Vermont H 166: An act relating to changes to the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel

Bill Text

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VT LEG #379823 v.1
H.166 1
Introduced by Representatives Bos-Lun of Westminster, Goldman of 2
Rockingham, Headrick of Burlington, Krasnow of South 3
Burlington, Logan of Burlington, Masland of Thetford, and 4
Torre of Moretown 5
Referred to Committee on 6
Date: 7
Subject: Fish and wildlife; game; hunting with dogs 8
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish 9
minimum requirements for hunting with dogs or training dogs to hunt. 10
An act relating to establishing requirements for hunting with dogs 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. 10 V.S.A. chapter 115 is amended to read: 13
CHAPTER 115. HUNTING WITH DOGS; MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 14
Subchapter 1. Definitions 15
§ 5000. DEFINITIONS 16
As used in this chapter: 17
(1) “Accompany” or “accompanied” means to be within hearing 18
distance or visual contact of a dog without the use of any visual or audio 19
enhancement devices and not more than 150 feet from the dogs at all times. 20

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Electronic remote equipment does not qualify as and is not a substitute for 1
accompaniment. 2
(2) “At large” or “running at large” means a hunting dog is off the 3
owner’s property, not on-leash, and unaccompanied, unsupervised, or not in 4
the presence of the owner or permittee. 5
(3) “Attack” means that dogs used for hunting and pursuing black bears 6
and furbearers exhibit the following behaviors: chasing a person, a domestic 7
animal, or livestock in an aggressive manner and without provocation; 8
approaching a person, domestic pet, or domestic animal with the intent to 9
chase, bite, or cause injure; or behave in a way, alone or in a pack, that causes 10
a reasonable fear of injury or harm to a person, domestic pet, or domestic 11
animal. 12
(4) “Control of dog” or “control” means that while hunting and pursuing 13
black bears and furbearers with the aid of a dog, the owner or permittee shall 14
maintain visual contact with the dog; shall be able to hear the dogs at all times; 15
or shall have physical control over the dog with a leash or long lead. A dog is 16
only controlled on-leash or lead if the handler is physically capable of or able 17
to restrain the dog. Global positioning system collars or similar devices do not 18
meet the requirements of control under this section. 19
(5) “Domestic animal” has the same meaning as in 6 V.S.A. § 1151(2). 20
(6) “Domestic pet” has the same meaning as in section 4001 of this title. 21

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(7) “Fur-bearing species” or “furbearer” has the same meaning as in 1
section 4001 of this title. 2
(8) “In the presence of” means within hearing distance or visual contact 3
with the dogs under conditions that allow the handler to take immediate action 4
to control them. 5
(9) “Supervised” or “supervision” means that a person at all times 6
remains within visual sight or hearing distance of a dog, remains within 150 7
feet of the dog, and is physically able to control the dog. 8
Subchapter 2. Field Trials 9
§ 5001. HUNTING DOGS; FIELD TRAINING 10
(a) While accompanying the dog, a person may train a hunting dog to hunt 11
and pursue: 12
(1) bear during the period from June 1 to September 15 and then only 13
from sunrise to sunset; 14
(2) rabbits and game birds during the period from June 1 to the last 15
Saturday in September and then only from sunrise to sunset; 16
(3) raccoon during the period from June 1 through any time of day or 17
night on the day before the opening day of raccoon hunting season; and 18
(4) bobcat and fox during the period June 1 to March 15, except during 19
regular deer season as prescribed in section 4741 of this title. 20

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(b) The Commissioner may permit a person to train and condition a hunting 1
dog between the second Monday in March and June 1. The Board may adopt 2
rules as it considers necessary to control the training and conditioning of 3
hunting dogs. 4
(c) A person training a hunting dog under this section may possess a 5
handgun while training the hunting dog, provided that the person shall not take 6
game by any method while training the hunting dog. As used in this section, 7
“handgun” means a pistol or revolver that will expel a projectile by the action 8
of an explosive. 9
§ 5002. HUNTING DOGS; FIELD TRIALS; FEE 10
The Commissioner may issue permits to organized groups to hold field 11
trials for hunting dogs. Persons seeking a permit shall submit an application to 12
the Commissioner as prescribed by the Commissioner and shall pay a fee of 13
$50.00. 14
§ 5003. RETRIEVING DOGS; FIELD TRIALS 15
The Commissioner may issue a license to any responsible person or field 16
trial group to hold a field trial for retrieving dogs, or bird dogs, with game 17
birds that have been propagated or legally acquired and relea