SURVEY: LEGALITY OF GPS WITH DOGS

[RIFLEMAN]

Hi Guys,

The introduction of GPS into our sport will certainly be among the most important innovations for hound hunting that we will ever experience in our lifetimes.

In order to better understand the extent to which houndsmen use GPS, I am attempting to create a map indicating where GPS is explicitly legal (regulations exist that authorize it), explicitly illegal (regulations exist that prohibit it), and where no official position is taken (regulations do not exist at all). Rather than calling every single wildlife agency myself (which I will do if I absolutely have to), I am hoping you all can provide me with much of the data. I am interested in all US states, Canadian provinces, and other countries. Once it is completed, I would certainly be more than willing to post the color-coded map to the forum for everyone's reference.

If you are 100% certain of your location's laws relating to the use of GPS for dogs used in conjunction with the pursuit of mammals, I would greatly appreciate it if you could reply with a general indication of the nature of the regulations or provisions and your home state, province, or country. As an example, it is explicitly illegal to use GPS with hounds in the State of California, but not with bird dogs.

Thank you to everyone willing and able to help!

[FullCryHounds]

Legal In Colorado for all types of game, no official position has been taken.

[Dads dogboy]

No Official Position in AR, MS, legal determinations in TX, FL, GA, NC, SC. These are hound running States.

C. John Clay

[Big Mike]

Legal in NM

[sonofabeach]

Legal in Utah

[R.M.]

Of course...illegal in CA.

[wyatte]

Now I've heard that there is some question as to the GPS for Ca. "they" say that because the Garmin is not a true GPS but a FM type system that they may be legal, the argument is that if they were a true GPS that there would not be a distance limitation on the system, I've e-mailed Garmin with this question but have not heard back from them.
Does any body know for sure?

[tman308]

AZ has no position on the GPS itself just that the hunter has to be present when the dogs are released and throughout the hunt. (New Reg this year)

[R.M.]

Wyatte,

You had me second-guess myself. I looked up the 08-09 regs. and they read as follows:

(d) Prohibition on Treeing Switches and Use of Global Positioning System Equipment.
(2) Global Positioning System Equipment. Electronic dog retrieval collars employing the use of global positioning system equipment (devices that utilize satellite transmissions) are prohibited on dogs used for the pursuit/take of mammals.

So according to the regs. Any devices that “utilize satellite transmissions” are prohibited. Please don’t let me stop you from trying the Garmin, or looking into it further, but as far as the California wardens I’ve dealt with, I wouldn’t risk it.

R.M.

[livetohunt]

One other new law or chaged law to go in this year here in Cal. is the treeing switches will include all treeing switches, Not only the mercury treeing switch but now to include the magnetic treeing switch. I guess they had something in the laws they over looked and it was still ok till this change to use a magnetic treeing switch in Cal????

[Mikes Hero]

Legal in Idaho.... And I hope it does not change. With the state of the wolf situation, it is very important to get to your dog as quickly as possible.

[jimmyd]

Legal in Kansas.

[Cat track]

Minnesota is ok as far as i can tell.

[Bluehoundsman]

legal in PA NY and i believe WV

[jhelvik]

Legal in Montana