ORIGINAL: NEW61375
Actually it is very possible. You just have to know your state laws and in VA a dog hunter can go on private property to retrieve his dog as long as he is not armed (without asking a soul), he can use a vehicle to retrieve his animalsonly with landowner or agent permission. A dog hunter can retrieve his dogs from road right of ways(meaning he can drive around the roads and call his dogs to him).
I am notsaying they are the best laws but they are the laws. What some are calling trespassing is actually legal by VA law.That being said I do know there are lotsof actualcases of trespass as well buta man walking(unarmed) on your land to get his dogs or his dogs being on your land is not trespassing.
Starting ahunton a piece of landthat borders private propertyis not illegaleither but starting a hunt on someone elses private property is illegal, what I mean is if they start beside you and run across theydidn't break any law. Like I said I know itis not perfect and probably is part of the reason behind some of the questioniarres(sp?) and things VDGIF hads been sending out but as it is right now many still huntersdon't like dog season because of theinterference, aggravation but often no laws are actuallybeing broke.
From VDGIF:
Hunting With Dogs
[ul][*]Dogs may be used to pursue wild birds and animals during hunting seasons where not prohibited.[*]When the chase begins on other lands, fox hunters and coon hunters may follow their dogs on prohibited lands, and hunters of all other game, when the chase begins on other lands, may go upon prohibited lands to retrieve their dogs, but may not carry firearms or archery tackle on their persons or hunt any game while thereon. The use of vehicles to retrieve dogs on prohibited lands shall be allowed only with the permission of the landowner or his agent. Any person who goes on prohibited lands to retrieve his dogs and who willfully refuses to identify himself when requested by the landowner or his agent to do so is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. [/ul]
The problem with the way this law is written is that it essentially gives me permission to walk through your neighborhood, into your back yard, across your deck, look around under your deck, tramp through your rose garden, look under your boat cover, all around your carport or open garage and go anywhere else on your property with the exception of opening doors - provided that I identify myself and claim that I'm looking for my hunting dogs. Just because my property is wooded and posted it is no different (according to the way this law is written and interpreted) than the property upon which your primary dwelling sits.
Of course, most folks wouldn't dream of doing the things described above without first knocking on the door. And that is the gist of the problem. Most everyone would ask permission before entering someone's back yard, but if it's woods, it is somehow different.