From PEACE to CA's DFG Strategic Vision Program, Sect'y of NR; DFG; FGC, Assemblyman Huffman:
We were pleased when Assembly Member Huffman’s AB 2376 passed. We have been guardedly optimistic, have followed the DFG Strategic Vision process, and appreciate all the transparency with the online information. Although we believe that the Stakeholder Advisory Group is unfairly balanced in favor of recreational killing and thus not reflective of the state’s population; that some of the comments regarding the Mountain Lion Initiative and the Governor Brown administration are inappropriate; and that other political comments made by the consumptive SAG members indicate some SAG members do not want to face reality, the wonderful level of professionalism and intelligence exhibited by others were enough to offset those irritants. We want to remain hopeful that the Strategic Vision process will result in positive changes to DFG and FGC.
Now, however, with the news of the horrific and arrogant disregard for the law by Tejon Ranch, with officials claiming no knowledge of illegal mountain lion killing (for no reason other than greed) and expecting the public to swallow it, with fines that are so small as to be meaningless, and with a continuation of trophy hunts to continue when the Tejon Ranch officials so decide, all bets are off the table with regard to our optimism. This disregard for the law, little to no enforcement, and phony proclamations of being ethical hunters, have created and reinforced the tainted public perception of recreational killers and the cozy cronyism with DFG as a good ol’ boy “hunt” club. As a result, with DFG marching lockstep along with the perpetrators, it’s no wonder the public doesn’t think highly of DFG. Game Wardens are another story, but the DFG itself has another black eye.
Although the Tejon Ranch SAG member may have been unaware, the bottom line is that because these illegal killings are rumored to have been in practice for decades (with a disdain of the Mountain Lion initiative mentioned more than once by another SAG member), Tejon Ranch has absolutely no business serving on the SAG, any more than a “Poacher Alliance” would. The representative should resign, or be asked to step down. Otherwise, it’s just another “wink, wink” story, indicative of where DFG’s alignments really are, how paltry penalties are the norm, and how law enforcement is subservient to money and politics.
The involvement of Tejon Ranch in the Strategic Vision process is disgraceful and brings all SAG member real motives or “agendas” into question, especially if their organization is guilty of such an atrocity against wildlife and/or our natural resources. To be fair, probably many, if not most, of the other SAG members may be serving in good faith with integrity, but now, we can never be certain—all are suspect.
Randall Cleveland for the PEACE Team
