I OPPOSE DWR's proposed Hound Trespass regulation.

This proposal will not only affect hunters, but it will also affect virginians who are not hunters.

When dogs are on unwanted property, most of the time they are just passing through. When the dogs are passing through, they can't read whether they are on property that they have permission to be on or not. No matter it this proposal is passed, a dog cannet read and will access land they are unwanted on. This proposed regualtion states that if a dog is reported on someone's property, that hunter will be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor. This charge is the same as if a person is charged with public intoxication. If DWR approves this proposal, dog hunters which make up 65% of all hunters in Virginia, will not buy hunting licences which will cause licences to go up for all hunters. Instead of focusing on 3% of the violations DWR needs to be focusing on the rest of the complaints that go through the system.

Dog hunting helps to regulate the deer population, which helps prevent damage to farmers' crops, and helps prevent accidents because the population is so high. Dog hunting is the most effective way of hunting to prevent overpopualtion and disease.