Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 7:13 pm

Originally posted by Mark Slade
This is the eighth day of December 2007 . The Lord made this day and it is truly wonderful. I hope this letter finds you well . I would ask that you find the strength to do what is right today . Abandon this path directed at hound hunting before you have totally desimated the entire wildlife department . I am sure you are aware by now a lot of skeptical eyes are upon you and the board . If it is within your power I would ask that you go now to Gov. Kaine and explain the truth of what a total failure this hound issue is . We the people of the State of Virginia have spoken loudly . It is time for you and the board to concede . I cannot understand how Gov. Kaine's appointees could fathom destroying your relations with the people who pay your salary . Virginia is made up of millions of wonderful intelligent people only a fraction of a percentage are radical anti-hunters . I ask this of you today because it is right and just . Knowing you must be a man of character . We will not sit by and allow our own to break the law. We, will try to do a better job of policing ourselves . Expecting the gallient women and men in green to do the wonderful job of which they are sworn .We ask this with a fixed and steady purpose of mind . Hoping you are weary of this futile engagement . The men and women of our great State thank you in advance for your timely concession.

Mark Slade
Chatham Va.

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:48 pm

FROM BOB KANE NEWSLETTER

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' Hunting Hounds Study

I attended a dog owners invited DGIF "focus group" meeting in Caroline County last week. Unlike the previous such meetings around the state, a large group of uninvited houndsmen came to this unpublicized session. Many questions regarding the study's goals and procedures were raised. About twenty of the invitees were gathered together in a separate room for a taped discussion led by a new VT employee. My August expressed concerns about the nature of this study's management plan and the threat it posed to sportsmen and their relationship with DGIF were confirmed in the meeting and in discussions with staff, both before and after they acknowledged that HSUS and PETA had been invited to participate in a December 18th study meeting in Richmond. Both of these groups are rapidly anti-hunting and totally committed to ending the sport. Such influences have been evidenced in other DGIF rulemakings. Since the department's Director was fired on November 30th, you are encouraged to voice your concerns about this very dangerous set of circumstances to the DGIF Board and your Richmond legislators. http://www.dgif.state.va.us/about/board/ http://leg1.state.va.us/081/mbr/MBR.HTM

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:34 am

FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS COMING TO AN END.

The focus group meetings are almost concluded. There will be one on the 11th and 17th for private landowners, one on the 18th for non-hunting outdoor recreationists and one on the 19th for fox hound hunters. These are structured interview meetings. Contact Steve McMullin at 540-231-8847 for more information on the interview process.

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:20 pm

Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance has grown to be the largest outdoor sporting organization in Virginia! We still have a great deal to do.
Our heritage and very culture are under attack. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has advanced the timetable for its hunting dog study. Focus groups that were to have met "after the first of the year" are already holding meetings! While they call us alarmist, they are working hard to destroy our tradition of hunting with hounds. Wardens are telling hunters every day that "they" are going to end hunting with dogs in Virginia within five years!

If you want to save your heritage: we need EVERYONE to do the following:

1. Call your two legislators and POLITELY ask them to support the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance's effort to change the selection of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Board of Directors. Tell them that you are counting on them to defend your right to hunt with dogs.

2. Get your hunt club to send us their mailing list with email addresses! Tell everyone you hunt with or know to go to our website http://vahda.org and JOIN NOW!

3. Send Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance a donation now and ask your club to send a donation to help with this fight.

We must get our fellow hunters to help now. Please don't wait for someone else to act. It will only take a few minutes for you to phone your General Assembly members. Even more helpful would be a personal visit to discuss your concerns face to face.

The future of Hound Hunting in Virginia is up to you!

Sincerely,

THE VIRGINIA HUNTING DOG ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:45 pm

