I oppose this bill. Hunting with hounds for big game, or any game for that matter has been a tradition passed down for many generations. Hound hunting is “fair chase” allowing the animals that are being pursued to know that they are being pursued, giving them every opportunity to outsmart their prey. Hunting with hounds is more than just a hobby, it’s a way of life. The majority of true houndsmen and women are devoted to their dogs, spending countless hours working with,  and training them. They see their dogs as more than just tools to get the job done, but part of the family. The dogs love to hunt, they give their all for us and their love of pursuing the game and most true houndsmen and women would do anything for them. I understand that it can be frustrating when dogs go onto other properties, but you can’t control where the animal being pursued goes. It’s hard enough for us as houndsmen and women to keep our dogs safe, even in areas where the dogs “have permission” so to speak to be, much less having worry about things such as dog trespassing. Hunting with hounds is a tradition that is slowly dying and the last thing that we need are more rules and regulations that would deter people from hunting with hounds. The camaraderie that hound hunting brings is something that goes unmatched and even if you disagree with hound hunting I encourage you to try it just once and see what it’s all about until you jump to conclusions.