FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The California Fish and Game Commission removed its president on Wednesday, months after he was criticized for killing a mountain lion in Idaho.

Real estate developer Dan Richards was stripped of his leadership role with little discussion during a meeting in Ventura.

Richards said his morning began ominously when he was listening to Nickelback during his workout and heard the song, "If Today Was Your Last Day."

"I was fully aware today would be my last day as the president, but it's not my last day on God's green earth," Richards said after the unanimous vote to replace him with member Jim Kellogg.

Richards, who was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008, has said he plans to remain on the five-member commission until his term expires in six months.

Conservationists clamored for his ouster after photos surfaced earlier this year of him holding the slain mountain lion.

Hunting mountain lions is banned in California, though it's legal in Idaho and other states.

"Californians have twice voted in a resounding fashion to protect mountain lions in our state, and his flagrant flaunting of his disagreement with the electorate put him out of sync with California," said Jennifer Fearing, state director of the Humane Society of the United States. "We're glad to see the commission take action."

Critics, including animal welfare groups, said the commission chief should uphold the values of the state he represents. Hunting groups defended Richards.

Richards also came under fire for accepting the $7,000 hunting trip without paying any of the cost. He repaid the hunting lodge after an ethics complaint was filed.

In the wake of the controversy, the commission changed rules that give the presidency to the most senior member of the commission and instead chose to have the president selected by majority vote.

He told the San Jose Mercury News (http://bit.ly/MwkOvF) during a recent interview that he broke no wildlife laws.
"There's no chance I did anything wrong," Richards said. "I did everything by the book."
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Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, http://www.mercurynews.com

CA has become quite a state!

I hope he sues the idiot communists for millions of dollars for defamation of character and wrongful termination. Of course the idiots on the commission won't have to pony up the money, the taxpayers will.

Yes, the tax payers would be the ones paying the bill.

I am curious as to how anyone can be the least bit surprised over this? when this was discussed on here before Richard's knew he was going to be terminated and knew that serving what was left of his term as a member of the commission was all he had.

What everyone should gret out of this is a better understanding of how powerful the HSUS has became within the political stage of our country.

What with HSUS's power base and the type and mind set of the people that are being elected to represent us, both on the state level and nationally, how long will it be before laws are passed on the state level, like the CITIES rulings, that will prohibit a regular citizen from bringing any parts of a species legally killed in another state/province or country because it is protected in ther hunters home state. USF&WS will need to hire more agents because they will be needed to enforce Federal and state laws concerning the importation of animals legally killed in one location, but deemed protected in another.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
.. how long will it be before laws are passed on the state level, like the CITIES rulings, that will prohibit a regular citizen from bringing any parts of a species legally killed in another state/province or country because it is protected in ther hunters home state.

I believe that is currently what the CA statutes state:

4800. Mountain lion as specially protected mammal; Prohibition against taking; Punishment for violation
(a) The mountain lion (genus Felis) is a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state.

(b) It is unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof, except as specifically provided in this chapter or in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2116) of Division 3. This chapter does not prohibit the sale or possession of any mountain lion or any part or product thereof, when the owner can demonstrate that the mountain lion, part or product thereof, was in the person's possession on June 6, 1990.

Here's the entire statute:

http://www.animallaw.info/stat...calfishgcode4800.htm

Outdoor writer is spot in with his reading of the law. You CAN NOT bring in a cat legally taken in another state. I pray every day for the big quake that puts that whole place in the pacific ocean!

Thanks Tony. But that does prove that if one state can pass such laws, other states can do the same, which to me, is more of a threat than all of PETA's ravings as far as getting hunting outlawed.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
But that does prove that if one state can pass such laws, other states can do the same, which to me, is more of a threat than all of PETA's ravings as far as getting hunting outlawed.

Not sure what you're asking. But...the only reply is that yes, it does prove that other states can do the same since they are all free to pass whatever laws they so choose.

In fact, here in AZ the PETA/HSUS folks can use the same method as they did in CA -- the initiative process. That's how they outlawed leg-hold traps on public land here.

Wonder if we can come up with some email address's
for the folks that outed him?
Would love to FLOOD them with "legally hunted" Mt.lion photo's, and other "legally hunted game"
Wouldn't want their insulted sensibilities to go to waste......

Reading the bios of all members, Dan Richards is the best qualified to hold the position of President.

The rest of the members appear to be a bunch of libs. I am surprised he lasted as long as he did.

The long term goal of the far left wing do-right-daddies-and-mommas of the HSUS is to eventually ban all hunting in the U.S.

With the millions of millions of $$$$ they have not only in the bank but donated to them from all over the world each year, I have no doubt that some day, due to their lying, highly emotional, extremely well financed propaganda, they will succeed.

These far left wing activists never, ever, disengage.

L.W.

Only in California!!

Dick

quote:

Originally posted by sixshot_01:
Only in California!!

Dick

For now, but it will be coming to a state near you soon!

quote:

For now, but it will be coming to a state near you soon!

That is about as true a statement as there is, and lots of folks around the country simply refuse to understand how much our countries attitude has changed toward hunting.

Born and raised in California. I miss the weather, but I don't miss the politics.

Two reasons I will never live in California:

1. Bankrupt liberal state
2. I can't bring my mountain lion trophy into the state that I took in NM in 2005

quote:

Originally posted by sixshot_01:
Only in California!!

Dick

Maybe "...especially in California...", there are plenty of nitwits elsewhere. I am not happy about this incident, there's no sense to it other than naked politics. There is no guarantee that it's liberal/conservative or gun-control/Libertarian, either. It might turn out to be no more complicated than one of his underlings wanting his job.

I took our grandson to a hunter's safety course this weekend; one of the instructors was an Army Ranger and had a few things to say about this kind of thing. If he never decides to hunt, he's at least had a little exposure to another point of view.

with any luck, Cougars will maul some of the anti hunting Imp's and get a taste for sub-human's. What right do they have to punish him for legally hunting in another State? Think it stops with Cougar? Just wait until they nail someone for hunting Bears, Elk or Deer in another State. Bullshit and all the insects that push this agenda.

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
with any luck, Cougars will maul some of the anti hunting Imp's and get a taste for sub-human's.

This morning's paper has a picture of one that's taken up residence in Griffith Park.

quote:

Originally posted by TomP:

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
with any luck, Cougars will maul some of the anti hunting Imp's and get a taste for sub-human's.

This morning's paper has a picture of one that's taken up residence in Griffith Park.

Saw that on the news which said he came from the Santa Monica Mountains. That Cat was either dumped there or it navigated some very busy roads including the the San Diego and Hollywood freeways.

Another option is he came from the Verdugo hills and crossed the 134 somewhere near Eagle Rock and then the 5 into the park.