Hunting with Hounds - A Virginia Tradition an Issue

Should there be any doubt that hunting with hounds is an imbedded tradition in the Old Dominion, consider that the Virginia state dog is the American fox hound. Consider that none other than the father of our country, George Washington imported fox hounds into Virginia for hunting purposes. Other prominent Virginians who molded our great state and country such as Thomas Jefferson kept and hunted with hounds. Hunting deer with hounds in eastern Virginia where the undergrowth is too thick for still hunting, standing or driving has been not only a tradition but an honorable way of life for generations.
What has changed over the years to bring the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to consider new regulations for hunting with hounds? While not a new issue, the population growth and urbanization, posted property, development, "gentleman farms" and a more negative view of hunting and hunters all have contributed to a different view of hound hunting and hunting in general. These factors along with the few hunters who disregard property rights have brought the VDGIF to the point of seeking recommendations to resolve the issue which could result in new regulatory amendments to hunting with hounds. The intensity of the issue has certainly stepped up to another level.
Many of the small acreage farms, often held by owners without a rural or hunting background are posted and can be a point of contention when dogs hunting adjacent farms chase game onto their land. The same is true with absentee landowners (some not even U.S. Citizens) and those holding "investment property". Checking the VDGIF General Hunting Regulations regarding hunting with dogs, it is stated:

"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."

This regulation does not specify deer hunters who comprise the largest group of hound hunters and may have the widest ranging packs of hounds, and although not specified, I suppose they are included in the "hunters of all other game".
No matter what your stand on hound hunting I would advise a cyber trip to the VDGIF web site and check out their current thinking on "Hunting with Hounds in Virginia: A Way Forward". There you will find the approach which the VDGIF Board decided on, I.e. A "citizen stakeholder approach: the "stakeholders" to be comprised of "landowner based organizations; bear houndsmen; deer houndsmen; raccoon and fox hunters". Also, to create a "stakeholder" advisory group to consider issues identified by the preceding group.
To support the effort the department has formed a technical committee comprised of biologists, law enforcement officers "and others". The names and affiliation of those on the committee are listed on the web site.
If all is not totally a tangled mess in the above committees, the next step is to involve an "independent, professional dimensions consultant" (what a bunch of politically correct phraseology). This consultant is to report back with recommendations by the fall of 2008. Are we certain this consultant will be impartial? After paying for months of consulting, surely there must be action taken based on his or her recommendations.
Let's look at some of the means by which houndsmen, and hunters as a group can protect their rights.
We need to face the possible POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT on the issue. Unfortunately those with the most anti-hound-hunting sentiments, especially "recreational" landowners are folks of means and have some political influence. There are also groups (e.g. P.E.T.A.) with substantial monetary backing and political influence. The obvious action is to be in touch, individually and as sportsman groups with your legislators. And if you are not already a member of an organization with hound hunting interests - get involved as there is strength in numbers and even more in organized numbers.
Make sure someone from your organization is included in the VDGIF "focus group meetings" and in their "stakeholder advisory group". It would appear that deer, bear and raccoon hunters can also become involved as individuals.
Make sure you as a houndsman or your hunt club respect the rights of landowners. Get to know the landowners in your hunt areas. Let them know you will be hunting with hounds and that there is a possibility the hounds will cross onto their property. Don't assume that, since you or your club has to be running dogs on a certain acreage for generations that the right to do so exists with change of ownership. Do anything possible to improve the image of your sport.
Landowner rights must also be considered, whether they are old established farms or newcomers. These rights are already protected under existing laws and regulations and must be respected by the houndsman, who should, in addition to adhering to the letter of the law, show respect and courtesy to the landowner.
If you are a hunter but not a houndsman, be sure to have your voice heard on the matter, for, if the hunting with hounds is further restricted, it is another restriction on our overall hunting rights. Think of the old axiom "give them an inch and they'll take a mile". That is exactly how we should look at any anti-hunting proposals or actions.
As a deer hunter I do not hunt with hounds here in the western Virginia mountains but do respect the tradition, way of life and the fact that hunting with hounds in eastern Virginia is really a social event as well as a sporting event, and as such it should remain under the existing hunting regulations.
Let us hope that hunting with hounds in Virginia is truly "A Way Forward" as the VDGIF phrases it, and not a step back for the sport of hunting.

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:40 am

Hound meetings going as planned
Bill Cochran's Field Reports

The 16 focus group meetings sponsored by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to address hound hunting issues have attracted crowds in some instances and been clandestine in others. The sessions have been conducted by Virginia Tech on behalf of VDGIF.

A meeting in Bowling Green drew more than 200 people while in other areas there has been criticism that only a few people knew about the sessions.

Not to worry, says Dr. Steve McMullin, of Virginia Tech, facilitator of the process. The idea is to keep the focus groups to a workable size.

“We are doing exactly what we said we would do and following the process that is described on the VDGIF Web page,” he said. “There will be many opportunities for anyone who wishes to participate in the process to do so further down the road.”

