Inhofe pigeon shoot fundraiser draws fire from Cherokees, animal rights activists

LONE WOLF, Okla.  – One by one, hundreds of pigeon carcasses are scooped up from the ground and tossed into large black trash bags. Their last flight began when they were hurled into the crosshairs of a group of campaign contributors for U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK).

As part of the 10th Anniversary Inhofe Dove Hunt on Sept. 5 and 6 near the Quartz Mountain Lodge and Resort in Lone Wolf, Okla., men and women campaign contributors participated in an “Old World” pigeon shoot. A Mariachi band played while 1,000 live pigeons were hand pitched into the sky and shot.

Two of the attendees were Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. An undercover investigator from an animal rights group called Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) filmed the shoot and posted portions of the video on YouTube and at www.InhofeCruelty.com. The response from some Cherokee Nation citizens and animal rights activists is outrage.

Cherokee citizens Twila Barnes, Sharilyn Van House and Cheryl Brown joined SHARK President Steve Hindi at a press conference Sept. 30 at the Oklahoma State Capitol to announce they want a federal investigation to be conducted. Barnes said according to Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr., $2,500 was donated by Cherokee businesses in order for Baker to attend. The donation qualified the tribe to be listed as a Gold Level sponsor.

“We are not animal rights activists. We support the second amendment and hunter’s rights, but this pigeon shoot was not a hunt. The death of these pigeons served no purpose other than to stuff the campaign coffers of a career politician,” Barnes said. “The fact that Cherokee Nation money, from any entity of the Cherokee Nation, went to Inhofe for this event infuriates us. Our chief attending and participating leaves us in shock.”

Baker received an invitation to the Sept. 5 dove hunt, and said Inhofe and the majority of Oklahoma’s congressmen were present.

“As the hunt began, I was surprised to find it was not what I expected. After a brief but uncomfortable period of time, I left the main event area and spent most of my time shooting clay pigeons in a different area,” Baker said. “I am a hunter, and I have taught my children to hunt and to hunt responsibly. I have participated in dove hunts before and have taken that meat home to feed my family. Had I known the event on Sept. 5 was not a sporting hunt that would provide food for my family or others, I would not have accepted the invitation. I regret my attendance, and apologize that my presence could imply to some that I condone the events of that day. I do not.”

Inhofe’s campaign manager Rusty Appleton declined to comment to Native Times. “I’ve already been on record multiple times with multiple sources and I don’t have any further comment on the shoot,” he said. However, Appleton did go on record with The Oklahoman, saying, “Sen. Inhofe agrees with the NRA (National Rifle Association) that they (pigeon shoots) are a long-standing shooting sports tradition.” Appleton declined to tell the newspaper how much money was raised from the event, but did say the donations went to Inhofe’s re-election campaign and the Fund for a Conservative Future.

During the shoot, some wounded pigeons were kicked across the ground, some left to succumb to their injuries, and some were picked up and propelled back into the air, only to be shot again. The birds wore bands around one leg, which Hindi said indicated they were not feral.

SHARK and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) received an anonymous letter in August telling them about the event. Hindi said PETA contacted the district attorney and the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office to complain about the event. The video from the live pigeon shoot shows Appleton telling an attendee, “PETA called the district attorney and the sheriff on us for doing this, and of course nobody cared. Nobody is doing anything about it.”

On the video, Appleton also said the dead pigeons were going to be collected and they were “feeding them to the indigent people in the City of Altus.” Appleton was asked, but did not tell Native Times what was done with the carcasses.

Tony Woodruff, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation spokesman, told the Associated Press that although live pigeon shoots are not common, they are legal in Oklahoma on private property. He said, “Pigeons are one of the animals that are not really protected by federal law since they’re non-migratory. We’re pretty liberal on our laws. We let people do quite a bit here.”

SHARK also sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on Sept. 30, stating they believe multiple state and federal laws were broken. The request lists several concerns including the violation of Oklahoma State law §1685, §1686 and §1691, regarding the animal cruelty statute.

Another Cherokee Nation Citizen, Michael E. Moore, Esq., sent a letter to Cherokee Nation Attorney General Todd Hembree on Sept. 26, demanding an immediate criminal investigation into Baker’s participation at the event.

“A SHARK investigator videotaped Chief Baker’s participation, during normal working hours, in this event and his vehicle,” Moore states. “Upon review of Cherokee Nation Code, Title 21, section 1685 it appears our principal chief violated our ‘injury to animals’ law.”

Moore requested that Hembree appoint an impartial special prosecutor or a grand jury to view and hear evidence, then determine if charges need to be filed.

The acquisition of the birds is also questioned. SHARK’s letter to Holder states Bryan Robertson, Baker’s step-son posted an entry on his Facebook page claiming the birds were captured in Houston. Hindi said this brings up an interstate commerce issue if the pigeons were transported from Texas and if proper taxes were paid. He also questions whether there was a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and individual ID numbers for the pigeons within 30 days of being brought into Oklahoma, as outlined by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Other major concerns are that, “employees of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation attended and worked at the political fundraiser, part of which occurred on federal land,” and the use of Kiowa County Sheriff officers and their official vehicles for security purposes.

 

Appleton previously told The Oklahoman the campaign paid off-duty sheriff officers to work security. Kiowa County Sheriff vehicles are clearly marked and seen in the video.

Also listed in the letter is the role Tom Buchanan played in the fundraiser. Buchanan is the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District General Manager and Oklahoma Water Resources Board secretary. Hindi claims the land used for the pigeon shoot is managed by Lugert-Altus Irrigation District and owned by the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Reclamation. Hindi asked why federally-owned land was used for a live pigeon shoot and for a political campaign fundraiser. Hindi states Buchanan was filmed working at the pigeon shoot.

Hindi said the Justice Department can help play a vital role in getting these concerns addressed, since “local authorities are refusing to take any action.” SHARK representatives have tried to discuss their concerns with District Attorney John Wampler, Kiowa County Sheriff Bill Lancaster and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, in addition to both democrat and republican officials. However, their efforts have been unsuccessful. Hindi said the letter requesting a federal investigation was also sent to the FBI offices in Oklahoma and in Washington, D.C.

Native Times asked Appleton if he was able to say if other tribes were invited or attended the event, but he said “No, I’m not.” The only tribal representative shown on the video is Baker.

“We have worked closely and successfully with Senator Inhofe and other members of the Oklahoma delegation on a range of issues that deeply affect Cherokees in areas such as health care, education and housing. While we do not always agree, we work diligently to maintain an ongoing, professional dialogue,” Baker said. “Working with these gentlemen to further the best interests of the Cherokee people and all of Indian Country is time well spent. In hindsight, this event was not the appropriate venue. Moving forward, I will continue working with our federal delegation, but in more appropriate settings.”

During the press conference, Hindi invited Inhofe, Baker and Mullin to join SHARK in their request for a federal investigation to see if any laws were or were not broken.

“We want an investigation to prove laws were broken,” Hindi said. “They should want an investigation to prove laws weren’t.”