BigGameHoundsmen.com

Hunting with hounds has been targeted in Virginia. The DGIF has proposed to undertake a study with Virginia Tech. It is of upmost importance that all hunting dog sportsman be made aware that any new bills passed in the general assembly will effect all hunting dog sportsmen. I ask that you join Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance to restrcuture the DGIF. join our fight and preserve your way of hunting for future generations.
here is their link http://vahda.org

FOR YOUR REFFERENCE FINAL MINUTES OF MEETING by DGIF.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/meetings/m ... inutes.pdf


AUDIO FILES OF MEETING.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/meetings/details.asp?f=32


ARTICLE WRITTEN IN ROANOKE TIMES AUG 09, 2007 BY BILL COCHRAN.

Hunters who love to pursue game with hounds have formed a new organization they say is designed to help preserve their sport. It is called the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance. Get ready to hear that name mentioned often over the next several months.

One of the main objectives of the alliance is to keep an eye on the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, according to one of the organizers.

Wait a minute! Isn’t the DGIF a long-time friend of hunters?

Maybe so in the past, but recently some hound hunters have become downright hostile toward the department, even calling several of its recent actions “anti-hunting.” That’s the dirtiest word that can come out of the mouth of a hunter.

The most recent controversy evolves around a stakeholder’s program that DGIF is organizing, with help from Virginia Tech, to address increasing concerns regarding the use of dogs for deer hunting.

When the word “stakeholders” was used, many dog hunters thought that meant only they would come to the table in an effort to thrash out any problems. They didn’t like it when they learned that also part of the process would be hunters who don’t use dogs, hikers, landowners, government officials, even animal welfare interests. They said that wasn’t what had been promised.

“I am concerned that the commission [department] staff has been less than honest,” said Kirby Burch, chairman of the Commonwealth’s Sportsmen’s Alliance, one of the groups involved in the formation of the new hunting dog organization.

“I am sorry that some folks have misunderstood our approach,” said Bob Duncan, chief of the DGIF wildlife division. “A successful outcome necessarily requires that landowners and other stakeholders be involved in and have ownership of the recommendations that result.”

As for dog hunters working out their own problems, they had that chance, Duncan said.

“But this simply has not happened. Now citizen complaints have gained traction and big timber companies in other states are disallowing dog hunting for deer and some of the other states have moved to restrict hunting with dogs.

“I guess some folks would have us ignore these trends but I think…we need to proactively engage this citizen-driven process and develop strategies/recommendations for the future of the sport.”

There is more involved here than deer hunting with hounds, Burch said. There is the matter of “openness, honesty and integrity.” The DGIF has retreated into a shell, lessening contact with sportsmen by relying on the Internet for public input and doing away with the regional public meetings of the past, he said.

“Why would the commission and staff turn a deaf ear on so many Virginians from so many parts of the state and walks of life?” he asked. Deer dog problems weren’t that prevalent to begin with, he said. “The DGIF board was defensive from the start. They created the controversy,” Burch said.

The new alliance will bring together clubs and organizations that represent thousands of hunters, Burch said. It “has some very cool heads on it and some very seasoned individuals,” he said. In the wings are a number of legislators ready to lend a hand, he said.

“This is a critical battle for preservation of our outdoor sporting heritage, Burch said.”

One avenue left open to the alliance is the General Assembly, Burch said. Look for legislation in the 2008 session that would change the way DGIF board members are appointed.

“There will be some efforts to right this ship,” Burch said. “Not punitive measures, but corrective measures. The Game Commission is going to face some challenges.

“I hope that all of our fears come to nothing and that out of this we get a strengthened community of hunters and we have a new confidence in the agency.”

DGIF officials are saying much the same thing.

“Our goal for this process, said Duncan, “is to provide diverse opportunities for hunting with hounds in Virginia in a manner that is fair, sports like, and consistent with the rights of private and public property owners and other citizens.”

Hunting With Dogs Is As Old As Virginia!!

