Wisconsin Considers Legalizing Cat Hunting

[Doglips]

Wisconsin Considers Legalizing Cat Hunting

POSTED: 8:15 am EDT April 12, 2005

MADISON, Wis. -- Feline lovers holding pictures of cats, clutching stuffed animals and wearing whiskers faced-off against hundreds of hunters at meetings around Wisconsin to voice their opinion on whether to legalize cat hunting.

Residents in 72 counties were asked whether free-roaming cats - including any domestic cat that isn't under the owner's direct control or any cat without a collar - should be listed as an unprotected species. If listed as so, the cats could be hunted.

The proposal was one of several dozen included in a spring vote on hunting and fishing issues held by the Wisconsin Conservation Congress. The results, only advisory, get forwarded to the state Natural Resources Board.

Statewide results were expected Tuesday.

La Crosse firefighter Mark Smith, 48, helped spearhead the cat-hunting proposal. He wants Wisconsin to declare free-roaming wild cats an unprotected species, just like skunks or gophers. Anyone with a small-game license could shoot the cats at will.

At least two other upper Midwestern states, South Dakota and Minnesota, allow wild cats to be shot - and have for decades. Minnesota defines a wild, or feral, cat as one with no collar that does not show friendly behavior, said Kevin Kyle with that state's Department of Natural Resources.

Every year in Wisconsin alone, an estimated 2 million wild cats kill 47 million to 139 million songbirds, according to state officials. Despite the astounding numbers, Smith's plan has been met with fierce opposition from cat lovers.

Critics of Smith's idea organized Wisconsin Cat-Action Team and developed a Web site - dontshootthecat.com. Some argue it is better to trap wild cats, spay or neuter them, before releasing them.

In Madison, about 1,200 people attended the Monday evening meeting at the Alliant Center - more than the 250 or so in a typical year, but less than the 3,000 or so who took part in a debate in 2000 over whether to allow hunters to shoot mourning doves.

One of the attendees was Katy Francis, who wore cat ears, whiskers, a cat nose and a sign that read, "Too Cute to Kill." For Francis, "The cat hunting thing brought me out because it was very extreme."


Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Doglips]

I guess my rotie is going to be going on hunting trips up north now and then He just loves cats....says there crunchy and taste good with ketchup

[Thrawn]

Imagine the mounting poses you could come up with.

[gunssb]

yummy

[Rugged]

I'm gonna make me a big calico jacket with a roll collar.

[PAPA G]

rferel cats not many here on the farm. has been acouple, but i let them alone. they keep the mice down.

my problem is dog-drop offs, the lane to my property is about 1/4 mile-ish long winding with excellent cover. great place for a dog dumper to drop unwanted pets.

last Dec a Chow/? mix pup showed up so i kept it, but now i have to get rid of it, tore up our last Banty rooster, got youngsters chick, been spotted on neighbors property trying to get their geese. growled at another daughter. now with grand babies. i cannot trust Jingle.

[Rugged]

I can think of a nice mounting for jingles

[Shaun]

I don't like the idea WI is claiming its hurting the food source for coyote but hell thats a good thing and technically the cat is a food source for the coyote

[PAPA G]

Originally Posted by Rugged

I can think of a nice mounting for jingles

give me your address, and i'll overnite her to you :right:

[Rugged]

lol

[Big Dog]

I've been trying to use a non-fatal way of discouraging the neighborhood kitties from hunting my squirrels and birds. The Red Ryder at forty yards stings them enough to send them scatting, but they always come back.
Neighbors are too close to use louder measures.

Still got a half-brick of Colibris . . .

[PAPA G]

have you consisidered arming the birds and squirells B.D.??? :jaw:

[gunssb]

how about putting some body armor + spikes on those birds & squirrels

[Rufus Rhastus J]

Well, it seems simple to me. If they loves thier kitties, they would be responsible for miss kittie. Responsible means keeping miss kittie under control and in your yard. Accidents do happen but, one will be more careful if the unthinkable occures due to negligent behaviour of the owner of miss kittie. Simple, this is how we learn...if it feels good, we do it more, if it hurts, we don't do that again...unless we are stupid...

[Rugged]

the lady from the WI dept of conservation said "cats belong in their owners' homes, on a leash or under the control of their owner at all times." I think if It ain't wearing a collar, I shoot.

I guess we should do a preferred caliber for hunting cats article in the hunting forum. My choice would probably be 20 gauge. or .308 (jk)

As for the half brick of colibris... just use or borrow a ruger and duct tape a 2 liter bottle on the end.

Or you could get a paintball gun and shoot glass marbles.

[Shaun]

Ruf, ------SLAP

I am not sure you are aware domestic cats are very close to wild since they still are capable of hunting. As a Cat owner I can tell you that you can forget some of the behavior training like we do to our dogs. These animals have been determined to have a will of their own and are not dependant like a dog therefore they are allowed to roam free. The best management to control ferral cats is to remember to spay and nueter the animals and that way the roaming cat does not produce any offspring.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Ruf, ------SLAP

I am not sure you are aware domestic cats are very close to wild since they still are capable of hunting. As a Cat owner I can tell you that you can forget some of the behavior training like we do to our dogs. These animals have been determined to have a will of their own and are not dependant like a dog therefore they are allowed to roam free. The best management to control ferral cats is to remember to spay and nueter the animals and that way the roaming cat does not produce any offspring.

What I ment to say was, owners need be responsible for thier critters. there are so many stray animals, reason, owners who do not own critters in a responsible way. I had two siamese cats for 12 years..until they passed from old age. They remained inside my home and no one knew I had cats because i trained them to pottie in the potty box! I did not make my pets soemone elses problem by allowing them to roam freely...putting them at risk of death by car, dog or scum bag. I was responsible for my animal's welfare by keeping them inside, safe from weather, scum bag and illness. though i know my responsible actions are the exception rather than the rule, that is why I made my post in the manner I did. Not because I hate cats but, rather because I hate people who own cats, dog and any other animal and do not accept the responsibility that comes with pet ownership. :nod:

[Sniper[MI]]

.......One of the attendees was Katy Francis, who wore cat ears, whiskers, a cat nose and a sign that read, "Too Cute to Kill." For Francis, "The cat hunting thing brought me out because it was very extreme."........

She thinks WE are extreme?????

Bet she voted for Kerry......... :insane:

[silentknight]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I don't like the idea WI is claiming its hurting the food source for coyote but hell thats a good thing and technically the cat is a food source for the coyote

Since the coyotes are eating the cats we'd better hunt the cats. We don't want the coyotes getting sars

[SPOCAHP ANAR]

I heard about this a couple weeks ago.

Here Kitty Kitty; BANG

Here Kitty Kitty; BANG