Senate subcommittee declines to advance Reeves season-substitute that would stagger hound hunting to protect rut

Senator Reeves presented a substitute to Senate Bill 770 aimed at reducing conflicts among still hunters, hound hunters and landowners by adjusting seasons. The substitute would add a three-week early muzzleloader period, institute a moratorium on hound hunting during the rut (with exemptions for small-game and waterfowl retrieval dogs and tracking of wounded animals), and add one week at the end of hound season to preserve overall hunting days.

Reeves described biological and social rationales for the changes, saying the schedule would allow breeding activity to proceed with less pressure and give muzzleloader and still hunters an opportunity to hunt without dog-driven disturbance. He also noted the proposal was not intended to eliminate hound hunting and said he would consult with DWR and stakeholders on data and geographic impacts.

The hearing drew robust testimony from both sides. Opponents—including representatives of hunt packs, farm organizations and many individual hunters—said the substitute would reduce participation, harm hunt clubs and suppliers, disrupt youth and family hunting traditions (noting holiday hunting patterns), and undermine deer-management programs that rely on hounds in some regions. Proponents and some property owners said the changes could separate conflicting uses during key biological periods and reduce trespass and confrontation.

Committee members questioned whether the Board of Wildlife Resources already had authority to adjust seasons, noted a lack of conviction statistics for existing enforcement, and raised concerns about regional variations. A motion to report the substitute to full committee, moved by Senator Williams Graves, failed on a recorded roll call: Senator Williams Graves voted Yes; Senators French, Hackworth, Srinivasan and Perry voted No (Aye 1, No 4). The subcommittee did not advance the substitute.