Senate Bill S562

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S562

SPONSOR: KRUEGER
 
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 inten-
tionally 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 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 or
evading. This bill is intended to end the practice of allowing people to
hunt for nonnative big game mammals where there is no fair chase or
opportunity to evade the presence of a hunter.  Canned hunting brutal-
izes 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 prohibi-
tions 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 facili-
ties. 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.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: S.589/A.3784 Glick - Referred to Environmental Conservation/
Referred to Environmental Conservation

2021-22: S.1036/A.5732 Glick - Passed Senate/ Referred to Environmental
Conservation

2019-20: S.2519/A.883 Glick - Died in Rules/ Referred to Environmental
Conservation

2017-18: S.5613/A.4120Glick -Environmental Conservation

2015-16: S.2775/A.3701Glick - Encon Comm

2013-14: S3426/A.3701GlickEncon Comm

2011-12: S.6154/A.4475Glick - Encon.Comm

2009-10: S.3157/A.6788Glick - Encon Comm

2007-08: S.784 Padavan/A.2612 Glick Passed Assembly

 
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.