The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources will issue a permit for $19 to hunters who use their dogs under a House Bill that is heading to the Senate.
Del. Marty Martinez (D-Loudoun County) introduced HB 1396 which would require individuals and organizations to obtain permits to hunt with dogs game animals, fur-bearing or nuisance animals.
Virginia’s history of hunting with dogs is rich, but it has also fueled disputes between landowners and hunters over property rights. The state law allows hunters to enter private land without weapons for the sole purpose of retrieving their hunting dogs.
It will be illegal to release a hunting dog without a permit on July 1, 2027 to pursue, hunt or chase any wild game animals.
The bill requires the DWR establish procedures for issuing permits and renewing them, to set standards for hunting dog identification, and to outline guidelines for enforcement, suspension, and revocation. The bill also implements measures to prevent hunting dog from entering private properties without written or verbal consent.
HB 1396 contains some exceptions. This law does not apply to dogs that hunt waterfowl or migratory birds, nor to mounted fox hunters who ride horses. Tracking dogs can be used to retrieve wounded deer or bears, as well as turkeys and turkeys. This is allowed without a license. No permit is required for dogs that are kept under the immediate control of a hunter or when hunting on public land.
Del. Nadarius C. Clark, D. Suffolk, is the co-patron. “It is just adding guardrails to it.”
Clark, DWR’s Director, said that the DWR would have a list of hunters who retrieve game or dogs with dogs, while still preserving their rights. Guns should be unloaded if they are retrieving dogs on someone else’s land.
Clark stated that the bill was developed with input from landowners and hunters to address concerns, resulting in “peace” in the valley.
Clark stated that they were not trying to undermine the Second Amendment but rather ensuring responsible gun ownership, protecting landowners and honoring dog hunting culture.
Supporters of HB1396 urge lawmakers pass the bill, claiming that the state needs better oversight. Chris Patton a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and supporter of HB 1396 said that a permit system was becoming more relevant.
In his testimony before the House Agriculture Subcommittee, Patton stated that there were 1,276 deer dog hunting complaints in Virginia last year. “That’s an increase of 19% over the previous year and there has been a rise in complaints every year for the past 10 years.”
According to Patton, the department recognized that Virginia’s problem was growing in 2016, and said it would be necessary to implement a permit-based system in the next decade.
The bill’s opponents claim that it ignores previous recommendations, adds an unnecessarily burdensome burden to hunters and fails to address rural concerns.
Kirby Birch, of the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance, testified that “yes, this issue has been around for a very long time.” It’s been studied and debated. It’s a fact that if they don’t like the solutions or don’t wish to accept them, then they will continue to fight.
A stakeholder advisory group met with local government representatives and other organizations for over a week to develop recommendations on how to resolve conflicts. Birch stated that the group did not make a recommendation for requiring permits. Members called instead for increased training and staffing of conservation police officers, as well as increased funding for DWR.
DWR has collected studies from 2008 about “hunting with Hounds in Virginia”. These studies offer potential solutions for resolving the conflicts. The issue has been addressed by lawmakers in the past. In 2024, SB30 amendments directed the DWR instead of amending the state codes to develop a permit that was free for hunting with dogs. SB 7012 was also introduced in the same year and attempted to penalize hunting dogs released on public roads. However, it failed.
According to the current proposal violations could result in a civil fine of $50 or more for a first offence, and $100-$250 for any subsequent offenses committed within three years. The fines collected would go into the Game Protection Fund of the state. Repeated violations may result in the suspension or revocation of a permit.
The bill was passed by the House with a vote of 55-39, with some Democrats voting against it and others not voting.
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