Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Wildlife Resources
 
Board
Board of Wildlife Resources
 
chapter
Game: In General [4 VAC 15 ‑ 40]
Chapter is Exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act
Action Adding Section 320: Reasonable efforts for deer and bear hunting with dogs.
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ended on 7/5/2024
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7/3/24  3:09 pm
Commenter: Curtis Marion

I oppose both propositions
 

For the folks who still live in the far corners of the state where they can run "old school dogs" I am envious. I grew up that way, where there was never a worry about your dogs bothering anyone. Often times dogs were picked up by other clubs and they would call and leave a message about them or they'd show up at dark and there was an exchange of stories about the day. Having dogs of my own, every dog I turn loose has a tracking collar now a days, and luckily it's due to traffic of routes 60 and 45 that concerns me. Fortunately we don't have too many folks in our area against the use of dogs, atleast not the responsible use of dogs. But imposing costs and potential penalties on folks who still live/hunt in the Virginia I grew up in is ridiculous. If they're still able to hunt with those types of dogs, they're in areas where they're not bothering anybody. As for the hound trespass, you all as the board are aware this is a ridiculous proposition as well. The threat of a misdemeanor charge because someone didn't make a "valid attempt to end the chase" before it headed to an area we couldn't teleport to catch said dogs is an overshot as an expectation for those of us on foot in the middle of briar patches. Many clubs across the state still hunt in older ways and methods, driving woods with dogs. Which does not include the use of trucks. There are times I'm 2 miles from my truck at the end of a deer drive and my dogs have gotten "out of pocket". I'm making my best efforts to get back to my truck so I can get to my dogs regardless but having someone judge the validity of my efforts is a waste of CPO efforts when there are plenty other regulations they struggle to enforce. 

CommentID: 226823