Running dogs

[Janet Freeland]

There has been an ongoing issue specifically with the Caldwell hunting club running their hunting dogs through our property. While they let their dogs out on property that I assume they have permission to hunt on, the dogs still invade our property that we also use for hunting, target practice, riding ATVs, nature walks with our grandkids, etc. all the things one should be allowed to do on property they own, without fear of being shot by hunters. . The hunting club members have always used the excuse that the dogs don’t know property lines. That’s not acceptable. They know when the dogs are released that they will be running through our property.
The area is growing in population just like everywhere else in Orange County and the hunting club members do not have enough land or connecting tracts of land to guarantee the dogs and hunters will not trespass.
This is a dangerous situation and someone is going to get hurt or worse, killed because a hunter misses the deer and hits a property owner who happens to be out enjoying his property. In some cases the property owner (who also hunts) could mistake the dog or his handler for a deer and shoot them.
This may seem like an unlikely scenario to you but it happened to my son. Fortunately when the shooter raised the gun to shoot the deer (the shooter was running dogs on property he had no permission to be hunting) he happened to see my son standing in the opening just behind the deer. This could have had a completely different outcome.

With the population growth of northern Orange County and the large acres of land being divided and sold, it is no longer a safe option for our area.

I am asking the county commissioners to make running dogs for hunting deer in northern Orange County illegal, just as it has been done in Southern Orange County.

Thank you,
Janet Freeland
Sent from my iPhone

[Todd McGee]

Janet,

Thank you for your email. Hunting deer with dogs in Orange County is governed by the N.C. Legislature. Hunting is not allowed on private property without the permission of the owner. Hunters may not go onto private property to retrieve game or hunting dogs without the owner's permission. To register a complaint about unlawful hunting behavior, please call 911.

This page on our website has more information about the rules and regulations of hunting deer with dogs and the rights of property owners.

https://www.orangecountync.gov/303/Hunting-Deer-with-Dogs

Please reach out to your state representatives and let them know you would like the laws to be changed. Previous Boards of Commissioners have tried but been unsuccessful.

Todd McGee
Orange County Community Relations Director
(919) 245-2302 (office)
(984) 220-5412 (cell)

[Janet Freeland]

I have contacted Orange County Commissioners about an ongoing issue in northern Orange County. Among many things, the commissioners are responsible for the following:

• Providing for safety and welfare of all Orange County residents
• Serve as liaisons to local, state and federal boards and commissions

They have passed the buck to our representatives, so I am starting with the ones that represent Orange County. The problem is the dangers of running dogs for the purpose of deer hunting. There has been an ongoing issue specifically with the Caldwell hunting club running their hunting dogs through our property. While they let their dogs out on property that I assume they have permission to hunt on, the dogs still invade our property that we also use for hunting, target practice, riding ATVs, nature walks with our grandkids, etc. all the things one should be allowed to do on property they own, without fear of being shot by hunters. Up until 14 years ago, we were not living on this 150 acre farm and the hunting club used it for running dogs to hunt. Since we built our home here, the club has continued to act as if they own the property and refuse to listen to our many requests to stop running their dogs through our property. The hunting club members have always used the excuse that the dogs don’t know property lines. That’s not acceptable. They know when the dogs are released that they will be running through our property. This is not just an issue with us, there have been other complaints filed regarding trespassing and windows being shot out, just to name a couple. Many of the complaints go unreported because by the time Wildlife Officers or deputies arrive the hunters and dogs are gone. 

Northern Orange County has been growing in population for many years now, just like everywhere else in Orange County.  There are no longer large enough tracts of land available for the hunting club members to hunt without the possibility of injuring or heaven forbid, killing someone. This is a dangerous situation! While this may seem like an unlikely scenario to you, it almost happened to my son. Fortunately when the shooter raised the gun to shoot the deer (the shooter was running dogs on property he had no permission to be hunting) he happened to see my son standing in the opening just behind the deer. This could have had a completely different outcome. 

With the population growth of northern Orange County and the large acres of land being divided and sold, it is no longer a safe option for our area. I urge you to look at the maps and compare them to older versions presented to the BOCC in 2010. What do I have to do to get someone to listen to me? I hope it does not take a tragedy before you consider outlawing dog-running in Northern Orange County, just as it has been in Southern Orange County for a long time. 

 

Thank you,
Janet Freeland

[Sen. Graig Meyer]

Ms. Freeland,

I have heard about this issue from residents who live near the Caldwell club’s hunting grounds for my entire time in office. And I have been part of efforts to take this up at the General Assembly.

 

Unfortunately, changing the dog hunting laws runs into a brick wall at every turn in the General Assembly. You may remember that a few years ago the voters passed a Constitutional Amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt and fish. The push by legislators to add that to the ballot was in part an effort to protect dog hunters.

 

I wish that I could offer you a more hopeful response about changing the laws, but I cannot. After much experience with this, the best advice I can give you is to call for enforcement any time you have them on your land. It sounds like you already have contact with the Orange County Wildlife Resources Officer?

HANNAH

SHIVELY

MASTER OFF

Orange

919-353-1216

hannah....@ncwildlife.org

I’d encourage you to call her and start conversations with her if you haven’t already. And as Mr. McGee suggested, call 911 whenever someone or their dogs trespass on your property.

 

Sen. Graig Meyer

NC Senate District 23

Serving Orange, Person, and Caswell Counties

[Sen. Graig Meyer]

Ms. Freeland,

I agree with you completely. I just want to be realistic about why this is not likely to change.

If you believe deputies are contributing to this, I’d be happy to speak to the Sheriff about it. Do you have any other details you can share?

 

Sen. Graig Meyer

NC Senate District 23

Serving Orange, Person, and Caswell Counties

 

From: Janet Freeland <janet.f...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2023 4:11 PM
To: Sen. Graig Meyer <Graig...@ncleg.gov>

Cc: tmc...@orangecountync.gov; ocb...@orangecountync.gov; Daphne Quinn (Sen. Graig Meyer) <Daphne...@ncleg.gov>
Subject: Re: Running dogs

 

Thank you for your response. I understand guaranteeing the right to hunt and fish, but there is a correct way and incorrect way. This does not infringe on their right to hunt. This infringes on my rights as a land owner. When Wildlife is called, the hunters are gone before they can even get here. The same is true for law enforecemnt. There are also deputies in the hunting club who seem to think it is ok to tell the members "You know we don't have permission to be hunting on some of this land so you are on your own if you get caught." I hate to see it come down to someone getting hurt or killed in order to have this changed. I do not understand how it can be outlawed in every county around us and in half of this county, but not in Northern Orange County. Sounds like somebody needs to take this up again before the inevitable happens.

 

Janet Freeland

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