The Virginia Department Of Game & Inland Fisheries has set up a committee that will include "diverse stakeholders across Virginia" to study the Hunting Dog ISSUE:

. Hunters who do and do not use hounds
. Other recreationists (hikers, campers, ect.)
. Private landowners and other citizens
. Local government
. Public land management agencies
. Animal welfare and other wildlife interests
. NGO's and Others

The desk is stacked against you and all Virginia hunting dog sportmen!!!

JOIN THE VIRGINIA HUNTING DOG ALLIANCE TODAY AND DEFEND YOUR HERITAGE!!!!

click on this link and join http://vahda.org


VIRGINIA HOUND HUNTERS STAND UNITED IN THIS FIGHT AND PRESERVE YOUR RIGHT TO HUNT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF HOUND HUNTERS.

Things you need to know about the hound hunting study
by Bill Cochran


Dr. Steve McMullin may not be carrying a whistle or wearing a zebra shirt, but he is in for a lot of refereeing as facilitator of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ study of hunting with hounds in Virginia.

The process has divided hound hunters. Some see it as an attack on their tradition. Others believe the best hope for preserving their sport is to join with the DGIF and address issues that have been giving hound hunting a bad name among landowners and even other hunters.

The task for McMullin, who is associate professor of the Virginia Tech Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, is to make certain the process is clear, fair and meets designated goals.

Here are his comments on several questions I asked:

Q. What is behind the examination of hound hunting in Virginia?

A. The DGIF began this examination in an effort to preserve the tradition of hound hunting while addressing the legitimate concerns of landowners who have complained in increasing numbers in recent years that their rights are being trampled.

Some landowners have suggested that legislation is needed to address their concerns. The DGIF would prefer to have reasonable people from all sides of the issue talking to each other to address concerns. It is better to bring hunters and landowners together to work out their own solutions rather than fighting each other over potential laws and regulations.

Q. Some hound hunters say the process is an effort to outlaw the use of dogs in deer hunting. How would you reply to that?

A. Nothing could be further from the truth. Why would an agency that derives the majority of its income from hunters and anglers want to eliminate a significant number of its stakeholders?

The agency’s goal in this process is clear: to preserve the tradition of hunting, including hunting with hounds, in a manner that is fair, sportsmanlike and consistent with the rights of property owners and other citizens.

All hunters should be concerned about shrinking opportunities to hunt because Virginia’s landscape is changing. Development pressure has gobbled up or surrounded many areas that have traditionally supported hunting, and many of the new landowners are less supportive of traditional uses of the land.

Q. What about the people who say this process is nothing more than an anti-hunting move?

A. I think it is unfortunate that a few folks are preying on the legitimate concerns of hunters with baseless and ridiculous accusations of anti-hunting sentiment in the DGIF instead of working with the agency to address the real issues.

Q. Who are the stakeholders in this process?

A. Everyone who has an interest in hunting in Virginia is a stakeholder. Our goal is to provide ample opportunity for everyone who chooses to participate.

Q. A technical committee has been assigned. What is its function?

A. It consists of DGIF wildlife managers and conservation police. Later we expect DGIF media specialists will be involved. The committee’s task is to research the issues and provide technically sound information to benefit the stakeholders.

Q. Hound hunters say they originally were told that they would be the only stakeholders in an effort to solve their own problems. Now even animal-right’s people will be involved. What’s behind the broader base?

A. The DGIF is bound by law to look out for the interests of all Virginians with respect to wildlife. Hunters, and especially hound hunters, clearly have the most direct interest and will be treated as the most important stakeholders in the process. However, the other people with an interest in the issues must be brought to the table. You can’t resolve issues between landowners and hunters by talking only to hunters.

We will have an advisory committee comprised of a broad cross-section of all interests. Members must agree to pursue the goal of preserving the tradition of hunting, including hound hunting, in a manner that is fair, sportsmanlike and consistent with the rights of property owners and other citizens.