Some 363 people were invited to 16 focus group meeting, McMullin said.

“The people invited to these meetings were primarily folks who had contacted the VDGIF with some interest in hunting with hounds or folks who VDGIF personally knew to be members of hunt clubs [with] a strong interest in hunting with hounds.

“While we could not invite everyone, there was no attempt to exclude anyone,” McMullin said. “We have been open and honest in reaching out to hunters, landowners and others with an interest in the issues, and we will continue in that manner.”

McMullin said he regrets that some people have been critical and suspicious of the process.

“I think that it is unfortunate that a few folks out there are more interested in attacking the VDGIF and this process than they are in working together to address issues of critical importance to the future of hunting in Virginia.”

BILL

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:23 am

Time to re-evaluate hunting with hounds

Marlene A. Condon

Condon, author of "The Nature-Friendly Garden," lives in Crozet.

In the wake of Michael Vick's conviction for animal cruelty because of his participation in dogfighting, it is time to re-evaluate the old Virginia tradition of hunting with hounds. This activity, which is sometimes cruel to the hounds themselves and always cruel to the wildlife being chased, negatively impacts many species -- some of which we are losing in Virginia. It is time for this pastime to come to an end.

Game birds, such as the American Woodcock and the Northern Bobwhite quail, nest on the ground. According to "Virginia's Birdlife" (published by the Virginia Society of Ornithology), decades-long breeding bird surveys have shown declines in the numbers of these birds, precipitously in the case of quail.

Hunting dogs (and pet dogs, which also need to be restricted) undoubtedly wreak havoc with ground nesters by disturbing nesting activity. And this impact is likely felt by nongame ground-nesting species, as well. The Eastern Meadowlark, a once common bird with a beautiful song, has suffered "significant statewide declines since the 1960s."

Lack of habitat -- the result of too many people and too much unnatural landscaping -- is a main contributor to such declines. Wildlife is being forced into smaller and smaller areas because of overreaching human development. Allowing hunting dogs to run uncontrolled through these limited-in-size areas undoubtedly adds insult to injury.

Additionally, Virginia law has placed burdens on landowners that rightfully belonged on the hunters, which has turned numerous landowners against hunting altogether. As a result, more private lands are closed to hunting and more dogs are let loose to chase wildlife on state lands that may be the final refuges for some of our disappearing species.

Last but not least, abandoned hunting dogs are not an uncommon sight in Virginia. These hounds are often hit in traffic or, perhaps worse, suffer uncontrollable shaking as blood sugar levels drop due to starvation. Too weak to walk, they finally collapse and can't get up, awaiting whatever fate befalls them. Can anyone deny this is cruelty inflicted by hunters upon man's "best friend"?

And what about the wild animals that are absolutely terrified while being chased -- either just for hound training or to their deaths? Shouldn't compassionate humans care about such cruelty to them as well?

Unfortunately, many people do not realize that there is absolutely no difference between animals that are born wild and animals born into domestication. Wild animals suffer the same pain and terror as any living being. And, just as is the case with pets of whatever kind, each individual has its own unique personality.

Travis Quirk, a University of Saskatchewan graduate student who shot skunks when he was growing up but who now studies them, could verify this. As reported in National Wildlife Magazine online, Quirk had to hand-raise a litter of orphaned kits (baby skunks) one year, feeding them with a syringe. He is quoted as saying, "They were like kittens, playing games, following me around. Just sweethearts."

Making wildlife suffer the sheer terror of being chased by hounds solely for someone's enjoyment is an activity that has gone on for far too long. If you wouldn't find it acceptable for your pet to endure this terror, then you should find it unacceptable for wildlife, too.

There are many reasons to silence the baying of hunting hounds -- even if that baying has been a source of music to some hunters' ears.

Constituents can contact the chairman of a committee studying this issue by writing to Rick Busch at the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, 4010 West Broad St., P.O. Box 11104, Richmond, VA 23230. Or you can send an e-mail to him at dgifweb@dgif.virginia.gov.

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:34 am

[QUOTE=J Swan;2887808]I think we're talking about two different things.

What you're having a problem with is enforcement of our hunting and game regs.

And yeah - I'd be ticked. I'm a landowner too, and allow hunting on my farm. On the other hand - I know that there is a difference between a person, hunting with a dog or dogs - and obeys the law - and one who doesn't.

