I am writing today to ask for our Leadership in the State of Virginia to sat No to this proposal. this an antihunting regulation that will hurt the communities and law-abiding citizens across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currently hunters that use hounds make every effort to keep the hounds off properties where there are conflicts with the homeowners, that is because we respect the land and grew up in this sport. However, this task can be somewhat impossible at times given the drive that the dogs have and the inability to catch the hounds based on how different properties are laid out. Therefore, this proposal criminalizes a sometimes unavoidable outcome even when every effort is made to prevent it. It places an unnecessary stress on the hounds men and women to be charge with a class 3 misdemeanor ( same as possession of a Schedule V Narcotic or initial destruction of property with intent to steal) for an unintentional act. 

Furthermore, this proposal would do the exact opposite of the intention and create more hostile relation ship with the small group of people who oppose hound hunting and those who hunt. There will be more false claims against hound's men, requiring more investigations by the limited staff of the DWR. These claims would tie up the officers and those who actually are breaking the laws will slip through the cracks making the conservation of the wildlife in our state even harder. 

Finally, any amendment of this proposal would be detrimental to the conservation of wildlife in our state. this would be the start to the end of a way of life that is older than our state. The sheer number of people that would quit hunting all together would be detrimental to the budget of the DWR. Please just say NO to this proposal. 

Thank you for your time.