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Colleton County Council tables proposed change to 'running at large' rule after strong public outcry by hunters
Summary
After dozens of pre-submitted comments and council members’ reports of numerous calls, Colleton County Council on Jan. 4, 2022, voted to table an ordinance amendment that residents say would remove a long-standing hunting-dog exception from the county’s 'running at large' definition.
Colleton County Council voted unanimously on Jan. 4 to table Ordinance 21-O-17, an amendment to Title 6 (Animals) that prompted substantial written public comment opposing the removal of language residents say protects hunting dogs.
The proposal would have removed a clause in Section 6.04.010 that currently says hunting dogs ‘actively involved in an ongoing hunt’ are not to be considered ‘‘running at large’’ when on property where they are legally present or being retrieved. In a pre-submitted statement read aloud by Chairman Steven Murdaugh, public commenter Jody Carter warned, "If the wording was removed as requested, it would be an end to all dog hunting in our county, no questions asked." Carter identified herself as a U.S. military veteran, farmer and native of Colleton County.
Councilman Gene Whetsell introduced the motion to table the ordinance and said he had received about 20 calls from dog hunters who wanted more opportunity to be heard; Dr. Joseph Flowers seconded the motion. Whetsell said the council should hold public hearings so both hunters and the Department of Natural Resources can present positions. Dr. Flowers told colleagues the issue should be looked at carefully and that getting factual information from all parties could reduce misinformation.
Chairman Murdaugh said the county will organize a public forum and present relevant state statute language and the existing county ordinance to clarify options. "There is a lot of misinformation out there," he said, and he asked staff to prepare a presentation that will compare state law and the county code and to review a 2018 legislative draft that never advanced out of committee.
Several written comments read into the record expressed similar concerns. Local resident Mickey Joe Pye said the change would harm a local tradition and asked that the issue be decided by voters if necessary. The Colleton County Coalition of Rural Neighbors told council members the rural population feels overlooked and asked for outreach on other services including a farmers market in Green Pond.
The council’s action was procedural: the motion to table carried unanimously. No amendment or vote on the substance of the ordinance occurred; council members said additional public input and clarification of any state law intersections are needed before further council action.
The next steps: staff was directed to schedule public forums and provide the council with the relevant state statute language and a side-by-side of the current county ordinance and the proposed text. The ordinance remains on the table pending those forums.
