Hunting with Hounds Update

 VSSA received the below alert from the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance and we are sharing it for our members who hunt deer and other game with hunting dogs.

We need you at DWR on October 24th @ 9AM

Folks,

DWR has finally agreed to consider the two hound proposals at their upcoming board meeting on Thursday, October 24th. These were the two proposals that had a 45-day public comment period earlier this summer regarding GPS collars and hound trespass.
From their most recent press release:

“The Board will be considering regulatory proposals 4VAC15-40-310 and 4VAC15-40-320 regarding hunting with hounds, specifically, Board proposals six and seven, which may be viewed at https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/Board-Proposals.pdf.”
These two regulations, particularly the trespass one (#7), are serious impediments to hunting with hounds in Virginia.

The trespass regulation will create a Class 3 misdemeanor for dog trespass. More importantly, it specifically creates a criminal trespass offense for a singular, targeted group of people: deer and bear hound hunters. It does not include all hunters with dogs and does not include all dogs in the general population.

We need hound hunters to show up and speak up

The most important thing you can do is be there. We need hunters to talk about what hunting with hounds means to them. They need to hear why hound hunting in Virginia is important. They need to hear how it is a necessary tool for wildlife management. You are a citizen of this great Commonwealth. We need you to express why you hunt with hounds and why you love hunting with hounds.

Despite the fact the both the GPS proposal and the trespass proposal were overwhelmingly opposed by the public (80%+), we cannot assume that DWR will follow accordingly.

Be courteous. Dress nicely. Wear an orange hat. The manner in which you present yourself is important!

If you cannot make it to the meeting, you can still participate and sign up to speak online. DWR still has not published their meeting agenda or signup links. We will share them with you once they have been published.

Why we need you there

When we have multiple dogs being shot in a season and DWR says nothing.

When we have more dog injury and tracking collar violations against dogs than we do RTR violations and DWR says nothing.

When we commit a fraction of all hunting violations but are continuously being singled out as the main problem.

When DWR is slow to deal with wildlife issues.

When DWR targets select hunting populations.

Those who oppose us were not successful during the General Assembly last year.
Those who oppose us were not successful at the Virginia Supreme Court.
Those who oppose us will be at the upcoming DWR meeting.

The meeting will be at DWR headquarters:
October 24th at 9am
The address is:
7870 Villa Park Dr.
Suite 400
Henrico, VA 23228

Senate Committee Disposes of Sunday Hunting Bill

The Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee met this morning and heard SB850, Senator Chap Petersen's legislation to allow hunting on Sunday.  Unfortunately, the committee voted 13-2 to kill the bill.  Only Senator's Petersen and Marsden, both from Northern Virginia, voted to report the bill.    Speaking in favor of the bill were DGIF Board Member Jimmy Hazel; Jake McGuigan, Director, Government Relations, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Virginia's Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech, NRA's manager of hunting policy Daren LaSorte.  VSSA also registered it's support.  Both NSSF and the Governor's office talked about the economic benefits that allowing Sunday Hunting would have on the Commonwealth.

Speaking against the bill were The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), various individuals from around the Commonwealth, the Virginia Farm Bureau, the Virginia Horse Council, Virginia Foxhound Association, and Kirby Burch with the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance.  HSUS tried to proponent's economic benefit argument by saying "Bird Watchers are also an economic benefit.  The Farm Bureau representative said that wildlife and livestock should have one day of rest during the hunting season.  Mr. Burch expressed a concern that if the bill were approved, it would began the erosion process against hunting.  He was likely referring to another assault agains hunting with hounds that was undertaken in 2009.

The issue is dead for this session but the momentum that was gained through the positive press from around the Commonwealth the last three weeks likely means the effort will continue to gain support.  There are legitimate concerns that have been expressed by landowners who have to contend with a handful of hunters that do not show common courtesy when retrieving their hunting dogs.  These are not the majority however and the issue will surely be back at next year's legislative session.