VSSA received the below alert from the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance and we are sharing it for our members who hunt deer and other game with hunting dogs.

We need you at DWR on October 24th @ 9AM

Folks,

DWR has finally agreed to consider the two hound proposals at their upcoming board meeting on Thursday, October 24th. These were the two proposals that had a 45-day public comment period earlier this summer regarding GPS collars and hound trespass.
From their most recent press release:

“The Board will be considering regulatory proposals 4VAC15-40-310 and 4VAC15-40-320 regarding hunting with hounds, specifically, Board proposals six and seven, which may be viewed at https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/Board-Proposals.pdf.”
These two regulations, particularly the trespass one (#7), are serious impediments to hunting with hounds in Virginia.
The trespass regulation will create a Class 3 misdemeanor for dog trespass. More importantly, it specifically creates a criminal trespass offense for a singular, targeted group of people: deer and bear hound hunters. It does not include all hunters with dogs and does not include all dogs in the general population.
We need hound hunters to show up and speak up
The most important thing you can do is be there. We need hunters to talk about what hunting with hounds means to them. They need to hear why hound hunting in Virginia is important. They need to hear how it is a necessary tool for wildlife management. You are a citizen of this great Commonwealth. We need you to express why you hunt with hounds and why you love hunting with hounds.

Despite the fact the both the GPS proposal and the trespass proposal were overwhelmingly opposed by the public (80%+), we cannot assume that DWR will follow accordingly.

Be courteous. Dress nicely. Wear an orange hat. The manner in which you present yourself is important!

If you cannot make it to the meeting, you can still participate and sign up to speak online. DWR still has not published their meeting agenda or signup links. We will share them with you once they have been published.

Why we need you there
When we have multiple dogs being shot in a season and DWR says nothing.

When we have more dog injury and tracking collar violations against dogs than we do RTR violations and DWR says nothing.

When we commit a fraction of all hunting violations but are continuously being singled out as the main problem.

When DWR is slow to deal with wildlife issues.

When DWR targets select hunting populations.

Those who oppose us were not successful during the General Assembly last year.
Those who oppose us were not successful at the Virginia Supreme Court.
Those who oppose us will be at the upcoming DWR meeting.
The meeting will be at DWR headquarters:
October 24th at 9am
The address is:
7870 Villa Park Dr.
Suite 400
Henrico, VA 23228

VSSA's Annual Meeting was held on Saturday, September 21st.  The winners of this year's Member Raffle were drawn and the wineners are as follows: 

1st Prize - Smith & Wesson M&P FPC 9MM carbine rifle  - Winner: Lawrence S. Chester, VA
2nd Prize - $250 Cabela's Gift Card - Andy F, Springfiled VA
3rd Prize - $100 Cash - Winner - Elias A., Charlottesville, VA

Thanks to all of our members who participated in this year's raffle.

It is more important than ever that gun onwers be active in this year's election.  If Kamala Harris wins in November, she could possibly replace two of the pro-rights majority justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. Both Justice Alito and Jusice Thomas are in their 70s.   That's why we need every gunowner active.  You can be active by joining Trump[ Force 47, the Trump voter turnout effort.  There is Trump Captain Training on Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 PM EDT.  The training is online and you can RSVP to attend by clicking here.  

You can also become active in NRA-ILA efforts to get out the gun vote.  Contact Andrew Brown at:

Andrew Brown
NRA-ILA Grassroots Field Coordinator (VA)
andrew@nrailafrontlines.com
https://www.nrailafrontlines.com/

That's not hyperbole, it's a fact.  We all know how anti-rights Kamala Harris has been her entire political career, but Governor Tim Walz is the typical "I support the Second Amendment but" politician. He ran as a pro-rights candidate during his first congressional campaign and even received the NRA's endorsment over the incumbant Republican congressman and for 12 years, from 2007 to 2019, Walz represented a conservative district that borders Iowa to the south.  Walz was listed by "Guns and Ammo" in its list of "top 20 politicians for gun owners" in 2016, but like most Democrats, Walz has moved over to the anti- rights side of the isle.  Earlier this week, pro-gun You Tuber Colion Noir pointed out just how radical Harris and Walz are.

   The Daily Wire's Michael Knowles shared this clip earlier this week:
Don't sit out this election.  Gun owners need to get active now.