Legislation that would have targeted dogs hunters with heavy fines has failed to pass the Virginia House of Delegates. House Bill 1900, sponsored by Speaker William Howell (R- Fredericksburg), was voted down in the House of Delegates with a narrow vote of 47 in favor and 48 against.
This bill proposed to penalize hunters who use hounds that might stray from the pack and end up on the property of another person. It also requires landowners to give written notice or to display signs to prevent trespassing.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance, Masters of Foxhounds, many local fox hunters and other hunting organizations voiced strong objections to the bill. While there are times when a dog may stray from the pack, many hunting organizations have a code of ethics to help prevent this from occurring. One concern about House Bill 1900 was that some of the regulations were not well defined, such as what constitutes “self-hunting” dog. In addition, HB 1900 would have allowed local governments to further interpret these terms and to decide when to enforce them. This sets up the potential for differing local laws in adjacent communities, a real concern for law-abiding sportsmen.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.