Indiana hunters please send to your local Newspaper

[jackrabbit]

Indiana sportsmen under attack again
2010 has brought yet another attack on the sportsmen and women of Indiana. this time its our Fox and Coyote dog training and field trialing areas.HSUS along with the Indiana Coyote Rescue has used videos of open range hunting in states such as Missouri and Montana and told everyone the videos were taken here in Indiana, in a dog training enclosure. At this point let me say that Indiana has never had, nor will it have a live bait dog training pen. Fact is, according to Lenna Petercheff of Indiana Department of Natural Resource's Division of Fish and Wildlife, Indiana has never even had one complaint about Coyote field trialing enclosures. An enclosure in southern Indiana has been in operation for over 20 years, it has never had a complaint about its operation to any law enforcement agency. At the November NRC hearing Fish and Wildlife did get its Rule change package prelinarily approved,

Our Coyote dog training enclosures are for the protection of the young dogs. A young dog can easily get itself in harms way when started in open range. Deer and other off game can steer a young dog on to roadways, or onto property where they get hit by a car, or shot by an upset land owner. Probably the most important function of a dog training enclosure, however, is the ability to get the young dog directly to the games scent and not have it distracted by the scent of unwanted game. As soon as the young dogs abilities have progressed to the point of being able to track the game the dog then is moved to the open field to finish its training.

Coyote field trialing enclosures are for the purpose of holding a competitive event where the dogs are judged on their abilities. how much hunt they have, how close to the track they stay, when the track is lost how rapidly the dog finds the track again. A field trial is a family affair. Again, there is no brutal killing or ripping the Coyotes apart going on. Fact is if a dog would come in contact with the Coyote it is banned for life. One of the most important functions of a field trial held in an enclosure is the fact that many of our resident sportsmen are now retired. They want to enjoy as much of the sport as possible, are not able to follow dogs for miles, and are no longer interested in killing the game. The enclosure allows the sportsman just the type of controlled environment that allows them to enjoy helping their dog grow in the sport, and allows them to stay in a simulated hunting situation, without killing the game. To give the reader a better understanding of the size of an enclosure. The 300 acres that is required is roughly one mile square.

PLEASE CONTACT

Indiana Natural Resource Commission
302 West Washington St.
Indianapolis, In. 46204

Your letter must include name, address, county of residence and phone number.
explain to the commission that you oppose any rule changes to the Fox and Coyote dog training/field trialing rules for the following reasons;

!) Indiana does not have any live bait dog training areas
2) one field trialing area has been in operation for over 20 years and there has never had even one complaint to any law enforcement agency.
3) the videos taken off the internet by Indiana Coyote are from other states, in actual hunting circumstances and do not involve an enclosure

You may also contact the commission online by doing a google search for Indiana Natural Resource Commission.

thank you

Jack Hyden, President
Indiana Beagler's Alliance
indianabeaglersalliance@yahoo.com
574-551-4067