Whatever your view of the hunting situation with dogs in Virginia I hope there is a standing room only civil discussion at each of the meetings. In the long run the hound hunters will lose. It is just too hard, dang near impossible, to not infringe on the hunting rights of the non-hound hunters and the landowners that do not want dogs on their property.
They said they were getting places that could handle 200 or more people.
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Virginians for Hound Hunting Reform
Whatever your view of the hunting situation with dogs in Virginia I hope there is a standing room only civil discussion at each of the meetings. In the long run the hound hunters will lose. It is just too hard, dang near impossible, to not infringe on the hunting rights of the non-hound hunters and the landowners that do not want dogs on their property.
That's basically what the technical report said. The pro hound people are planning on coming in with a last chance effort to sway the decision their way. Too little too late. They have opposition from many others besides their fellow hunters they crapped on over the years.
The report nails it and all that is left to do is to pull the plug on the areas of abuse.
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Virginians for Hound Hunting Reform
Then they can turn their attention to a far more common problem: trespass, poaching, property damage, etc. by the still hunters. The abuses by this group simply are not being curtailed under current laws. Much, much more regulation is needed.[:@]
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
Then they can turn their attention to a far more common problem: trespass, poaching, property damage, etc. by the still hunters. The abuses by this group simply are not being curtailed under current laws. Much, much more regulation is needed.[:@]
Sure whatever you say.
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Virginians for Hound Hunting Reform
Then they can turn their attention to a far more common problem: trespass, poaching, property damage, etc. by the still hunters. The abuses by this group simply are not being curtailed under current laws. Much, much more regulation is needed.[:@]
Huh?
Lanse, the still hunters that I know of (mainly the guys at my deer camp) do NOT trespass, poach, cause property damage, etc... We all hunt public land in the George Washington Nat'l Forest along with a small piece of private land that butts up against the forest boundry.
A few of us gave up trying to hunt east of the Blue Ridge because of the deer hounds constantly running amok. So instead of continuing the war, we just leave them be, with their own mess, and hunt where they can't run dogs.
Then they can turn their attention to a far more common problem: trespass, poaching, property damage, etc. ........................ The abuses ............... simply are not being curtailed under current laws. Much, much more regulation is needed.[:@]
Slightly edited to be much more palatable -- let's enforce the laws equally across the board. If you're on my posted land without my permission, you're trespassing -- whether you say you're looking for your dogs or not. If you're standing ten yards off my property while your buddy and his dogs are running deer across my land and over into your shooting area, well, how's that not trespassing and poaching?
I understand the current loopholes in the law provide enough wiggle room to make these activities "legal" -- so I agree with Lanse's edited message above. Let's ensure that abuses are curtailed and laws and regulations are applied equally... and property rights are protected and respected. Period.
I bowhunt, muzzleload, and shotgun hunt. Dont get me wrong, the clubs that run deer around my private 250 acre land usually run the dogs to where they feel safe...in the sanctity I have given them.
Two times last year I was bowhunting in my stand, 50 yrds from an approaching deer, along came a pack of hounds and ran my deer off. Twice during turkey season on my 250 acre private land land I was able to call a gobbler into range when two hounds chaged the turkey and ran him back into cover.
This ticked ne off, athough I have hunted with clubs, with many hounds, We have never ran our dogs free to hunt until season allowed. Now it seems that training them year round is acceptable in my area, even though it impededes on others and their hunting choices.
The warden told me that if I catch a hound, capture it, contain it and others that I can catch, and call animal control. They will pick the dogs up and fine the owners. It seems like if the owners are this irresponsible, and could care less about others hunting rights, they should be fined, and if the fines continue, criminal actions could ensue.
Dogs DO NOT bother me during legal seasons to hunt with hounds, but Turkey, archery, and even muzzleloader...ITS freakin illegal!
Unfortunately there's a bad batch in each walk of hunting. I don't understand why there is so much bickering amongst us. So you don't like it? Big whoop. I don't dog hunt, but I don't get all pissy over it. And yes, I've had dogs run into my hunting area.
What's next? With all the anti-hunting factions out there, we don't need style specific anti-hunting factions within our own ranks.
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Frank
We don't live in America. America lives in us!
VDGIF Public Comment Meetings
