http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLook ... illID=S238In case you wondering, this is a bill in the state General Assembly that would only affect one county, Richmond.
I don't know what the chances this bill has of passing, but if it does, it would adversely impact dog hunting in Richmond County. Under this law, you would be required to have a certain amount of land. You would also have to apply for a permit from the county to hunt with dogs, even if you're hunting on your own property. The county would have the authority to "determine qualification and eligibility of the area as a Dog Deer Hunting Area." Under the law, if you get a permit, you must stop hunting if one of your dogs goes onto someone else's property and you don't have permission to hunt on it.
Also, I can see this law being taken out of context and applied to coon hunters, rabbit hunters, anyone else who uses dogs to hunt. All this law requires for you to be in violation is that you must be hunting with a dog and for you to have a firearm capable of killing a deer. A .22, or a small game shotgun load can kill a deer with the right shot placement at close range.
I don't coon hunt any in Richmound county, but I do deer hunt with dogs, so this is a personal fight for me. I'd appreciate it if everyone in NC contacted their State Senator and State Representative and voiced their opposition to this bill.