Hunting with Hounds in Virginia: A Way Forward
Latest Updates
- Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting Summaries (updated)
- Focus Group Meeting Summaries (16 of 16 Posted)
- Informal Survey
- April 2008 Update (PDF)
- New Stakeholder Advisory Committee Members - Biographies Added
- Statement in Response to False Accusations
- About the Stakeholder Advisory Committee
- About the Virginia Tech Facilitators
- January 2008 Update
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Adaptive Wildlife Management: Merging the Then with the Now
- Technical Committee Selected
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The Department's goal in addressing the issues surrounding hunting with hounds in Virginia is:
“To provide diverse opportunities for hunting with hounds in Virginia in a manner that is fair, sportsmanlike and consistent with the rights of property owners and other citizens.”
Recognizing the need for hunting as an essential wildlife management tool and as a popular recreational activity, the Department is committed to:
- promoting hunting in Virginia that meets the highest standards of ethics and sportsmanship;
- ensuring that the tradition of hunting with hounds in Virginia continues;
- addressing the interests of hunters, landowners and other citizens.
Learn More:
Why look at hound hunting issues?
In recent years, we at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries have received an increasing number of comments and complaints regarding the use of dogs for hunting in Virginia. While this is certainly not a new issue, the level and tone of these comments has become increasingly challenging, suggesting strongly that we examine more closely, in a proactive and positive fashion, the relationship between hound hunters and other citizens of the Commonwealth. The time for ignoring this issue, as some have suggested, is long past.
Input from the public, particularly the hunting public, is key to the process
The process that we are using to accomplish this task is one that has been used very successfully to explore and resolve contentious issues many times in the past. One of the key attributes of this process is the complete and total involvement of the public, from beginning to end, especially the primary issue stakeholders. This process will not be led by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries staff; rather experienced researchers at Virginia Tech will manage and conduct the project. The decision to involve Virginia Tech was made, in large part, to guarantee that no results would be predetermined.
The process includes many avenues for interested citizens to participate. The public input opportunities include focus group meetings with individual stakeholder groups, a survey conducted through the Department's Web site, ample opportunity to review all developments, public meetings and by letter or email. About half of the focus groups will be made up of bear, deer, fox and raccoon hound hunters. The remainder of the focus groups will be populated by landowners, government representatives, other hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
Let's work together to make this process work
Your participation and support for this undertaking is vital to insuring a successful and positive result. Working together, we can continue to provide diverse opportunities for hunting with hounds in Virginia in a manner that is fair, sportsmanlike and consistent with the rights of property owners and other citizens.