This Thursday, Dec. 19, the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (SAF) will present oral arguments in support of its request to preliminarily enjoin recent dog-import restrictions imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

SAF sued CDC in August 2024 to rescind a rule restricting the importation of dogs into the United States. Shortly after suing CDC, SAF filed a motion for preliminary injunction. The CDC opposed that motion, and SAF answered with additional arguments and a reaffirmed commitment to holding CDC accountable for its overreach.

The CDC rule illegally restricts the import of puppies from countries that have been determined to be free of dog rabies or those that are at low risk of introducing dog rabies. Specifically, the rule requires a puppy to be at least six months of age and microchipped to enter (or reenter) the United States.

If granted, the preliminary injunction would pause implementation of the rule’s restrictions on puppy imports and reentries from rabies-free or low-risk countries until the court makes a final decision on the lawfulness of the rulemaking. A preliminary injunction is just the first, but necessary, step in protecting the interests of our members. Hunters and sporting dog owners are harmed by the rule’s restrictions – our members are having hunts, trials and plans for welcoming new puppies into their families interrupted or stopped altogether because of the CDC’s overreach. Read more

Animal-extremist group Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), along with Mountain Lion Foundation, WildEarth Guardians, Wildlife for All, and others, recently petitioned the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to prohibit the use of hounds for hunting mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, coyotes, and other furbearers and small game in the state. The petition asks for a statewide ban on hound hunting to “recognize principles of fair chase and ethical hunting, protect wildlife… and ensure public safety.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the rulemaking body of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The two work hand-in-hand to promulgate hunting and fishing regulations and manage the state’s wildlife resources. Current Arizona regulations allow the use of dogs while hunting mountain lions, bears, rabbits, and other game. The petition asks the commission to amend these regulations to ban the use of dogs as a legal method of take, but it stops short of requesting a ban on the use of dogs for hunting birds.

“CBD and it’s animal-extremist posse are, unsurprisingly, at it again,” said Dr. Todd Adkins, Senior Vice President at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “They continue to lie, cheat, and steal unabashedly in an effort to force their ideology on the masses. This time, they’re elevating their buffoonery to a new level, but we’re happy to offer a reality check.” Read more

While headlines for Tuesday’s general election primarily focused on the presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial races, voters were faced with state ballot proposals that directly impact hunters, anglers, and trappers in Colorado and Florida. We can rejoice in victory in 2 out of 3 of these critical ballot fights.

In Colorado, sportsmen enjoyed a major win and a disappointing loss. For a major victory against animal extremist groups, Proposition 127 failed by over 10 points in Tuesday’s election! Prop. 127 would have banned hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx in the state. The voters directly rejected the emotional and misleading appeals by animal extremist ideologues and sent them packing on their anti-hunting initiative. The strong NO vote was despite millions of dollars being spent by anti-hunting groups to get 127 on the ballot and before the voters.

For the loss, Proposition KK will institute a new 6.5% tax on firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition, presumably to “pay” for the criminal misuse of firearms. This tax is a direct attack on lawful hunters and recreational shooters in the state and many groups, including the Sportsmen’s Alliance, are reviewing potential legal action to challenge the measure as a violation of our fundamental rights.

In Florida voters made it abundantly clear that hunting and fishing are fundamental rights for citizens of the Sunshine State. Florida voters approved Amendment 2, protecting a right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, by an astounding 67% yes vote. Read more

“…commissioners clearly show that sound scientific management was not a consideration in the decision-making process.”

On September 6, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association (MTPCA) filed legal briefs in their lawsuits against the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC).

MUCC’s brief, which can be read HERE, argues that the NRC illegally closed Michigan’s coyote season for a quarter of the year in March of 2024 by failing to use the best available science, and focusing instead on unsubstantiated claims of negative public perception.

MUCC’s brief highlights the statements of the commissioners who voted in support of the closure, and those of the exceptionally few hunters who joined the commission in disregarding the principles of sound scientific management. The statements from the commissioners clearly show that sound scientific management was not a consideration in the decision-making process.

MUCC Chief Executive Officer Amy Trotter says that the public record is clear:  The commission’s decision failed to abide by their legal charge and responsibility to keep game management decisions based in science.

“The voters of Michigan were clear when they overwhelmingly passed Proposal G: scientific data needs to drive our game management decisions,” said Trotter. “After reviewing the public record, it is abundantly clear the commission failed in following their legal charge. By relying on social pressures, real or perceived, the commission set a dangerous precedent where our outdoor heritage is threatened based on the social and political winds of the day.”

MUCC is joined in the lawsuit by MTPCA who filed a separate brief, found HERE.

MTPCA’s brief highlights how commissioners trusted the instincts of one individual supporting the closure to appease anti-hunting interests, rather than the proven record of sound scientific management as dictated by Proposal G.

MTPCA President Joe Velchansky says this issue is larger than coyotes, and the future of Michigan’s outdoor heritage is at stake.

“This issue is so much bigger than coyotes, the very foundation of Michigan’s game management is at stake,” Velchansky said. “The minute we as conservationists compromise our principles is the minute we lose the whole thing, and that is not something we are prepared to do.”

The NRC will now file a response brief, due to the court in mid-October.

For more information on MUCC visit mucc.org.

Contact: jtomei@mucc.org

For more information on MTPCA visit mtpca.com

Contact: merlejones336@gmail.com

The Wild Sheep Foundation is donating $100,000 to Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better (CWDB) to defeat the ballot initiative Proposition 127 to ban the hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx. The Initiative will be on the state’s November ballot after obtaining the required signatures.

“This is wrong on so many levels, and it’s not just a Colorado issue,” said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “Science-based professional wildlife management and the proud traditions of legal, regulated public hunting are increasingly under attack. This ballot initiative is all about out-of-state animal rights and anti-hunting extremists funding a campaign based on misinformation to elicit an emotional response from voters who are being swayed by toxic or misleading headlines.”

Marketed as the “Stop the Trophy Hunting of Mountain Lions” campaign, the initiative, if passed, would eliminate all hunting and trapping of mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx statewide, even though lynx is not a legally hunted species in the state.

“I guess they threw lynx in for effect,” added Corey Mason, WSF’s Executive Vice President of Conservation and COO. “That’s not where the misinformation ends, however. Anti-hunting groups are throwing the kitchen sink at this to confuse not only those who do not hunt but sportsmen and women as well. Their propaganda attempts to call into question proven wildlife management principles and undermines Colorado Parks and Wildlife. If you read all their hype, it’s a desperate attempt for a ballot measure that would tie the hands of Colorado’s wildlife professionals to act responsibly for all its wildlife and the safety of its citizens and disproportionately impact farmers and ranchers in rural communities.” Read more