The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va., Ken Perrotte column

June 12--Anti-hunting groups, animal rights organizations and other environmental activists seem to constantly oppose anglers, trappers and the agencies and industries that support them.

Annually, lawsuits and petitions pop up designed to thwart management of wildlife species such as bear and wolves, or restrict kids from using lead split shots on their fishing lines. The cost in time and money to fight often frivolous lawsuits and petitions is enormous.

Earlier this year, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt filed a lawsuit in federal court in Tulsa, charging that federal agencies collude with like-minded special interest groups and use "sue-and-settle" tactics that violate the federal Endangered Species Act and have a "crippling effect" on the U.S. economy.

One animal rights organization with a fat wallet is the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

This isn't the parent organization of your local animal shelter, staffed by caring citizens who want to find homes for unwanted cats and dogs. It's a $174-million-a-year (according to its 2012 financial reports) legislative, activist machine with an anti-hunting agenda.

The organization and its codefendants recently agreed to a $15.75 million settlement with Feld Entertainment, Inc., which operates the Ringling Brothers Circus. That is reportedly part of nearly $25 millionFeld Entertainment spent defending itself against lawsuits filed in 2000 and 2003 alleging mistreatment of Asian elephants.

The court found the lawsuit "frivolous and vexatious" and that a key plaintiff was paid.

In order to establish "standing" to sue, plaintiffs Born Free USA/Animal Protection Institute, Fund for Animals (later affiliated with HSUS), Animal Welfare Institute, American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and individual citizen Tom Rider had to show that a member of their organizations had a personal stake in the case, such as a direct personal connection with the elephants.

Rider, a former elephant trainer for Feld Entertainment, was their key witness and submitted sworn affidavits alleging the personal connection needed to file the lawsuit.

Feld Entertainment uncovered evidence that some of the groups, with the assistance of their attorneys, secretly paid Rider's living expenses and had submitted false information regarding those payments. Total payments amounted to $190,000.

In response, Feld Entertainment sued the groups under federal anti-racketeering laws known as the RICO Act. According to a statement posted at ringlingbrostrialinfo.com, the court found that the animal rights groups and their attorneys "sought to conceal the nature, extent and purpose of the payments" during the litigation. In late 2012, Feld reached a settlement with the ASPCA and recovered more than $9 million.

"Sportsmen, farmers, ranchers, and other animal owners have long understood just how far these groups will go to pursue their extremist agenda," said Nick Pinizzotto, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) president and CEO. "Hopefully this settlement will help to rein in their underhanded ways."

A statement posted on the HSUS website states the organization expects most, if not all, of the settlement to be covered by insurance. The organization's leaders also urge Feld Entertainment to use the money it is receiving to combat the killing of tens of thousands of elephants for their ivory.

One might call this a bit of misdirection since the settlement money represents reimbursement of Feld Entertainment's costs of having to fight this lawsuit for more than a decade.

The HSUS is also bankrolling the anti-hunting "Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting," according to USSA.

Anti-hunters have succeeded in getting an initiative to end bear hounding, baiting and trapping there on the November ballot this fall. A similar effort in 2004 narrowly failed, despite reported HSUS spending of up to a million dollars.

According to a USSA statement, campaign finance reports show HSUS contributing $750,000 directly to the campaign and an additional $98,000 of in-kind support, which accounts for roughly 99 percent of funds raised so far.

You can bet spending will increase as November nears. Maine hunters, guides, outfitters, and other small businesses will struggle to match the vast cash available to the anti-hunters.

Evan Heusinkveld, USSA vice president of government affairs, warns, "The bottom line is this; if the anti's can win in a sportsmen's paradise like Maine, they can win anywhere."

MYTOPO CUSTOM MAP

A few weeks ago, I ordered a fairly large, laminated topographic map depicting our property and the surrounding area from MyTopo, a mapping company based in Billings, Mont.

The company makes customized topographic maps, prints aerial and satellite imagery, and offers private land boundary maps and digital map and imagery applications for use with computers and smart phones.

My map was never intended to be rolled up and used in a vehicle or on a boat. Instead, I wanted to frame and display it, providing a detailed graphic representation of a beautiful, special place.

It can make an excellent Father's Day or other special occasion gift for the outdoorsman or woman in your family. See mytopo.com for creative, custom topographic map ideas

CORRECTION

In last week's column announcing the winners of the 16th annual "Take Dad Fishing for Father's Day Contest," we erroneously listed 6-year-old James Parker of Caret as one of the trip winners. James did write a nice letter, but it was his older (age 12) brother John's letter that was selected as a winning entry. We thank both boys for entering.

Ken Perrotte can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia Street, Fredericksburg, Va. 22401, by fax at 373-8455 or email at [email protected].

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