BILL NUMBER:S2775

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the
prohibition on canned shoots

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To  prohibit  the  killing,  shooting,  maiming or injuring of certain
intentionally confined animals for sport, amusement  or  taking  of  a
trophy.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Paragraph  a  of subdivision 1 of section 11-1904 of the environmental
conservation law, as added by chapter 208  of  the  laws  of  1999  is
amended.  This  bill would expand the existing prohibition on confined
shoots on fenced preserves of 10 acres or less. The bill would  remove
the  existing  acreage requirement and prohibit the deliberate release
of an animal confined in a fenced or other area from which there is no
reasonable means for such animal  to  escape  in  the  presence  of  a
hunter.  There  has been language added that would prohibit any person
who pays any fee to take a live non-native big  game  animal.  Fee  is
defined  in  the bill to include but not limited to the payment of any
compensation or remuneration for room.
              

JUSTIFICATION:

Canned hunting is a practice whereby an animal  is  staked,  caged  or
otherwise  confined for the purpose of being killed for pleasure. From
automatic firearms to spears, almost any type of weapon can be used to
kill prey in a canned hunt. To assure a kill, the animals are  trapped
by  fences so they can be easily cornered and prevented from escaping.
Canned hunting brutalizes  defenseless  animals  raised  in  captivity
whose trust in humans makes them hapless victims of this practice.

Federal  and  state  laws  currently offer protections for endangered,
threatened and  many  indigenous  animals.  But  a  lack  of  specific
prohibitions allows a wide range of animals, including certain species
of bear, llama, zebra and ram to be killed in this manner.

In  addition to prohibiting canned hunts, the bill would also restrict
the supply of animals from zoos  and  game  farms  to  canned  hunting
facilities.  As  recently  as  the  fall  of  2005, the closing of the
Catskill Game Farm and the selling off of the animals raised  concerns
by  groups  that advocate for the humane treatment of animals that the
herd animals like gazelles and  the  trophy  animals  like  rhinoceros
would  be  bought  by a canned hunts in New York State, there would be
fewer opportunities to sell these animals for canned hunts.

The recent outbreak of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which is similar
to "mad cow" disease, in New York. State has been  linked  to  captive
deer  farms. By outlawing canned shoots NYS can take a preventive step
against the spread of CWD. By prohibiting  canned  hunting  this  bill
recognizes  that  New  York State should draw a line between sport and
the cruel savagery of a canned hunt.


FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This  act  shall  take effect on the first of November next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become law.