By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
A proposal to ban deer hunting with dogs had everyone barking at the Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday night, where the board voted unanimously to continue to support the ban.
Hunters clad in camouflage and neon-orange hats and shirts to protest the proposed ban occupied half of the room, while the other half was filled with residents in support of the ban.
Commissioners said deer hunting with dogs is a major public-health, safety and property-rights issue, and that due to the county’s continued residential growth, it is becoming too densely populated to allow it to continue.
The board heard from a number of residents representing both sides of the charged issue.
Some opposed to the ban said they didn’t believe pursuing a ban on hunting deer with dogs was a wise use of the county’s limited monetary resources.
“With everything going on in the county related to 911 calls and emergency services, do you really want to spend money on this foolishness? Really, people?†local deer hunter Lamar Chapman said.
“The key word here is ‘wasteful spending,’†said Earl Brown, a farmer and hunter from northern Orange County.
Other residents said they supported the ban because of the public-health and safety issues involved.
David and Jennifer Honeycutt, who live in Cedar Grove, an area of the county where this type of hunting is still legal, said 2010 was a very trying year for them because of it, and cited the negative effects on themselves, their family and their property.
“We had cut-off deer legs and cut-off deer heads drug up to our door by hunting dogs,†Jennifer Honeycutt said. “Orange County is getting too crowded. … Every year, it gets scarier, and the safety and property rights are gone. We ask you to keep fighting.â€
In 2010, the board voted unanimously to seek a ban on hunting deer with dogs in northern Orange County as part of their legislative agenda for approval by the General Assembly. However, the issue got stuck in committee and was never brought up for a vote during this year’s session.
Supporters of the ban also told stories of hunters illegally hunting on their properties. Hunters at the meeting responded by promising that they have always practiced safe hunting and abided by the rules.
“We applaud you for being responsible, and it would be nice if everyone would be as responsible,†Commissioner Pam Hemminger said.
Marilee McTigue, a resident of rural Orange County, said that while many hunters are respectful of “No hunting†and “No trespassing†signs, “unfortunately deer and the dogs that chase them can’t read the no trespassing signs.â€
This issue is about safety and trespassing in Northern Orange county. The Caldwell hunting club treat some people great and disrespects the rest of us. They run dogs over your private property, threaten you if you stop them, and shoot from the road. Then expect you to buy from the farm service business..Boycott pro dog hunting business in NOC