Q. Some hunters will tell you that involving animal-rights people is carrying it a bit far. What’s your take?

A. They have the same right to participate as other stakeholders. We are specifically inviting people who we know have a great interest in the issues to participate in a series of focus group meeting over the next couple of months. The majority of these will be for hunters, and about half of them specifically for hound hunters. One focus group will consist of non-hunters who have an interest in the issue.

Q. What if a person would like to be a stakeholder but is not selected to be part of the advisory committee? What opportunities will he or she have?

A. There is much more to this process than who will serve on the advisory committee. This is a very inclusive process. Everyone with an interest in hunting in Virginia has multiple opportunities to participate, including through informal surveys, public meetings, review of the draft report and by calling, writing on emailing the DGIF.

Q. What is the role of Virginia Tech in the process?

A. To serve as a neutral and impartial manager. We have no stake in the outcome other than to ensure that every effort is made to promote the participation of those who have an interest in the outcome and to also ensure that all interests are treated fairly.

Q. What skills do you personally bring to the table?

A. I have more than 30years' experience in the fisheries and wildlife profession, first as a fisheries manager and chief of fisheries management for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and for the last 18 years as a faculty member of Virginia Tech’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.

In Montana, I revamped the state’s process for involving the public in making management decisions. In Virginia I have worked with the DGIF to implement my philosophy of public involvement through the development of the first statewide deer management plan and the statewide black bear management plan.

My career has been dedicated to demonstrating that sound management of fish and wildlife must include both good science provided by professionals and meaningful involvement of stakeholders in determining what benefits we want our resources to produce.

Q. When do you expect a final report and do you see recommendations going to the General Assembly?

A. A draft report should be available for public comment by early next fall. After the public has had a chance to comment on it, a final report will be prepared and presented to the DGIF board.

We have no preconceived plan to take anything to the General Assembly. If any recommendations go to the General Assembly, it will be because hunters, landowners and wildlife managers have worked together to generate solutions to issues that they agree require legislative action.

An ideal solution to the issues surrounding hound hunting would be for hunters and landowners to agree on actions that resolve their own issues.

Hound hunting debate mounts
Bill Cochran

BILL: My name is Bryan Morris and I am the president of the United Eastern Virginia Hunting Dog Association and interim co-chair of the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance. I am writing in reference to our position with the hound hunting study and the resolution that has passed the Board of Supervisors in several Southside Virginia counties.

The resolution in question merely emphasizes to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries that these counties are in favor of hound hunting, which plays a large part in their local economies. The resolution does state opposition for the current study by the DGIF and Virginia Tech.

The reasoning behind our opposition is as follows:

The impetus for the study is a reported increase in complaints [about hound hunters], but no numbers have been reported to substantiate this claim. Mr. [Bob] Duncan, [DGIF wildlife chief], was asked about the number of complaints, and was unable to give an estimate. We would like to be informed of the specific number and nature of the complaints, which sparked this study.

The study will be expensive. We have not been told the cost, but Virginia Tech advertised the assistant’s position at $30,000 per year with full faculty benefits. We do not see this as a judicious use of our licensing fees.

The profile of the focus group members continues to change. The original proposal involved a group of hunters that used dogs meeting to identify problems and offering options or proposals before legislation was imposed. When the study was announced at the DGIF June meeting, it was to include not only houndsmen, but also animal-welfare group members, still hunters, hikers and landowners.

As opposition to the study arose, we were then told that 70 percent of the study participants would be houndsmen. Now we are told houndsmen will make up 50 percent. How are we to be certain that the methods are not being changed to insure a predetermined outcome?

Mr. Duncan has stated on several occasions that there may be no changes made or legislative proposals. This is very difficult to believe. The results of this study will most certainly be the basis of proposed legislation. The backing of Virginia Tech and the DGIF will give enough credence to any bill to guarantee its path through the legislature. The original process would have allowed for houndsmen to work with the DGIF to institute programs and practices that would not involve restrictive legislation.

