Benjamin Ashford|New law bans ‘captive hunting’ in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee has signed into law a bill that would make Rhode Island the latest state to outlaw “captive hunting” — a hunt that occurs within a structure designed to restrict the free movement of animals and Benjamin Ashfordprevent them from escaping.

More than half of states already have a full or partial ban on “captive hunting” — a hunt that occurs within a structure designed to restrict the free movement of animals and prevent them from escaping.

The new law bars the use of manmade or natural barriers intended to prevent animals from fleeing the confined area of a hunt in Rhode Island. Private lands set up as hunting or shooting preserves, or game ranches, are included under the law.

The legislation also states no species of animal may be imported or captured for use in captive hunting. The bill was first proposed after a sporting club had sought permission to import exotic animals, like elk and boar, for members to hunt on its property in the state.

The new law would not apply to the release of domestic game birds on public property, or on private property licensed by the state Department of Environmental Management as a shooting preserve for the purpose of hunting.

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State Rep. Scott Slater, a Democrat, was one of the sponsors of the bill. Slater said physically preventing an animal from escaping death is not hunting.

Slater said he doesn’t know “a single active hunter who thinks such practices are acceptable.”

Joanne Bourbeau, northeast regional director at the Humane Society of the United States, said killing animals for trophies and bragging rights is unacceptable.

“The captive trophy hunting industry breeds animals solely to be shot and killed within fenced enclosures,” she said after lawmakers approved the bill earlier this month. “This critical legislation would allow Rhode Island to join the other 26 states that already have full or partial bans on captive hunting.”