Ga. Dog Hunting under further attack

[noonebil]

Tonight's Brunswick News (local paper) has an article discussing hunting deer with dogs. It recaps the measures put in place last spring to help control dogs & that further legislation is being considered to eliminate the practice all together.
I am not an avid dog hunter, but do not see any ethical reason to eliminate the practice. I believe the current regulations (if law enforcement will act on them) is enough.
I am petetioning my legislators to support the dog hunters of Georgia & not eliminate the practice. If eliminated, it won't be long before the folks that use dogs for bear, coon, fox, quail, & dove will find their sport threatened.

[Shorthair]

We have a new organization here in Georgia to help protect our hunting hertiage in Atlanta next session. It's called Georgia Hunting & Fishing Federation. I would encourage all sportsman to join not just dog hunters. They have many legislative inititives they are supporting and not only protecting dog hunting. We have been very politically active already and have had meetings with Sonny Purdue. Governer Purdue even attended the Brunswick Chapter of GHFF meeting in December. He told them at the meeting that he was in full support of keeping dog hunting legal but he can't pass laws by himself.
Here is the web site for the Georgia Hunting & Fishing Federation:

www.ghff.org/

[noonebil]

Thanks for the info. I'll pass it on.

[flhuntress]

is that for georgia only or does florida have one too?

[Shorthair]

At this stage they're only in Georgia but they just started up back in September.

[BUCKINTHEWOODZ]

I know theres alot of ticked off dog hunters, espiically those that werent aware of the new changes this year for certain acreage to run dogs. noonebill, looks like were neighbors, i live pretty close by in s.e. ga

[noonebil]

Emailed Sen. Eric Johnson (from my area). He assured me he was supporting legislation to fix some of the problems (fee, responsibility, acrage limits, etc) with the current dog hunting legislation. He is also co-sponsoring a bill to make hunting a constitutional right in Georgia.

Jerry Keen (representative from my area) did not respond to my email.

I urge all SHF members from all states to contact their government leaders with their concerns & issues. They get very few correspondence from individuals & really take it to heart when one send a very thought out email, fax, or letter. It will make a difference. At least you will be able to say you participated instead of standing by.