Virginia hunters need to act now!

Virgina residents have a chance to change the current law and legalize the use of tracking dogs to track injured deer. Read the article in the Roanoke Times written by Mark Taylor.

As the article says:

Last winter, the General Assembly passed legislation that allows the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to lift the prohibition on using leashed tracking dogs to assist in the recovery of big game.

At a meeting in Richmond last week, the DGIF board took the next step, approving for public comment the change. The public comment period opened Friday and runs through June 24. The board will vote on the proposal at its next meeting, on July 12.

Written comments can be emailed to regcomments@dgif.virginia.gov or mailed to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Attn. Policy Analyst and Regulatory Coordinator, 4016 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23230.

Another option -- the one most residents take when commenting on proposed regulations changes -- is to use the DGIF's proposal comment online forum.

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4 VAC 15-90-260


Game: Deer: Hunting with dogs prohibited in certain counties or areas

Summary:

The proposal is to make it lawful to use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or dead deer during the deer archery season(s), muzzleloading deer season(s), and the general firearms deer season(s) in certain counties or areas of Virginia.

Proposed language of amendment:

4 VAC 15-90-260. Hunting with dogs prohibited in certain counties and areas.

A. Generally. It shall be unlawful to hunt deer with dogs in the counties of Amherst (west of U.S. Route 29), Bedford, Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad, and in the City of Lynchburg), Fairfax, Franklin, Henry, Loudoun, Nelson (west of Route 151), Northampton, Patrick and Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad); and on the Amelia, Chester F. Phelps, G. Richard Thompson and Pettigrew Wildlife Management Areas, except that tracking dogs as defined in §29.1-516.1 may be used.

B. Special provision for Greene and Madison counties. It shall be unlawful to hunt deer with dogs during the first 12 hunting days in the counties of Greene and Madison, except that deer tracking dogs as defined in §29.1-516.1 may be used.

Rationale:

During the 2011 General Assembly session, a bill was passed (HB 1889) making it legal to use tracking dogs that are maintained and controlled on a lead to find and retrieve wounded or dead bear and deer in Virginia. This legislation allows for such retrieval anywhere in Virginia during the archery, muzzleloader, and firearms hunting season for these species provided that those who are involved in the retrieval effort have permission to hunt on or to access the land being searched and do not have any weapons in their possession. This proposal will bring the Department’s current regulation prohibiting the use of dogs while hunting deer in line with the Code of Virginia.


VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- 2011 SESSION CHAPTER 459

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 29.1-516.1, relating to tracking dogs.

[H 1889]

Approved March 24, 2011

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 29.1-516.1 as follows:

§ 29.1-516.1. Using tracking dogs to retrieve bears or deer.

Tracking dogs maintained and controlled on a lead may be used to find a wounded or dead bear or deer statewide during any archery, muzzleloader, or firearm bear or deer hunting season, or within 24 hours of the end of such season, provided that those who are involved in the retrieval effort have permission to hunt on or to access the land being searched and do not have any weapons in their possession.