What's the old saying about you can never find a cop when you need one? Well, maybe your area needs more or better game wardens.

What's being done is an enormous, overly broad study that is going to take down the good and the bad hunters alike. I don't distinguish between mounted, english style foxhunting, and other hunting. It's ALL hunting with hounds.

This should have been approached from a law enforcement perspective. If there is a high incidence, or citizen complaints about speeding on a road, the cops set up speed traps, increased patrols, DUI checks, etc.

This is how DGIF should respond to citizen complaints about illegal hunting.

They didn't. The excuse was that it was "too hard to prove", the hunter wasn't taking legal advantage of the exception to trespass.

I don't agree. It was lousy law enforcement, or good law enforcement without the support necessary to do their jobs.

Again, what you are complaining about isn't ethical and legal hunters. You're upset with people who break the law. Who wouldn't be?

The laws and regs are already on the books. They're not being enforced. We don't need a "study". We need DGIF to do its job.

I love hunting. I really love hunting with my little beagle. I also love to hear the cry of my neighbors hounds, and understand that the hounds might get a bit too eager and come onto my land. As long as folks obey the law - they are welcome to retrieve their hounds - I might even give them a hot cup of tea. I recently reunited two lost beagles with their owner. Nice dogs, nice hunter. Glad to have his hounds back.

Part of living in a rural area is accepting the culture and community that existed there long before you moved in. A loose hunting dog happens. It's just a fact of life. Just like your horses might get loose after a storm. Heck - I've had cows end up in my front yard. Bear too.

Most of the complaints about hunting come from urbanites who move into the country but what the country to adapt to their idea of what country life is like. Others have legitimate complaints because a few jerks are being...... jerks. Again - that's a job for law enforcement - not "focus groups".

I am infuriated by people who drink and drive. But I don't want to outlaw alcohol or cars - I just want people prosecuted. What's being done to hunters is that we're all being painted with the same brush. It's unfair, and there is no way we can defend against it, because we don't have money.

The needs of a rabbit hunter are different from a deer hunter. Or bear. Or duck. Or fox. Some people hunt on public land, some hunt on leased land, and some own their own land. Hunting with dogs is extremely varied - yet a blanket approach is being taken. It will end in disaster.[/QUOTE]

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:39 pm

Howls over dog-hunting
Some fear Va. may be moving to ban or restrict sport

Monday, Dec 24, 2007 - 12:09 AM

By REX SPRINGSTON
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
The western Hanover County forest was cold and damp -- a miserable place for some people, but for hunter Emmett Gray it was heaven.

Sharing his excitement were Petey, Cindy, Chopper and Vicki -- Walker hounds caged in Gray's pickup truck and howling for a chance to chase deer.

Hunting with dogs has thrilled man and beast for centuries.

"The adrenaline when you have a pack of dogs coming to you, and you hear brush breaking, and that deer's coming. . . . The excitement is just outstanding," said Gray, a semiretired businessman.

Some say the tradition could be headed for extinction in Virginia, an assertion Virginia's game agency vehemently denies.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says it is increasingly hearing complaints, often from people new to rural life, about noisy hounds straying onto their land, often followed by hunters retrieving their dogs.

"I think it is safe to say that it has escalated every year for the last several years," said Mike Bise, acting director of the agency, which regulates hunting.

Much of the concern is anecdotal because the department's records are not detailed enough to show trends in dog-hunting complaints.

So the department, assisted by Virginia Tech researchers, is conducting a study to determine how serious the problem is and possibly to suggest solutions. Preliminary findings should be available next summer.

The study has some hound lovers howling.

Kirby Burch of Powhatan County, who led Virginia's parks agency under Republican Gov. George Allen, believes Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat, is pressuring the game department to restrict or ban hunting with dogs.

"Our worst-case scenario is . . . they are going to end hound hunting within five years in Virginia," said Burch, who represents a group called the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," Bise said. "We are only doing this because we are concerned about the future of hound hunting . . . We want to find a way to modify it if necessary -- and I underline heavily, 'if necessary' -- but we want to protect the sport."

Kaine spokesman Gordon Hickey said: "The governor is not putting any pressure on the game department" to ban or restrict the hunting.

