Hunting with hounds is under attack in Alabama!

[TomMN]

This is from the PKC web site:

Alabama is a state with a strong hunting heritage. Alabama is also a state that has an amendment to its constitution that guarantees the right to hunt. Despite these facts, Alabama is about to loose a sport that is as much a part of its tradition as is Southeastern Conference football.
The Conservation Advisory Board, a ten member panel, five of which were appointed by Governor Bob Riley has passed by a vote of 7 to 3 a measure that will severely limit all forms of dog hunting in Alabama unless we can get the Governor’s ear to hear our story.

Regulation 2003-WFF-4 (Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries) is the culprit and it’s passage will be the greatest affront to the right to hunt since the first hound was released there in pursuit of game more than 200 years ago. Here’s what the regulation says:

Section 1. Rule 220-2-112, entitled “Dog Deer Hunting”, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“220-2-122 Use of dogs for hunting. (Note: The former wording was “Dog Deer Hunting.”

(1) All dogs used for taking or attempting to take, trailing, pursuing, or molesting wildlife shall wear a collar or tag which shall legibly display the name and address of the owner of the dog. No person shall use any dog to take or attempt to take, trail, pursue or molest wildlife unless such dog is wearing a collar or tag displaying the information required above.

(2) Except as provided in Section 9-11-242 Code of Alabama, 1975, no person owning, having the care of, or using any dog shall permit such dog to trail, pursue, or molest wildlife on the lands of another person without written permission from the landowner or lessee of said lands. Written permission shall be in the possession of each person using such dog on the lands of another person, and shall be presented for inspection upon request of any law enforcement officer. It shall not be necessary to prove a specific intent to violate this regulation. The unauthorized presence of a dog trailing or pursuing wildlife on the lands of another shall constitute a prima facia case of the violation of this regulation.

(3) No person owning or having the care of any dog shall knowingly or negligently permit such dog to trail, pursue, or otherwise molest game during the closed season except as otherwise provided by law or regulation.

(4) Informational Note: Also see Rule 220-2-16 on training bird dogs and Rule 220-2-17 on organized field trials.”

Section 2. The penalty for the violation of any of the provisions of this regulation shall be as provided by law.

Section 3. This regulation shall become effective on the 36th day after filing with the Legislative Reference Service.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of office to be affixed in the City of Montgomery on this the ____ day of _____________, 2003.

M. Barnett Lawley, Commissioner
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

CALL TO ACTION:

In order to stop this effort to ticket hunting dogs for trespassing and to limit dog hunting in Alabama to the so-called “kill” seasons beginning September 2nd each year and ending the last of the following February, we MUST WRITE TO GOVERNOR BOB RILEY! Here is a “sample letter” but please, use your own words to express your disapproval of this action.

Governor Bob Riley:

As a member of the hunting community in the State of Alabama, I am writing to you to ask for your assistance in preserving the rich heritage of hunting with dogs in our state.

I believe the sport of our fathers, grandfathers, and their grandfathers for generations will be destroyed by the actions of the Game and Fish Advisory Board in its recent passage of Regulation 2003-WFF-4 (Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries) should you choose to sign this regulation into law.

Under the wording of Regulation 2003-WFF-4 (Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries), Section 1., Rule 220-2-112, dogs will be expected to recognize property boundaries, read posted signs, and in general, hunt only on the lands upon which they are released. Anyone that hunts with dogs, be they beagles, bird dogs, retrievers, coonhounds, or deer hounds knows that would be an impossibility. While I agree dogs should only be released where permission is granted, hunters should be permitted to retrieve their dogs without fear of arrest should the dog fail to recognize common boundaries.

Further, the restriction of dog training to the taking seasons only as found in item 3 of this regulation will severely limit the training and conditioning of hunting dogs. To my knowledge, no state in the union limits the training of hunting dogs strictly to the taking seasons. Hunting dogs must be exercised and trained, without the taking of game of course, year ‘round. Game and fish agencies across the nation recognize this and provide training seasons for dog hunters throughout the closed season for taking game.

Please do not sign Regulation 2003-WFF-4 (Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries) into law. To do so will destroy the long tradition of hunting with dogs on all kinds of game in our state.

Sincerely,

PLEASE USE THIS EXAMPLE AND DRAFT YOUR LETTER TO GOVERNOR BOB RILEY AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

Governor Bob Riley
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue, Room N-104
Montgomery, AL 36130

ALSO DRAFT A SIMILAR LETTER TO COMMISSIONER M. BARNETT LAWLEY at the following address:

Mr. M. Barnett Lawley, Commissioner
Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 1450
Montgomery, AL 36130-1450 or call Mr. Lawley at (334) 242-3486 and express your disapproval of this regulation.

This alert a service of the Regulatory Affairs Department of Professional Kennel Club, Inc. For more information call Steve Fielder, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Regulatory Affairs, Professional Kennel Club, Inc. at (269) 321-1814.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW. We must convince Governor Bob Riley not to sign this into law!

NOTE: The Alabama Dog Hunter’s Association will hold a meeting on this issue at the Senior Citizen’s Building in Citronella, Alabama on Friday, June 30th at 7:00 PM. All individuals in south Alabama should make plans to attend this meeting.

You do not have to be from Alabama to write the Governor and voice your opinion. You can e-mail him here:
http://www.governor.state.al.us/contact.htm

[Bob Kane]

That's only a little onerous than HB845, in the Georgia legislature. At least in GA, sportsmen can deal with elected representatives.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT


To amend Code Section 27-3-17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hunting deer with dogs, so as to require permits for such hunting; to prohibit hunting deer with dogs at certain times; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:


SECTION 1.

Code Section 27-3-17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hunting deer with dogs, is amended by adding new subsections to read as follows:
"(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer with dogs on any tract of real property unless a permit for hunting deer with dogs has been issued by the department for such tract to the owner or owners of such tract or the lessee of deer hunting rights for such tract. A permit for hunting deer with dogs shall not be issued for any tract of real property that is less than 1,000 contiguous acres. Any application for a permit for hunting deer with dogs shall be on such form as prescribed by the department; shall be accompanied by the required application fee; and shall include a written description of the tract boundaries and a map showing key features such as public roads or streams on or bordering the tract and occupied dwellings on adjacent properties. The application must be signed by all persons owning any portion of the tract of real property or an authorized agent thereof. The application fee for such permit shall be $200.00 for an annual permit or $50.00 for a one-day permit.
(d) The owner of any dog that is used for hunting deer must cause such dog to be identified at all times during the hunt with the permit number for the tract being hunted.
(e) Any person operating a motor vehicle used in conducting a deer hunt with dogs shall during such hunt clearly display in the lower corner of the driver´s side of the front or rear windshield of such motor vehicle a decal or card with white background showing the tract permit number in numerals not less than two inches high.
(f) The department shall thoroughly investigate for validity any complaints from adjacent property owners regarding hunting deer with dogs in violation of this title or rules and regulations issued pursuant to this title. The commissioner may take action against a permit as provided by Code Section 27-2-25 for violations of the provisions of this title or rules and regulations issued pursuant to this title occurring on the tract of real property for which the permit was issued.
(g) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer with dogs on any Sunday."

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/