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
spacer
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
6/30/24  12:20 pm
Commenter: John Fairbanks

Oppose
 

I oppose this. Hunting with hounds has too many positives, it generates income for the sate, local businesses and landowners. It teaches youth responsibility, safety, conservation, mentoring, friendship and gets them outdoors. A trespass law will discourage hunting with hounds and discourage the next generation of Hound Hunters from carrying on deep rooted traditions. Hound hunters already do their best to to keep their hounds on property they have permission to hunt on, keeping game and hounds in the hunt and to avoid upsetting landowners They try to work closely with landowners to establish a good relationship. I understand some property owners may not like hunting at all, hunting with hounds or have other reasons, creating a trespass law is not the way to handle it. I believe a big issue is from new landowners moving to a rural area and being unaware that people hunt with hounds. Educate new landowners that they live in a rural area, hound hunting is legal and they will have to be ok with hunting with hounds. Create programs that make for good landowner and hound Hunter relationships, feeding the hungry, property improvements for landowners, youth outreach programs to get kids outdoors. Make a win win out of it for landowners, hound hunters and the public. 

CommentID: 226191