Department of Wildlife Resources Votes Against Dog Trapper Restriction Proposals

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – After a 6-3 vote, the Department of Wildlife Resources rejected two proposals regarding requiring gundog hunters to keep their dogs off private property while hunting.

One idea proposed was to require the use of GPS collars on dogs to better track them; the other would force hunters to make a reasonable effort to keep their dogs off the property. Virginia Property Rights Alliance spokesman Chris Patton said he has had 35 different problems on his property with dog catchers this year, and with the changes denied, it may lead to even bigger problems in the future.

“The most reasonable action is for dog hunters to simply be responsible, take control of their animals and keep their hunting dogs on land where they have permission to hunt… You simply cannot use someone else’s property without their permission,” Patton said. “If we don’t regulate dog hunting in Virginia in a meaningful way, ultimately it will completely end dog hunting in Virginia, because eventually, some kind of cataclysmic event will occur that (will) cause the state to act.”

Patton said the issue may not be resolved until it is taken to court; You don’t know when changes will be made.