California Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee members voted Monday to ban the use of hounds to hunt bears and bobcats.

Here’s the update from veteran outdoor writer Ed Zieralski in San Diego.

(Previously reported)

The meeting has been set as a “vote only” meeting, which indicates there won’t be any public comment allowed. Apparently the committee heard all it wanted during last week’s open meeting when it voted but didn’t have a full group and the bill was defeated. So now, Round 2 is set.

Three committee members were absent when a vote was taken last week. The three have been hounded, so to speak, by the animal “rights” crowd about missing the meeting and not voting. No doubt there’s been some pump-priming among those trying to get this bill passed so they can move on to the next anti-hunting attack on honest, law-abiding citizens.

Veteran San Diego outdoor writer and hunter Ed Zieralski broke the story Sunday afternoon after receiving an email from Assemblyman Brian Jones, R-Santee. In that email Jones confirmed the vote is scheduled for Monday.

Assemblymen Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles, and Roger Hernandez, D-West Covina missed the meeting last week. Assemblyman Jones, Sen. Bill Berryhill, R-Stockton, and Assemblywoman Linda Halderman, R-Fresno, voted last week to ban the use of hounds, as did bill sponsor Assemblyman Ben Hueso, D-Chula Vista.

Click any of their names to get an email link should you wish to contact them to voice your opinion about their anti-hunting stance.

We’ll keep you updated after Monday’s meeting.