EDITOR’S NOTE: In several states, the time-honored practice of hunting deer with dogs has come under fire. Landowners and dog owners have clashed in Virginia and Alabama, raising the possibility that dog hunting will eventually be banned. In today’s edition, Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources’ Dave Rainer tells of the ongoing controversy in that state. As you’ll see, the question of dogs is not limited to any single area.
Before a crowd that spilled into the hallway outside the State Capitol Auditorium, The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board heard the usual impassioned pleas on both sides of the dog deer hunting issue, as well as a group of dog hunters who have seldom been heard before – fox hunters.
It is against state law and wildlife regulations for anyone to trap and transport a live fox or coyote, which are used by fox hunters in enclosures around the state to run their fox hounds. Without the ability to restock the chase animals, fox hunters said they will soon be dead in the water.
“Fox hunting is one of the oldest sports in the nation,” Kyle Blakeley said, a statement that was echoed by several in the pro-fox hunting crowd. “It’s all about the sounds of the hounds. The foxes and coyotes are never hurt. We treat them as well as we do our dogs. We just need a way to transport foxes and coyotes to our fox pens.”
Barnett Lawley, Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Board member Dr. Warren Strickland said although they are sympathetic to the fox hunters’ plight, the issue is much more complicated.
“I don’t want the dog hunters to feel this board is anti dog hunting,” Strickland said. “The issue we have with dog hunting is the inability to control the dogs. The fox hunters are doing it right. They have moved their hunting into the pens and trying to abide by the law. But we have to make sure we’re not spreading disease. We feel that rabies is a real big issue with the trapping and transfer of the animals that has to be resolved.”
Lawley added, “We have to check with the Department of Public Health. If it’s a health issue for the people of Alabama, it trumps everything we can do.”
Meanwhile, the dog deer hunters again asked that the board not reduce their ability to pursue their favorite pastime.
“It’s not the method of hunting that’s the problem,” said Don Knight of the Alabama Dog Hunters Association, “it’s a people problem. Don’t punish the method of hunting.”
Teenager Adam Lesley of Tuscaloosa read to the Board the reasons dog deer hunting was so important to him and his family. He talked of the sounds of the dogs on a trail, the leaves rustling from the sounds of the deer heading his way and the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He concluded that it would be a shame if people were unable to experience the feeling he gets during a dog drive.
However, there were almost as many people in attendance who said that dog deer hunting ruined their ability to enjoy the outdoors and trampled on their rights as landowners.
Marc Garrett of Pike County said his plans to provide the perfect hunting getaway for him and his son had been ruined by dog deer hunters.
“Four years ago I bought a piece of property that I’m paying a hefty mortgage on to have a place to take my son hunting,” Garrett said. “We didn’t even hunt it this year, because there are 100 dog hunters lined up along the road.
“They do not respect the landowner’s rights. As a landowner, your rights are more important than the privileges of dog hunting.”
Garrett may get relief at the March 8 Conservation Advisory Board meeting at Guntersville State Park Lodge. Board member Louis Coles of Enterprise said Saturday that he would introduce a motion to limit dog deer hunting in Coffee, Butler and Pike counties.
Fayette County has also been in the forefront of the dog deer hunting issue. A special operation was conducted in Fayette County over the course of the deer season and 19 arrests were made. Arrest warrants were issued in 10 additional cases.
The violations included hunting from a public road, hunting without permission, as well as hunting deer with dogs in a county (Lamar) closed to dog deer hunting. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation and Alabama Department of Agriculture assisted Conservation Enforcement Officers from the ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division in the operation.
Board member Johnny Johnson of Tuscaloosa, who experienced first-hand a violation of hunting from a public road on his property, said the fines are not in line with the violations.
“I’d like to see the Advisory Board support an increase in fines for game-law violations,” said Johnson. “All we’re doing is slapping their hands. I’d like for us to go on record in support of an increase in fines. This supposedly is being done in the Legislature, where it has to be done, but we need to be on record supporting it.”
Board member Raymond Jones of Huntsville agreed and cited a perfect example where higher fines resulted in far fewer violations.
“I would like to second what Mr. Johnson said,” Jones said. “I had the pleasure of hunting in Texas this past winter, and they had a section of road that had over 400 cases (violations). Texas passed legislation that made it a very stiff fine. This past year, they had two violations. So I think we need to go on record to support this legislation.”
---DAVID RAINER