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The Humane Society of the United States Applauds Introduction of Bill to Stop Drive-Thru Killing

The Humane Society of the United States called on Congress to pass legislation to combat the "canned hunting" of exotic animals held captive inside fenced pens. The Sportsmanship in Hunting Act, H.R. 3829, would prohibit the interstate commerce of exotic mammals destined to be shot for trophies at canned hunts. The legislation was introduced yesterday by U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.).

Canned hunts are held at private trophy hunting facilities where hunters pay to kill tame, captive, exotic animals—even endangered species—as guaranteed trophies, since the animals have no chance of escape. Animals on canned hunts often come from private breeders, animal dealers, and even zoos and circuses. Frequently, the animals have been hand-raised and bottle-fed, so they have lost their fear of people. Many hunting groups are critical of canned hunts because sportsmanship and fair chase are absent.

"Canned hunts are unethical and make a mockery of the basic concepts behind hunting, notably the tradition of fair chase," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Shooting animals in a fenced enclosure where the killing is guaranteed is not a sport, but a commercial slaughter. Because of the interstate trafficking of exotic animals to supply these canned hunting operations, it is fitting and appropriate for the Congress to crack down on these operations."

"The Sportsmanship in Hunting Act is a common sense solution to a despicable practice," said Rep. Cohen. "Shooting confined animals for trophies is unsporting and unethical."

Facts

• Canned hunts are illegal or restricted in 23 states. The HSUS tracks individual state statues and regulations viewable at humanesociety.org/cannedhuntsmap .
• Although advertised under a variety of names—most frequently "game ranches," or "shooting preserves"—canned hunts violate the hunting community's standard of "fair chase" by confining animals to cages or fenced enclosures.
• The animals in canned hunts are bred in captivity, purchased from animal dealers, or, in some cases, retired from roadside zoos and circuses, so they do not fear contact with humans and make easy targets.