California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill on Wednesday banning the use of dogs to hunt bears and bobcats, a move some Tahoe residents proclaim as a major step forward to make hunting more humane. For others, it means a drastic and sudden lifestyle change.
For instance, take Andrew Gregory, owner of Deadwood Industries based in Truckee. The state-licensed company has guided bear, bobcat and deer hunting expeditions in the Tahoe National Forest and Plumas National Forest for more than a decade and used hounds to help ensure success.
“That legislation has put me out of business, and I don’t have the money to sue the state of California. The father of my two kids is out of work, and no one seemed to listen,” Gregory said. “In these hard economic times, why are we putting people out of work?” Read more….