SUFFOLK
Proposed changes to rules governing the use of hunting dogs met stiff opposition Thursday at a meeting at King's Fork High School.
"We will not support any recommendations for changes or new laws," said Mike Cobb of Isle of Wight County, a member of the Blackwater Hunt Club.
A game department committee proposed 11 recommendations in "Hunting with Hounds in Virginia: A Way Forward."
The study was prompted by increasing tensions between hunters and landowners.
Nine of the committee's recommendations could be presented to the game department board of commissioners at an Oct. 23 meeting in Richmond. Two were voted down by the committee.
One of the two that was dismissed concerns the state's Right to Retrieve Law, which allows hunters to go on private property to find stray dogs without landowner permission. Virginia is the only state where dogs are used for hunting deer that has such a law - and this is the root of differences between landowners and hunters.
In the past few years, some states, such as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, have placed restrictions on the use of dogs - rules that include minimum acreage regulations to use dogs for hunting, dog identifications, and penalties for going onto land without permission.
North Carolina is looking at adopting similar rules but is not conducting an extensive survey like the one that is costing Virginia more than $200,000.
"What a waste of money, especially in a time when budgets are being cut," one speaker told the crowd. "Why not take that money and use it to hire more law enforcement officers and police the rules we already have."
Thursday's packed house was overwhelmingly pro-hunting, but two members of Humane Society and SPCA organizations told officials that each fall their facilities are filled with abandoned hunting dogs.
No landowners opposing the use of dogs spoke. But several hunters said that dog runners should show more respect for those who don't use dogs.
"I've got nothing against dog hunting," said Paul Arnold of Virginia Beach, who owns land in Brunswick County and prefers to hunt without dogs. "I'm speaking as a bow hunter. During bow season, there aren't supposed to be dogs running. But there are.
"And many of the hunters who use them are rude and don't care. It's rampant everywhere, and that's why people are starting to complain."
Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com
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And they wonder why?
First SAC is made up of 70% or so hound hunters. There are questions surrounding 1 SAC member on the killing of a hound ( that didn't run as he put it) and his admitted illegal training out of season for many years. Expecting them to come up with any working or rel fix for the problem is a joke. Right now they're in denial there even is a problem. After it's all over and the state overrules SAC's biased suggestions they'll be pointing the finger at everyone but the guy in the mirror. They had their chance and blew it.
Virtually all other southern states that allow hound hunting have been forced the take measures to limit the dog hunters in their respective states so why would VA be any different? The arrogant in your face "we have a tradition" days are numbered for the hound hunters. And it's actually only one sect of hound hunters, the deer hound hunter causing the most problems. Shame the other hound hunters can't stand up to the offenders and let the blame fall on those responsible.
Landowners Rights
Why are the strategies for the two biggest violations by dog hunters being Not Recommended?
1. Repeal/Modify Virginia’s Right-To-Retrieve.
This has to change. No one should have the right to trespass on private property. Every one knows that this is a thin veil that allows the dog hunters to go where they please with no penalty.
2. Change Hunting/Training Seasons.
This also has to change. I have seen dogs chasing deer in April this year, dog hunter say they are hunting fox. Again another thin veil that allows the dog hunter to go and hunt any way they please with no penalty.
Implementation of just these two strategies alone would fix most of the problems encountered between private landowners and dog hunters.
Who has the problem?
Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries is currently operating at a 26% vacancy rate, boils down to 1/4 of their force of Conservation police officer positions are un-filled. The laws that are currently on the books address every issue landowners have with hound hunters. VDGIF is understaffed and all of a sudden the Hound hunters have a problem? What is wrong with this picture? Take away 1/4 of my workforce and I am SEVERLY handicapped in my ability to perform my job. Complaints? What complaints? Show me records of verified complaints and we will address them, we will police our own ranks and help VDGIF address these issues. We must first know what the complaints are, are they legitimate or just a case of being ignorant of the law? We hound hunters are willing to do as much as we can to help the Game Dept. do their job but we need FACTS and VERIFIED complaints. VDGIF has yet to produce any record
All for hunting with dogs
I totally argee with the fact of why don't you enforce the laws that you already have instead of making new ones. If there is not enough man power to enforce the laws now how are they going to with the new laws. As far as the SPCA if they think they have alot of abandoned dogs at the end of the hunting season how many do they think they are goiong to have if they rule against dog hunting. If the bowhunters have a problem wtih hunters running dogs during bowhunting season then those hunters need to be dealt with and don't punish everyone else. As for the hunters that are on other peoples property again don't punish the hunters that are respectful to the landowners and/or homeowners.