this is from the channel 9 website!
looks like we will be fighting for the privilege to hunt on the outside again this year!

WILLIAMSTON, N.C. - It's an ongoing feud between land owners and dog hunters that now spans multiple counties.

We first told you about this story almost a year ago when Martin County land owners said they had enough.

Hunters who use dogs say they can't control where those dogs run but landowners in Martin and Edgecombe County say they're fed up with trespassing and something needs to be done.

"Run 15-20 dogs at a time, now it's 75-150 dogs," said Bo Cannon, who owns land in Martin County.

Cannon says it’s a growing problem - dog hunters continuously hunting too close to his land, he says, running their dogs through his yard and damaging property.

"They're all in front of your house. They're all down on the other side of your driveway and you're like, 'what are these folks doing?" said Cannon.

9 On Your Side has received calls from multiple landowners in Edgecombe and Martin Counties concerned about hunters trespassing.

Less than two months ago, Beaufort County commissioners also heard complaints.

"When you have two parties, they both think they're right and they're armed and worked up believing that what their doing is right and nobody can tell them otherwise, that's not a good situation," said Capt. Matt Long, NC Wildlife Commission.

Capt. Long says his teams have worked to mitigate the multitude of complaints brought against both sides. He says it's a few bad apples ruining it for everyone.

"Maybe it's a landowner that doesn't come as often, doesn't patrol his own property and they [unethical dog hunters] will take advantage of folks," said Capt. Long.

We talked with dog hunting advocates who were not available for an on camera interview. They say they've had problems with landowners shooting and sometimes killing their dogs. They say, other times, the dogs just disappear all together. They say the landowners are infringing on a family pastime.

Cannon says it depends on the hunter.

"Some of these guys you run up to - they're just the nicest folks you ever want to meet. Some guys you run up to say, "hey, you don't tell me what to do," said Cannon.

"Dog hunting is a stronghold in eastern NC and we would like to see it remain there as long as people do it ethically and responsibility," said Capt. Long.

Capt. Long says there really isn't a law that prohibits dogs from running on private property. He says both parties will have to approach their commissioners to tighten down on the problem.

Martin County landowners have already started a petition to do just that.

BUMP