Four hunting dogs look out from the bed of a truck before being released into the backcountry near Maricopa. In Arizona, it’s legal to use packs of hunting dogs when pursuing mountain lion, black bears, and other small mammals.
John Leos/The Republic
A petition seeking ban hunting with packs of dogs was submitted to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in November 2024. Supported by wildlife advocacy groups, the petition has sparked a debate over the future of hunting dogs in Arizona.
John Leos/The Republic
Hunting dogs in Arizona are used to pursue big game in the same mountainous landscapes where endangered jaguar and ocelot roam. Wildlife advocates believe the unleashed packs of hounds have a negative impact on federally protected species in the state.
John Leos/The Republic
Hunter Chris Watson uses GPS enabled collars to track his dogs when hunting. The collars allow hunters to remotely call their dogs and prevent them from getting lost, but wildlife advocates say this technology gives hunters an unfair advantage.
John Leos/The Republic
Two hunting dogs run unleashed in the desert landscape. Hunters in Arizona use hounds to track and pursue mountain lions and bears, chasing the target animal into a tree before making a decision whether to kill.
John Leos/The Republic
Chris Watson, founder of the Arizona Working Dogs Alliance, scratches one of his hounds under the chin on the tailgate of his truck. Watson and his organization plan to fight any movement to ban hound hunting in Arizona.
John Leos/The Republic
A hunting dog looks out from the bed of a truck before being released into the backcountry near Maricopa.
John Leos/The Republic
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