Senate Bill 1280, sponsored by Senator Dave Marsden (D- Burke), passed out of the Virginia State Senate by a 24 to 16 vote. The bill would ban the state’s long tradition of field trialing in enclosures. These events are already required to take place on areas that are at least 100 acres in size. Further restrictions on field trials are absolutely unnecessary.
Senate Bill 1280 is the first step to banning all hunting with dogs or field trialing.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee Tuesday, February 12th at 7:30 A.M. Sportsmen must speak out in opposition to Senate Bill 1280 by contacting members of the Subcommittee today.
“The anti-hunters are trying to paint fox field trials as fenced-in dog fighting which couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance In-House Counsel. “This misinformation is just an underhanded tactic to pass this legislation and is just another step towards their ultimate goal of banning the use of dogs in all hunting.”
Facts about the fox field trials that Senate Bill 1280 would ban:
- Dogs used to hunt foxes or in field trials are trained to chase foxes and are not trained or permitted to fight them;
- Field trial enclosures are required to be at least 100 acres in size, ensuring fair chase – not the small areas the anti’s suggest;
- Field trial enclosures are required by law to have a set number of areas where foxes can escape the dogs and where food and water are available;
- The field trials are required to obtain a permit from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and comply with all Department regulations.
Take Action! Virginia sportsmen are urged to contact members of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee today! Urge them to vote no on Senate Bill 1280.
House Natural Resources Subcommittee
Chairman R. Lee Ware, Jr. (R-Powhatan) (804) 698-1065
Thomas Wright Jr. (R-Victoria) (804) 698-1061
James Edmunds, II (R-South Boston) (804) 698-1060
DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov
Tony Wilt (R-Harrisonburg) (804) 698-1026
C. Matthew Fariss (R-Rustburg) (804) 698-1059
Kenneth Plum (D-Reston) (804) 698-1036
Lynwood Lewis, Jr. (D-Accomac) (804) 698-1000
