Letter to the editor: Will lawmakers finally ban hounding in 2025?

Hounding needs to end. It is not a Vermont tradition. It is not a Native American tradition. It is not hunting. No one is trying to feed themselves or survive by intentionally releasing packs of dogs into the woods to chase and attack wild animals.

There are two bills currently in the Vermont legislature, Bill H.626 — An Act Related to Animal Welfare — and S.258 — An Act Relating to the Management of Fish and Wildlife.

There has been a moratorium on coyote hounding via Act 165. The Fish and Wildlife Board and Department were to address control of hunting hounds for the moratorium to be lifted.

Raccoon hounders can run their hounds in the middle of the night during “training” season, which started June 1st.

There is a bill in the House, H. 172, that will ban bear hounding and I ask that everyone support it. There is also a bill, H. 316, that I hope can be expanded to include control of all dogs used for hounding, not just bear hounds, but hunting dogs who ch … (read more)