Arizona Keeps Hound Hunting Legal Despite Conservationist Concerns

Govind Tekale

Arizona wildlife officials unanimously rejected a ban on hunting with dog packs despite claims they harass endangered jaguars and ocelots.

Photo Source: M01229 (CC BY 2.0)

Conservation groups showed evidence that at least five jaguars have been chased by hunting dogs, sometimes forcing these rare cats to abandon their territories.

Photo Source: Elina Volkova (Pexels)

Hunters defended their tradition at the meeting, bringing children to testify about family hunting experiences that span generations.

Photo Source: Bailey Cloud (Pexels)

My dogs sleep in my bed every night, and they love to get out," hunter Zach May told commissioners, highlighting the close bonds between hunters and their hounds.

Photo Source: Andrea Pires dos Santos (CC BY 4.0)

Modern hound hunting relies on GPS-collared dogs that allow hunters to track their movement on smartphones while pursuing mountain lions and bears.

Photo Source: Florida Fish (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Wildlife officials claimed the petition lacked scientific evidence that dog packs harm endangered species or disrupt ecosystem balance.

Photo Source: Mikhail Nilov (Pexels)

The political battle heated up when a bill nearly passed in March 2025 that would have permanently protected dog hunting in Arizona state law.

Photo Source: Brixiv (Pexels)

Tom Beatty Jr.'s hunting dogs encountered the same endangered ocelot multiple times in the Huachuca Mountains, raising questions about repeated wildlife disturbances.

Photo Source: Gabe (Pexels)

We'll keep fighting for these commonsense protections for Arizona's endangered wildlife," vowed McSpadden after the Commission's decision.

Photo Source: Sharon Snider (Pexels)

Next Story

Oregon Wolf Population Grows to 204 in 2024