The method by which individuals are picked to be on the focus group is also questionable. What insurance is there to guard against “cherry picking?” How can we insure that our interests are being protected? The results of inquiry into a bear baiting issue by the DGIF, resulted in a proposal to ban tracking collars. No matter how “well intended” the resulting proposal was ill conceived and misguided. The issue was baiting, not telemetry.

In short, the study is unfounded and costly. It has questionable composition, means and methods. Therefore, the results will be questionable. Since this study will be the basis of upcoming legislation that will have the backing it needs to easily pass the legislature, we find it unacceptable in its current form.

We recognize that there are issues to address. We want to be part of the solution and not have it imposed upon us. We urge all of our membership to be courteous and professional. Information on the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance can be found at vahda.org.

BRYAN MORRIS
DVM

BILL: The hound hunting debate has gotten out of hand every time it’s been brought up. I just wish people would understand that we are all hunters and if we don’t stick together in some fashion it will be the downfall of us all.

FREDDY MCGUIRE

RA Virginia Tech
Research Associate: Public Involvement and Conflict Resolution Specialist
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Virginia Tech

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences seeks to fill a full-time, term-limited research associate position with expertise in public involvement and conflict resolution in natural resource management and planning. The person in this position will work closely with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to facilitate public involvement in planning processes related to issues of importance to the agency. Primary emphasis in the first year will be on the issue of hunting with hounds in Virginia, with emphasis shifting in subsequent years to development of a land-use management plan for Virginia's state-owned wildlife management areas. Duties of the position include arranging and facilitating focus groups, advisory committee meetings and other public involvement events as well as maintaining lines of communication between Virginia Tech and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This is a special research faculty position with full faculty benefits, including tuition waiver for classes as outlined by Virginia Tech policy. The position is expected to be funded for at least 4 years but must be renewed annually.

Master's degree in fisheries & wildlife science, natural resources, or related field. Experience in one or more of the following areas: planning and public involvement in a natural resources field, conflict resolution, and meeting facilitation. Excellent communication skills. Anticipated salary is $30,000 per year with opportunities for adjustments depending on funding and performance.

Apply online at www.jobs.vt.edu , searching on posting # 070791. Attach a resume or cv, a cover letter, and a list of three professional references to the online faculty application. Review of applications will begin on September 7, 2007. Individuals with disabilities who need accommodation in the search process should contact the search committee chair, by the review date. Virginia Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. For further information contact:

Dr. Steve L. McMullin, Search Committee Chair
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321
smcmulli@vt.edu
Phone: (540) 231-8847
Fax: (540) 231-7580


Steve L. McMullin, Associate Professor
Associate Department Head
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
President-Elect, Southern Division American Fisheries Society
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321
Phone: (540) 231-8847
Fax: (540) 231-7580

STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN H. KIRBY BURCH

This fight is not about the DGIF study, it is about a Governor that has stacked the Board of DGIF with folks that will do his will regardless of the consequences. The study is a distraction, a ruse. He has already said to "friends" that he will introduce legislation to make it a misdemeanor to leave a dog out for more than 3 days (maybe he will teach us to talk to them so they will come home more quickly)! He says he is going to end the chase seasons on all game during spring turkey, fall archery and muzzle-loading seasons. His divide and conquer tactics will only work if we Sportsmen don't reach out to non-dog hunting sportsmen. Remember this is the same Tim Kaine that, as Mayor of the City of Richmond, used taxpayer money to send six bus loads of demonstrators to the "Million Mom March Against Guns" in Washington D.C. When confronted with the facts by the Richmond Times Dispatch, he lied about it. After they stayed on him, Kaine said he did it, but that he had the authority to do so. A week later he finally agreed that he should repay the money! Six months later a group of prominent liberals re-paid the money (but no interest).

