CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Wednesday, Gov. Jim Justice signed House Bill 4514 that allows hunters to track mortally wounded deer and bear with a leashed dog. The move comes after the Senate passed the amended bill on March 7 by a count of 32-2.
Effective June 5, the law will permit “the use of leashed dogs to track mortally wounded deer or bear; amending protocol for possession by natural resources police officers of dogs known to have unlawfully hunted or chased deer; and excepting the use of leashed dogs to track mortally wounded deer or bear from statutory prohibition on commercial bear hunts.”
Natural Resources Committee Chairman and the bill’s sponsor Del. Martin Atkinson III (R-Roane) is pleased that it passed. After hearing from the Division of Natural Resources, hunters and landowners alike, he was elated that the legislature came together to overwhelmingly pass the amendment.
“We had some people who didn’t want anyone on their property even to track a wounded animal, so this bill kind of helped in that area,” Atkinson said. “The main thing about it is we go about things correctly – yes, we don’t want wounded animals and yes they are going to run, possibly onto a farm, where [the hunter] doesn’t have permission to hunt. By going to the homeowner and asking for permission to track the animal, we don’t have animals out there wasting or in pain. It’s the right thing to do.”
Those who voted against the final bill in the Senate were Sen. Stephen Baldwin (D-Greenbrier) and Sen. Dave Sypolt (R-Preston). The final house vote was in favor 96-3 with one abstaining. Those to vote against it were Del. Mark Dean (R-Mingo), Del. Joe Jeffries (R-Putnam) and Del. Tony Paynter (R-Wyoming), while the one abstaining delegate was Ben Queen (R-Harrison).
The bill isn’t free rein to let dogs run amok, nor does it allow unlicensed people to hold the leashed dogs. The bill also does not allow hunters to use dogs to hunt deer. Further, natural resources law enforcement officers are still permitted to take into possession dogs hunting or chasing deer but have to deliver the dog to the owner if that can be determined. Should an owner not be found, the officer must deliver the dog to a county humane officer or facility, but according to Atkinson more often than not, the owner is found. He said that, in most cases, a dog whose owner isn’t identified is likely a stray.
Overall, despite some pushback in his own party over the bill, Atkinson is happy that Justice signed it into law. As a hunter himself, Atkinson knows that a shot won’t always result in an instant death and he’s happy to know that game waste will be reduced.
“A lot of game will run. You don’t always get a dead shot,” Atkinson said. “It’s a good bill.”
TWEET @ASpellman_DPost
