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Arizonans Rally Against Hounding—and HB 2552

Mar 10, 2025 | State Wildlife Commissions, State Wildlife Management

Arizona rally against hound hunting and oppose a bill that would have removed the public's ability to petition the Game and Fish commission to end this practice. Five hounds stick their head out of the "box"on the back of truck that transports them to a hunting site. Photo originally posted on Game and Fish Magazine and taken by Scott Haugen.

Arizonans Rally Against Hounding—and HB 2552

Arizona rally against hound hunting and oppose a bill that would have removed the public's ability to petition the Game and Fish commission to end this practice. Five hounds stick their head out of the "box"on the back of truck that transports them to a hunting site. Photo originally posted on Game and Fish Magazine and taken by Scott Haugen.

Photo originally posted on Game and Fish Magazine and taken by Scott Haugen.

Arizonans Rally Against Hounding—and HB 2552

Last week, more than 50 dedicated wildlife advocates joined us for a powerful webinar to discuss our campaign to end the cruel practice of hound hunting in Arizona. Our movement is growing, and your voices are making a difference.
Just hours before our webinar, we saw proof of that impact: HB2552, a bill designed to block the Arizona Game & Fish Commission from even considering a rule on hounding, failed to pass the Arizona House in a narrow 30-28 vote.

This is a major win for wildlife and for the democratic process, but the fight isn’t over yet.

HB2552: A Power Grab to Undermine Wildlife Protections

Arizona lawmakers wrote HB2552 for one reason: to strip the Game & Fish Commission of its authority before it could even consider our petition to end hounding. Rather than letting the public process play out, special interest groups and their political allies tried to preemptively shut it down.

HB2552 was not about science, conservation, or public input. It was about consolidating power, keeping decision-making in the hands of politicians, and catering to narrow special interests. This bill would have permanently blocked the Commission from regulating the use of hounds in hunting, no matter the ecological consequences or public will.

The defeat of HB2552 is a victory for everyone who believes wildlife policy should be shaped by science, ethics, and democratic participation—not backroom deals and industry lobbying.

Why does ending hounding matter? Our rulemaking petition calls for an end to the use of packs of dogs to chase down and kill bears, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and other wildlife. This brutal practice is not only inhumane but also poses serious risks to non-target species, including endangered jaguars, ocelots, and Mexican wolves.

Hounding violates fundamental principles of fair chase and creates chaos in ecosystems, forcing animals to flee over long distances in terror. It even puts hikers, pets, and other public land users at risk. Ending hounding is a necessary step toward a more just, science-based wildlife management system in Arizona.

Take Action

While HB2552 was defeated, we know that industry-backed politicians will continue trying to obstruct wildlife protections. We must stay engaged and hold our elected officials accountable.

Here’s what you can do:
➡ Contact your legislator – Thank them if they opposed HB2552, or ask them to reconsider their vote if they supported it. Let them know that wildlife policy should be based on science and public input, not political favors.
➡ Support our rulemaking petition – The fight to end hounding in Arizona is far from over. The Game & Fish Commission needs to hear from you! Stay tuned for opportunities to submit public comments and show up in person.
➡ Spread the word – The more Arizonans know about hounding, the stronger our movement becomes. Share this blog post and talk to friends, family, and community members about why ending hounding matters.
➡ Show up on April 11 – The Commission will meet to discuss wildlife rules, and we need to make our presence known. Even if you don’t want to speak, wearing red will signal our strength and unity.

Last night’s webinar proved that Arizonans are ready for change. The failure of HB2552 shows that even against powerful special interests, we can win. Let’s keep up the momentum and fight for a future where wildlife is managed with ethics, science, and public accountability at the forefront.