Senate Joint Resolution 330 (2007-2008 Session)

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This is very interesting. Being an opponent of dog hunting, I view this as a first step in addressing this issue. This is asking who should regulate it?

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Quote::

A JOINT RESOLUTION Authorizing the legislative research commission to study the regulation of deer hunting with dogs.

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1. The Legislative Research Commission may study the regulation of deer hunting with dogs and determine whether it is more appropriate to authorize the Wildlife Resources Commission to use its discretion to regulate hunting with dogs or whether the General Assembly should regulate it by statute. The membership of the committee assigned to study this issue should contain a balance of citizens representing the interests of both landowners and deer hunters who use dogs. The Commission may make recommendations on the appropriate means of regulating deer hunting with dogs, including any proposed legislation for consideration by the 2007 General Assembly, Regular Session 2008, and the 2009 General Assembly.

SECTION 2. The Legislative Research Commission may make an interim report to the 2007 General Assembly, Regular Session 2008, and shall make its final report to the 2009 General Assembly upon its convening.

SECTION 3. This resolution is effective upon ratification.

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I will be contacting this "Legislative Research Commission" once I know who they are. Obviously, this is not a deer herd management issue so the regulation of this activity should NOT be given to the NCWRC, unless... (see below). This is more of a safety and legal issue, not herd management. It belongs in the hands of our legislators since it deals with both hunters and non-hunters.

BUT---
If the NCWRC is going to regulate it, then they must change their stance against dog hunting. Their support of dog hunting has been noted elsewhere in this website because of their revenue gained from these hunters. If they are to regulate this activity, then they have to be just as open to non-hunters as they are to hunters. This I don't see happening any time soon until they are solely or mostly funded from tax revenues, not funded from their own internally generated income (licenses, registrations, etc.)
If the WRC were to regulate this, then I would suggest that the WRC institute some kind system whereby only established clubs with a mininum of a very LARGE tract of land available to hunt on would be given a permit to utilize dogs as a method of taking wild animals (deer, bear, etc.) This permit would be granted on a conditional basis as long as the club generates no complaints from others. This I feel would allow for the continuation of the sport while reducing the complaints. If not, then make it illegal to run dogs, period.