This time Tim Kaine is using Sportsmen's license money to fund a bogus study to distract you. The study is going to release its findings in 2008 or 2009 in time for the next Governor to deal with. But Tim Kaine already has the conclusions he wants and has told "friends" about them! He will introduce them after this year's elections on November 6. You probably won't hear about them in the newspaper because they will be covered up with budget stories. P.E.T.A. and the Humane Society of the US are the groups behind this effort. Animal rights activists have made this a major political issue and the Governor is going to listen to his allies.

The real issue before the Sportsmen of Virginia is the conduct of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Do we want an agency that defends hunters and promotes our Heritage instead of treating us as if we are all criminals? Do we want to support an agency that puts law enforcement ahead of resource stewardship? Millions have been spent for non-game programs, while quail populations have dwindled with little or no funding for research or habitat improvement. Wildlife biologists have complained that State Parks do a better job of managing wildlife resources than they are allowed to do on Wildlife Management areas! Do we want an agency that spends our license money for their personal use and is generally wasteful of its financial resources and then cries for more money and higher license fees?

For too long DGIF has promoted its arrest of game violators with press releases telling of more than a hundred criminal violations only to get convictions on four or five charges because the rest were trumped up! DGIF has many dedicated professional staff members that are our friends, but they are being driven out of the agency by poor treatment and even poorer management!

We need to return a Department of Game and Inland Fisheries devoted to promoting our sport, in the schools, colleges and universities of Virginia so that mothers raising their children will want to be involved in a wholesome family oriented activity that promotes individual responsibility, self reliance and stewardship of our God given resources.

Remember that the Governor proposes, but the General Assembly disposes. This battle will be fought and won or lost in the legislature. On November 6, 2007, every member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate will be up for grabs. If you aren't registered to vote, do it today, you only have until October 9th. Then go and talk to all candidates running in your area and see where they stand on the issues. If they won't pledge to SPECIFICALLY support your Heritage then don't vote for them! Elect No Strangers. If you don't go in person to see your legislators, phone them. They pay little attention to email messages and none to petitions. Remember to be polite and disagree only when you can be civil or be quiet!

You all need to do this today! Excuses will not mean much if you have to tell your child or grandchildren that we used to be able to hunt in Virginia. The people of Great Britain have lost fox hunting, the Australians have lost the right to own guns and we have let them take God from our schools... How much more are you going to let them get away with??? More than Ten Thousand Virginians have joined the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance and Commonwealth Sportsmen's Alliance standing shoulder to shoulder to stop this nonsense.

H. Kirby Burch
Chairman
Commonwealth Sportsmen's Alliance PAC
P.O. Box 657
Powhatan, Virginia 23139

Join VIRGINIA HUNTING DOG ALLIANCE TODAY AND PROTECT YOUR HERITAGE.- click on this link- http://vahda.org

Statement by H. Kirby Burch

The study was originally and continues to be about hunting with all hounds. It is hard for anyone that has been following this issue from the beginning to believe that this was caused by the hunters actions. It was created by putting the regulatory issues on the World Wide Web. It only took one individual to start the complaints, real or imagined, rolling.

Keep in mind that DGIF took ONE incident of three bear hunters using tracking collars to monitor a bait for DGIF to propose a ban on tracking collars in 2005!

THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS CLOSE AND WE NEED ALL VIRGINIA HUNTERS TO SUPPORT OUR FIGHT TO RESTRUCTURE THE DGIF.

Help protect Virginia's Outdoor Sporting Heritage!

Send your Donation TODAY!

Checks can be made payable to VHDA and mailed to:

Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance
P.O. Box 657
Powhatan, Virginia 23139

Corporate donations are welcome and appreciated!

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/breaking/wb/141713

VDGIF terminates director
J. Carlton Courter III joined the department last November.
By Mark Taylor / The Roanoke Times

The man hired last year to help the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries recover from a painful scandal didn’t last as long as the search to find him took.

The department’s board of directors fired J. Carlton Courter III on Friday, 13 months after Courter was hired — following a 16-month search.