In Virginia, hunters can go on private property -- even on land bearing "no trespassing" signs -- to retrieve their dogs. They don't need permission, but they must leave their guns and vehicles behind.

Many landowners don't like having strangers on their property, and the noisy dogs bother people and pets, said Jeff McDermottt. The semiretired investment banker lives on 40 acres on Robins Neck in southeastern Gloucester County. He represents dozens of landowners there opposed to what they consider uncontrolled hound hunting.

"It's almost impossible to turn loose hounds and not have them go all over everybody's property who doesn't want them" in that area, he said.

Some people speak of hunting with dogs as a revered Virginia tradition practiced by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, McDermott said.

"They also practiced slavery, but that doesn't make it right. Things were different in the 1700s in Virginia than they are in 2007."

McDermott favors a system similar to one adopted in Georgia in 2003. Georgians can hunt deer with dogs on leased land of 1,000 acres or more, or on the owner's land, with permission, if it's 250 acres or more. Confining the hunting to large tracts minimizes the chance of dogs straying onto others' land.

The Georgia law also requires a landowner or hunt-club representative to get a permit to hunt with dogs, in addition to the regular hunting license. The dog permit can be revoked for habitual trespassers and other troublemakers.

"I mean to tell you, it worked like a charm," said John Bowers, assistant chief of Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division. "We don't have very many dog-deer-hunting problems any more."

Even hunters are satisfied, Bowers said. "When this law got passed, the sky was falling and we were putting them out of business. There's no more talk of that."

Last hunting season and thus far into this one, Virginia's game department received more than 900 complaints related to hunting with dogs. Some may have involved hunters legally retrieving dogs on private property.

Many complaints go to local sheriffs. Because of that and other issues, no records are readily available to prove that dog-hunting complaints are going up.

"We don't have the actual numbers . . . but we certainly do have a feel for that just because of what we're hearing from our officers," Bise said.

The problems mainly involve hounds used to hunt deer and, to a lesser extent, bears, officials say. Unlike bird dogs and retrievers, which are under close control, the hounds often stray out of sight.

In Hanover, Gray released Petey, Cindy, Chopper and Vicki, and the barking dogs dashed off into the woods. Gray followed with his Browning 12-gauge shotgun.

Gray belongs to the Newfound River Hunt Club, which owns or leases 2,500 acres near Coatesville. The group rarely has a problem with its neighbors, he said.

Gray called to the dogs -- "Hike! Hike!" -- and they occasionally trotted back to learn which direction he wanted them to run.

"They're very intelligent animals," Gray said.

The question now is whether Virginians can be as smart in helping an old sport survive in a growing, modern state.
Contact Rex Springston at (804) 649-6453 or rspringston@timesdispatch.com.

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:32 pm

Dogs at Bay

Friday, Dec 28, 2007 - 12:09 AM

If someone moved to Manhattan and then complained that there was no place nearby to go fly fishing, you'd think he was a couple of cards short of a full deck. Likewise, if a Manhattanite moved to Kilmarnock and then complained that there was no deli within walking distance, you would wonder how many ants short of a picnic he was.

But according to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, some newcomers who have moved to rural Virginia have been dismayed to discover people hunt with dogs. Indeed, tens of thousands of Virginians do just that -- sometimes noisily, and often at hours that must seem odd to city folk.

There has been an increase in complaints about dog hunting. Complainers have been particularly upset when hunting dogs stray onto their land and the hunters show up to retrieve them.

No doubt some hunters trespass on the patience, never mind the property, of their neighbors, and could use a refresher course in etiquette. On the other hand, it's slightly ridiculous to move out of town in search of the charms of the country -- and then gripe about it when you find them.

Hunters should do their best to keep their dogs off the property of people who haven't given permission to hunt on their land. But newcomers should also realize property lines in the great outdoors can be difficult to discern. Maybe they should acquaint themselves with an old country trick that's often used to discourage unwanted guests: building a fence.

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:51 pm

I repeat now is the time to call your legislators in the Virginia Senate or the Virginia House of Delegates TODAY and politely tell them that DGIF has gone to far! Tell them you want them politely to support the restructuring of the DGIF Board!

click on this link and send them an email and let them know how you feel.

http://leg1.state.va.us/081/mbr/MBR.HTM

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:59 pm

This Resolution was passed by Charlotte, Brunswick, Mecklenburg
and Lunenburg Counties and is currently under consideration in at
least seven other Counties.

