Leashed Blood-tracking Dog Legislation

[pfsc]

HB 1722 By Jozwiak. Amends Title 34 (Game), in hunting and furtaking, further providing for dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game.

HCO2479 By Jozwiak. Provides an exemption to allow the use of a leashed blood-tracking dog to track white-tailed deer in an attempt to recover an animal which has been legally killed or
wounded.

* October 21, 2015 01:39 PM
* Rep. Barry Jozwiak
* PA Game Code Amendment
* In the near future, I will introduce legislation amending the
* Pennsylvania Game Code providing an exemption to allow the use of a
* leashed blood-tracking dog to track white-tailed deer in an attempt to
* recover an animal which has been legally killed or wounded. This is
* Rep. Pyle's House Bill 451 from last session.
*
*
*
* Currently under the Game Code, it is unlawful for any person to make
* use of a dog in any manner to hunt or take big game, other than wild
* turkey during the fall season, or to permit a dog under a person's
* ownership or control to pursue big game. It can sometimes be very
* difficult to track a wounded or harvested deer that may have traveled
* some distance, especially in areas of varied terrain or when weather
* conditions are poor. The use of a properly trained and controlled
* blood-tracking dog can prove instrumental in recovering a mortally
* wounded animal, and greatly decrease the chances of leaving deceased
* white-tailed deer unrecovered in our Commonwealth's woods and wild
* lands. I believe this simple and humane proposed change in the law will
* be of great benefit to both our sporting community and one of our most
* valued natural resources, the white-tailed deer. The Game Commission
* is supportive of this legislation.
*
*
*
* Thank you in advance for your consideration.
*
*
*
* (Previous cosponsors were: (PYLE, MOUL, CUTLER, HARHAI, KORTZ,
* KAUFFMAN, SONNEY, LUCAS, HARKINS, OBERLANDER, M. K. KELLER, READSHAW,
* BENNINGHOFF, HESS, ROCK, GROVE, COX, PEIFER and GIBBONS)

[pfsc]

Senate Version:

SB 1115 - Scavello (PLS Summary) Amends Title 34 (Game) adding language allowing the use of a leashed blood-tracking dog to track a white-tailed deer in an attempt to recover an animal which has been legally killed or wounded. Effectively immediately.

* January 5, 2016 03:46 PM
* Sen. Mario Scavello
* Leashed Tracking Dogs

* In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation amending the
* Pennsylvania Game Code, providing an exemption to allow for the use of
* a leashed tracking dog to track white-tailed deer to assist in
* recovering an animal which has been legally harvested or wounded.
*
* Currently under the Pennsylvania Game Code, it is unlawful for any
* person to make use of a dog in any manner to hunt or take big game,
* other than wild turkey during the fall season, or to permit a dog under
* a person's ownership or control to pursue big game. It is important to
* note that this legislation would not change this prohibition, rather it
* would assist in the tracking of the harvested game.

* As sportsmen know, it can sometimes be very difficult to track a
* wounded or harvested deer that may have traveled some distance,
* especially in areas of varied terrain or when weather conditions are
* poor. The use of properly trained and controlled tracking dogs can
* prove instrumental in recovering a mortally wounded animal, and greatly
* decrease the chances of leaving deceased white-tailed deer unrecovered
* in our Commonwealth's woods and wild lands. This simple and humane
* proposed change in the law will be of great benefit to both our
* sporting community and one of our most valued natural resources, the
* white-tailed deer.
*
* The use of leashed tracking dogs are allowed in approximately 35
* states, six of which surround Pennsylvania. Please join me in
* co-sponsoring this important legislation which allows Pennsylvania
* hunters access to the same ethical game recovery tool that most of the
* nation's hunters already have.

[Dutch]

People have been working on this ONE issue since about 2001 here is bassakward PA.

[cspot]

I know. This issue is such a no brainer yet it never seems to go anywhere.

[Dutch]

Jan 7, 2016 17:34:24 GMT -5 cspot said:

I know. This issue is such a no brainer yet it never seems to go anywhere.

Just sad. Biggest roadblock used to be Sen Kasunic who thought we would have dogs running thru the woods barking.

The PGC also stood in the way of this legislation. Maybe they have had a change of heart?

[Deleted]

In Missouri you have to notify a game warden first.

[galthatfishes]

Jan 7, 2016 19:59:29 GMT -5 Dutch said:

Jan 7, 2016 17:34:24 GMT -5 cspot said:

I know. This issue is such a no brainer yet it never seems to go anywhere.

Just sad. Biggest roadblock used to be Sen Kasunic who thought we would have dogs running thru the woods barking.

The PGC also stood in the way of this legislation. Maybe they have had a change of heart?

They have indeed. I personally spoke to Rich Palmer a few months back, and after checking with surrounding states, he no longer has objections. It works exceptionally well everywhere else.

[cspot]

Got a response from Senator Bartolotta's office today.

Good Morning Craig:



Thank you for taking the time to contact Senator Camera Bartolotta. She appreciates you taking the time to contact her and express your thoughts on issues that are of importance to you.



As you stated in your email, in the near future, Senator Mark Scavello plans to introduce legislation amending the Pennsylvania Game Code, providing an exemption to allow for the use of a leashed tracking dog to track white-tailed deer to assist in recovering an animal which has been legally harvested or wounded.



Active in the sportsmen community, Senator Bartolotta has signed on as a cosponsor of this bill that would allow for the use of properly trained and controlled tracking dogs to track a wounded white-tailed deer in our Commonwealth’s woods and wild lands.



Again, thank you for contacting Senator Bartolotta and providing her the benefit of your views. If you wish to discuss this bill in further detail or would like an update on this legislation as it moves through the legislative process please do not hesitate to contact me directly.



Best,

Megan

[annieoroberts00]

very informative thread.

[rayc]

Can anyone update me on the status of this legislation. If it is getting hung up in the senate I might be able to help