Virginia Hunting Dog Owner's Association

Last month's election is behind us and sportsmen made only minimal political gains; the state’s budget is still stressed and animal rightist, anti-hunting lobbyists are better organized than ever before, but the Old Dominion's sportsmen have reason to celebrate!

On Monday this week, Delegates Scott Lingamfelter (R) of Woodbridge and James Shuler (D) of Blacksburg announced the formation of a House Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus. A similar Senate announcement is expected shortly. This new legislative caucus's creation rivals the importance of the "right to hunt and fish" constitutional initiative of 2000, since it organizes our supporters and increases their influence. The stated mission statement of the Virginia Sportsmen’s Caucus is as follows:

To preserve and promote the traditional rights of Virginia’s citizens to hunt, fish and pursue outdoor activities;
To ensure that Virginia’s sportsmen have reasonable access to public lands to enjoy outdoor pursuits;
To protect the investment of sportsmen in wildlife and fisheries management by safeguarding the integrity of user fee trust funds and license revenue;
To support efforts to enhance multiple use habitat management for wildlife and fisheries;
To recognize the importance of hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities to Virginia’s economy and support the maintenance and growth of outdoor related industries and activities.

There are three federal sportsmen advocacy groups that always do a commendable lobbying job. Those groups are the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA), a trade association of 50 state F&W Departments, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF).

The strength of the CSF lies in its sponsorship of the legislative Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC), a bipartisan, bicameral group of Washington politicians who are interested in preserving and nurturing our outdoor traditions. The CSC is one of the capitol's most effective caucuses and its membership includes over 60% of the House and the Senate. The CSC-CSF relationship is a supportive, mutually reinforcing one, as the Foundation's members represent U.S. sportsmen's groups and vendors who are most concerned over attacks on hunting rights, as well as interested in preserving lands and habitat to exercise those rights.

In the last two years, the CSF has expanded its scope to foster state organizations that largely mirror the Washington organizations. Such sportsmen's groups currently operate in 14 states. NRA, SCI, DU, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffled Grouse Society and similar groups typically belong to such caucus supporting foundations. I anticipate that the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association will be part of our state's foundation and active in its work.

It's crucial that all sportsmen recognize that a Virginia Sportsmen's Foundation is a unique and important opportunity to coalesce into a truly effective force to preserve and extend our outdoor heritage. Rather than having a temporary, ad hoc or narrow focus, such a Foundation will represent all of the state's sportsmen, in an enduring corporation, with bylaws, a board of directors, officers, resources, dues and a budget. Such an organizational structure insures that the Foundation will be accountable to both the legislative caucus and sportsmen, providing informed consensus input on outdoor-related laws and regulations, while also promoting our future hunting and fishing opportunities.

This formal Foundation isn't designed to get involved in every issue, or take sides in disputes between members, say for example, concealed carry restrictions, or game regulation differences. State sportsmen's groups may continue to lobby individually, as they've always done, but you can't begin to imagine the potential of this cooperative effort in promoting our general welfare. All dog and hunt club officers should budget to support our participation in this effort starting in January. More details will follow. In addition, every Virginia sportsman and sportswoman should contact his or her legislators and request that they join the Virginia Sportsmen's Caucus. We're about to enter an exciting new chapter in Virginia's sporting history. Let's make the most of this legacy creating opportunity.

Virginia General Assembly Contact Information

Virginians wishing to contact their state representatives about a particular bill or issue, have two fast options: telephone and email. You may call 1-800-889-0229, the General Assembly's Constituent Viewpoint Service, and tell them how you want your representatives to vote on an identified bill. They'll ask your name and address and route your message to your individual elected Delegate and Senator.

In order to telephone or email your state representatives directly, you need their contact information. If you don't have that data, enter your address at Who's My Legislator? Bookmark the site and save the information. To order to receive full consideration, every constituent communication MUST contain your complete postal mailing address. To research legislation, track bills or learn how your representatives voted, visit Virginia General Assembly.