Ask your Board of Supervisors to help now!

A Resolution of the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors Where as Brunswick County has a tradition of hunting with dogs and specifically with hounds that is as old as the County; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs provides significant economic benefit to the county and her people; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs significantly contributes to the public safety by controlling excess wildlife populations that would otherwise increase automotive collisions, crop and other property damage, and disease control; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs, especially hounds, is practiced on the vast majority of land in Brunswick County and is a source of revenue and a major resource management tool; and Where as the Brunswick County tradition of hunting with dogs is a wholesome family oriented heritage that teaches self-reliance, individual responsibility, and the values of community and stewardship of our GOD given natural resources; therefore Be it resolved that the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors supports our Heritage of Hunting with Dogs, especially hounds, and opposes any studies or actions on the part of Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Virginia Tech as detrimental to that tradition. Be it further resolved that the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors in support of our Heritage of Hunting with Dogs, especially hounds, hereby calls on the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to work to increase communication with hunters and their hunting organizations and to increase law enforcement of the existing laws.

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:15 pm

Law to help dog owners gets test
December 29, 2007 12:35 am
BY ELLEN BILTZ

BY ELLEN BILTZ

A new law that makes it illegal to remove a tracking collar from a dog will get tested in Caroline County.

State game officers have charged a Caroline man with violating the new statute and believe it is the first case since the legislature passed it earlier this year.

David Schwartz, 28, of Milford, is charged with removal of a tracking collar and destruction of property, said state conservation officer Ryan Shuler.

Shuler said a legal snare trap was set up on Schwartz's property that a dog wandered in to earlier this month. The dog died, its collar was removed and later destroyed, Shuler said.

During the last General Assembly session, a law was passed making it illegal to remove a dog's tracking collar. The law was backed by the Virginia Hunting Dog Owner's Association.

Bob Kane, the group's president, said he is encouraged to see that state game officers were aware of the new statute and able to bring the charge.

"There were too many of these instances where dogs were being killed and they were never recovered because their collars were removed," Kane said.

If convicted, Schwartz faces a maximum of 12 months in jail and up to $2,500 fines on both charges, which are class 1 misdemeanors.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:25 pm

Editorial: Hunting for truth about hounds
A Virginia study of hound hunting and the conflicts it causes will allow informed debate.

Hunters sometimes are a paranoid bunch. The slightest hint of scrutiny sets them off defending tradition against encroaching modernism. It is therefore no surprise that a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries review of hunting with hounds has hunters reflexively on the attack.

If they would take a minute to think about it, though, they might see that the study is the best chance to ease tensions between hound hunters and other residents of the commonwealth.

State game officials initiated the "Hunting with Hounds in Virginia: A Way Forward" project last summer when they suspected complaints about hound hunters were on the rise. With help from Virginia Tech, the department is studying complaints and speaking to stakeholders on all sides. It will try to determine what, if any, problems exist and how to fix them equitably.

DGIF fielded more than 900 calls during the last two hunting seasons, but the full scope of the problem remains undetermined because many calls about troublesome hunters go to local sheriffs. Moreover, the legitimacy of most complaints remains unknown.

Hunters should welcome research that would clarify the situation. Without it, an increasing number of citizen complaints about what are most likely a few troublemakers eventually will instigate General Assembly action. Better that policymakers have facts on hand for that debate and carefully considered recommendations from game officials.

One of the most common complaints arises from an oddity of Virginia law. Hounds now may run across private property and hunters may enter -- even past posted "No Trespassing" signs -- to retrieve them. Many people understandably do not want strangers and their animals traipsing across their land without permission.

It is a conflict between two of the commonwealth's core principles. Virginians sanctified the right to hunt in their constitution, but they also hold private property rights sacred. Hunting should not trump the fundamental right of citizens to be secure on their property.

For their final recommendations, DGIF officials might consider hound-hunting rules used in other southern states. In Georgia, for example, hound hunting is permitted on large private tracts with the owners' permission and on leased lands. That approach, according to Peach State officials, has tremendously reduced incidents of dogs straying onto private property.

First, though, Virginia needs the facts. Hunters can either help make sure the hound report includes their perspective or complain about conspiracies and go unheard

hokieman · Post by **hokieman** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:35 am

Free membership being offered at Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance. You can sign up online at http://vahda.org