1st BAD DOG BILL filed today Thursday, 3/14/19

Granville County Commissioners have joined forces with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to draft “Granville/Hunting Local Modifications” Senate Bill #274. Bill Sponsor State Senator Mike Woodard says the Granville County Commissioners requested that he file this bill.

SB#274 contains a wish list of restrictions on dog hunters. Click here to read the first edition of SB#274.

As you will see, SB#274 contains several provision dangerous and unfair to dog hunters:

· Deem the hunter is be “hunting” and “trespassing” if his hunting dog run upon or crosses over someone’s land in order to hunt deer or bear. Section 1(c).

· Illegal to pick up or discharge dogs on the right-of-way of any public road or highway. Section 2.

· Every dog MUST wear a GPS tracking collar. Section 3 (1).

· Hunter MUST allow law enforcement to inspect the data sent, received, and transmitted by each dog’s GPS device.

· Every dog MUST wear collar with full name, address, and contact telephone number of owner or president of hunt club. Section 3 (1).

· Forbidden to release dog unless hunter owns at least 200 contiguous acres or lease at least 350 contiguous acres where hunter has written permission to hunt. Section 3 (3).

· Definition of “hunt” means, “To take wild animals or wild birds.” NCGS Section §113-130(5a). It is important to realize “to take” has a much more expansive definition.

· Definition of “take” means, “To Take. - All operations during, immediately preparatory, and immediately subsequent to an attempt, whether successful or not, to capture, kill, pursue, hunt, or otherwise harm or reduce to possession any fisheries resources or wildlife resources.” NCGS Section §113-130 (7).

· A violation of ANY provision is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which means the hunter is charged as a criminal. Section 6.

· WRC officers and sheriffs and other peace officers are authorized to enforce this law. Section 7.

· In Section 8, prior local acts applying to Granville County would be repealed, including Chapter 459 of the 1959 Session Laws; Chapter 159 of the 1991 Session Laws; Chapter 152 of the 1995 Session Laws; Session Law 2009-45; and Session Law 2009-118.

· The first draft of this public bill states it applies only to Granville County, but this restriction could be easily changed. Section 9.



The Granville County Commissioners say they are “ready for a fight” to get this bill passed. We wonder if every Commissioner realizes how restrictive the bill is and how the WRC would use the proposed law against dog hunters.

Contact personally each of the seven (7) Granville County Commissioners. Request politely each Commissioner reconsider his or her support of this bad dog bill:

1. Zelodis Jay, Chairman

a. District 1 Commissioner (4th term)

b. 8009 Hwy.96 North, Oxford, NC 27565

c. Home 919-693-2907; Office 919-693-4761

d. zelodis.jay@granvillecounty.org

2. David Smith, Vice Chairman

a. District 2 Commissioner (and retired Granville Co. Sheriff)

b. Serving 3rd term as Commissioner

c. 207 Holly Drive, Oxford, NC 27565

d. Home 919-693-3595; Office 919-693-4761

e. david.smith@granvillecounty.org

3. Sue Hinman

a. District 3 Commissioner (serving first term)

b. 515 Goshen Street, Oxford, NC 27565

c. Home 919-691-1183; Office 919-693-4761

d. sue.hinman@granvillecounty.org

e. Animal Control Advisory Committee Liaison

4. Tony Cozart

a. District 4 Commissioner (serving in 8th term)

b. 4056 Peace’s Chapel Road, Oxford, NC 27565

c. Home 919-693-8142; Office 919-693-4761

d. tony.cozart@granvillecounty.org

5. Owen Roberts

a. District 5 Commissioner (serving first term)

b. 2524 Summit Lane, Creedmoor, NC 27522

c. Home 919-528-2593; Office 919-693-4761

d. owen.roberts@granvillecounty.org

6. Timothy Karan

a. District 6 Commissioner (serving 4th term)

b. 2659 Bennett Road, Creedmoor, NC 27522

c. Office 919-693-4761

d. timothy.karan@granvillecounty.org

7. Edgar Smoak

a. District 7 Commissioner (serving 3rd term)

b. 407 East F Street, Butner, NC 27509

c. Home 919-575-6663; Office 919-693-4761

d. edgar.smoak@granvillecounty.org



Contact Senator Mike Woodard and respectfully express to him the serious problems with this bill.

Contact Rep. Larry Yarborough (R, District 2 Granville & Person counties) and Rep. Terry E. Garrison (D, District 32, Granville, Vance, & Warren counties) who are expected to file a House companion bill. Their names appeared on a draft circulated earlier this week. Respectfully request they do not file or support a bill like SB#274.

Call us if you have questions. Best regards, Henri and Joe



NC Sporting Dog Association, Inc.

PO Box 430

Oriental, NC 28571

www.ncsportingdog.org

Office (252) 249-1097

Fax (252) 249-3275

Joe’s mobile (252) 671-1585
Henri’s mobile (252) 671-1559