Board member Sherry Crumley of Buchanan said Courter’s dismissal was not related to any wrongdoing.

“There were absolutely no improprieties,” said Crumley, one of eight board members who attended the specially convened meeting Friday to discuss Courter’s performance. “Carlton is a very fine person.

“We just felt that the agency needed to have some new direction.”

The board’s vote to dismiss Courter was unanimous. The firing took effect immediately, and Courter will receive 30 days of severance pay.

Col. Mike Bise, head of the agency’s Law Enforcement Division, will serve as the acting director during the search for a permanent director.

Bise was set to retire effective Jan. 1, but will extend his employment during the search.

The board hopes to have a permanent director in place by Feb. 1, said board chairman Jimmy Hazel, who called Bise the “obvious” choice to head the agency in the interim.

Crumley said she’s confident that the search will be much briefer than the previous one because the department is in better shape now, and therefore more attractive to potential candidates.

“We feel like the department is on very stable ground right now,” she said.

The previous director, Bill Woodfin, was forced to resign in May 2005 after a state auditor’s investigation uncovered among some senior agency leaders patterns of cronyism, retaliation and fiscal improprieties, including spending agency money on gear for a personal safari to Africa.

Woodfin, along with former senior game wardens Terry Bradbery and Michael Caison, were recently indicted on charges of misuse or misappropriation of state funds.

After Woodfin left, retired Virginia State Police superintendant Gerald Massengill served as the interim director.

Massengill’s strong leadership during the turbulent time was considered one reason the board was able to take its time finding a permanent replacement.
The search drew 78 applicants from around the country.

“The pool was rich and deep,” said board member Billy Greer of Norfolk the day Courter was introduced. “This has been the most elaborate, deep, thorough search I’ve ever been involved in.”

Courter, an Amelia County native who graduated from Virginia Tech in 1979 with a degree in dairy science, was the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture from 1994 until he took over the DGIF, which manages Virginia’s boating, hunting and freshwater fishing resources.

Staff writer Michael Sluss contributed to this report.

john M. Morse, Jr.

Dec 6, 07 - 2:57 PM VGIF Group Participant

I attended one of the VGIF Focus Group Meetings in Emporia on December 3, 2007. The meeting was comprised of 3 moderators from Virginia Tech, 17 deer houndsmen from the Southeast region of the State, and one sharp as a tack houndswoman. We were questioned in very general terms about our basic hunting backgrounds, and provided information as to "what dog hunting means to us". I can assure everyone that the overall message of how important dog hunting is to us was delievered appropriately and completly.

Despite this, I and several otehrs whom I have spoken to continue to have an ever increasing skepticism of this entire process and its ultimate goal. With this in mind, I strongly urge all supporters of any form of dog hunting to become a member of the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance, and its political action committe, Commonwealth SportsMen's Alliance. I have had contact with H. Kirby Burch of this group, and am very impressed with his depth of knowledge regarding this situtation (please refer to the post of Derick Ratcliffe dated 11/28/07 for a statement by Mr. Burch).

At any rate, I intend to work at organizing all hound hunters in the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach area. Please feel free to contact me regarding this effort.

I'm sure you agree this is worth our time, money and effort.

Sincerely,
John M. Morse, Jr.
3636 Ballahack Rd
Chesapeake, VA 23322
757-421-0822
Email: john.morse@vadoc.virginia.gov


Mike Cobb

Dec 7th, 2007 - 5:41 AM Re: VGIF Group Participant

I was at the same meeting Mr. Morse. I agree with you 100%. I found it odd how our invitation was worded concerning how "focus group" meetings worked. I believe it said they would ask us questions and see how we responded. I only remember 1 question being asked, the one you mentioned, that broke the ice and discussion got started. I hope that all who read on this board will join VHDA, make the necessary calls to your congressmen, senators, as well as the Gov. and express your displeasure with what is going on. Then write or e mail whomever your board member is on the VDGIF. I feel this is a winnable fight if everyone does what they should and let their voices be heard!

