure they will be shot.
Even animals at game farms have not been spared. When a New York game farm closed, many of their animals who were used to human contact were auctioned. Although animal advocates were able to bid successfully and save about 200 animals, it was reported that many auctioned animals went to individuals with alleged ties to hunting “preserves.”
Websites of canned hunting facilities in New York advertise that no hunting license is necessary and that there are no age restrictions. As one “preserve” website states, “Whether it’s Buffalo, Whitetail, Fallow, or Sitka Deer, Red Stag, or Elk that you wish to hunt, just call us today and book your reservation. The exotic animal that you want to hunt is never out of season…” Another canned hunt website says: “Success is guaranteed!”
New York law (Environmental Conservation Law, section 11-1904) restricts canned hunts in a fenced or other area that is 10 acres or less. Canned hunt facilities in New York State (and elsewhere) are typically much larger. The issue is not the size of the canned hunt facility. As noted above, the animals are either accustomed to humans and don’t flee, there are feeding stations where animals congregate, and other manipulations are used to attract the animals to a location.
Legislation has been pending before the New York State Legislature for decades to end this cruel and unsportsmanlike hunting. The Humane Society of New York helped to draft the bill. The current bill numbers are A. 3784 and S.589, sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Senator Liz Krueger.
Please ask your New York State legislators to support A. 3784 and S. 589 to ban canned hunting by following the methods below:
To help take action on any of these or other animal protection bills pending before the NYS Legislature, use the methods below to reach lawmakers.
If you do not know their names or contact information, go to www.nyassembly.gov and www.nysenate.gov. If you provide your address, you can get this information. In your communication, mention that you are a constituent and include your address.
Name: Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Majority Leader
Phone: (518)455-2585
Email: scousins@nysenate.gov
Fax: (518)426-6811;
Address: Room 907, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12247
Name:
Carl E. Heastie, Assembly Speaker
Phone: (518)455-3791
Email: speaker@nyassembly.gov
Fax: (518)455-4812
Address: Room 932, Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248