California Fish and Game commissioner who killed cougar loses presidency

[ellisonz]

August 8, 2012 | 11:23 am
--Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

Daniel W. Richards was replaced as president of the California Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday, seven months after he sparked a storm of controversy by killing a mountain lion during a hunt in Idaho.

Although the kill was legal in Idaho, California has outlawed the hunting of mountain lions for decades. More than 40 state legislators called for Richards to resign in March, saying he showed poor judgment in killing the cougar when the practice is opposed by most Californians.

At the time, Richards defiantly refused to resign from the commission, saying he had done nothing improper. Even though the commission voted to elect Commissioner Jim Kellogg as president Wednesday, Richards plans to remain on the commission until his term expires in January.

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The controversy over the January hunt was compounded when photos of a smiling Richards holding the dead cougar were posted on the Internet. Later, the state ethics agency alleged he had violated the state’s $420 gift limit when he accepted the guided cougar hunt worth $6,800.

More: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/08/california-fish-and-game-commissioner-presidency.html

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Blow to the NRA and California Republicans.

[left on green only]

1. I understand the NRA has already released a statement

saying, Guns don't kill cougars, people kill cougars.

[truedelphi]

2. Glad to hear that Richards is leaving. I live in "redneck" country and want to

Share a story.

I was at a neighbor's party, and one of her close friends started telling a group of his friends about his last foray out hunting last deer season.


He was well prepared to take down a buck, and had a nice little place behind a tree, where he was waiting for a buck that he had seen earlier to come walking by.

Then, he heard some noise behind him, and as he turned around, he realized it was not a deer but a very angry bear.

He shimmied up the tree, hoping that the bear would lose interest. It finally did lose interest, but only after snuffling around his ankles for fifteen minutes.

I love animals as much as the next person, but if I had been in that situation, I think I'd have used my gun to take out the bear.

When I said this, J's friend said, "But it wasn't legal to shoot a bear at that point in the season. And also, I think they' re a majestic animal. If it was me or him, I'd have to vote for him, because I was, after all, on his turf."

[RebelOne]

3. Good story.

I do not believe in hunting in any form, and I am glad the bear survived to terrorize another hunter.

[ellisonz]

5. Respect nature, respect the law.

Now if only we could ban lead ammunition - despite the NRA's denial, it is in fact poisoning California Condors.

[ailsagirl]

4. GOOD

[UnrepentantLiberal]

6. Asshole.