ARTICLE IN CULPEPPER NEWS PAPER DEC 2, 2007

Critical time for hound hunting
Paula Lorentzen
Former professional horsewoman turned Realtor
Sunday, December 2, 2007


Hunting has been the cornerstone of the Department of Inland Fisheries Department since its creation, along with fishing, of course. Their main focus is wildlife population management and recreation.

In recent years, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has received an increasing number of comments and complaints regarding the use of dogs for hunting in Virginia. The level and tone of these documents has become increasingly challenging, suggesting strongly that they examine more closely the issues surrounding hunting hounds. One only has to look across the Atlantic, to Great Britain, to see the devastating effects on a way of life the recent ban on hunting with hounds has created.

The time for ignoring this issue is long past. The future of hunting in Virginia is tied to dog hunting. This issue involves all hunters because it could impact all hunting. As an organization that represents hunters, the VDGIF is committed to working through any issues related to hunting with hounds.

The VDGIF has enlisted the help of researchers at Virginia Tech to work with the public, especially the stakeholders in this issue, and come up with a solution that will benefit hunters, landowners, and the commonwealth. The decision to involve Virginia Tech was made, in large part, to guarantee that no results would be predetermined.

Focus group meetings will be held this November and December. About half of the focus groups will be made up of bear, deer, fox and raccoon hunters. The other half will be made up of outdoor enthusiasts, landowners, government representatives and other hunters. At these meetings the main issues will be determined, then a VDGIF advisory committee with work in conjunction with a technical committee throughout the year, and later in the fall of 2008, input from the public will be needed.

The Hound Hunting Technical Committee will provide information on biological and technical issues to the citizen’s advisory committee in accordance with the Code of Virginia requirement that the agency use sound science to regulate wildlife. This committee is made up of Wildlife Biologists and Law Enforcement officers.

Now is your chance to be heard by becoming involved in this important study. Input from the public, particularly the hunting public is critical.

Your support and participation is vital to obtaining a positive result. Want to get involved? Take part in a survey conducted by Virginia Tech, linked through the VDGIF’s website and by mail (available early 2008). Go to public meetings held throughout the state. Receive email updates on the progress of the study throughout the project (starting in December).

In the spring and summer of 2008, the public will have the opportunity to review reports and comment on them as they are developed. Write letters and e-mails which can be included in the information to be reviewed by the advisory group. You can sign up for e-mail alerts by going to dgif.virginia.gov/houndhunting. Email letters to HoundHunting@dgif.virginia.gov.


Paula Lorentzen is a former professional horsewoman turned Realtor. Visit her website at paulalorentzen.lnfre.com

Grants Awarded to VT Steve Mcmullen


Development of a land-use management plan for virginia's wildlife management areas
Grant #: 447897
Sponsor: VA Department of Game & Inland Fish
PI: McMullin, Steve L.
Inception to Date Total: $180,431
Original Proposal #: 07267306
OSP Admin.: Caldwell, Janice S.
Program: Research
Maximum Amt: $180,431
Fund Code Financial Mgr. Department College Start Date End Date Transaction Year
447897 McMullin, Steve L. Fisheries and Wildlife Science Natural Resources Aug 1, 2007 Jun 30, 2011 $180,431 2008
Total Transactions: $180,431

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunting with hounds in virginia
Grant #: 447898
Sponsor: VA Department of Game & Inland Fish
PI: McMullin, Steve L.
Inception to Date Total: $79,443
Original Proposal #: 07267306
OSP Admin.: Caldwell, Janice S.
Program: Research
Maximum Amt: $79,443
Fund Code Financial Mgr. Department College Start Date End Date Transaction Year
447898 McMullin, Steve L. Fisheries and Wildlife Science Natural Resources Aug 1, 2007 Jun 30, 2011 $79,443 2008
Total Transactions: $79,443

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