Deer hunters and landowners overflowed the Moore County commissioners’ meeting room Thursday night to express their views about a proposed bill to ban deer hunting with dogs.

Although opponents of the ban appeared to outnumber proponents, the audience included a few folks who supported it and some who expressed neutrality.

Comments by those favoring a ban on deer hunting with dogs were greeted with boos. Opponents were followed by heavy applause.

State Rep. Richard Morgan, who conducted the public hearing, repeatedly asked the gathering to hold applause and refrain from booing those with whom they disagreed.

After the hearing, Morgan told The Pilot that he will continue to accept comments in coming days.

Morgan, an Eagle Springs Republican, said March 14 is the deadline to introduce local legislation in this session of the General Assembly. This deadline has been met by his introduction of draft legislation, which can be dropped, altered or accepted later in the session.

He declined to indicate how he would decide what to do.

Morgan heard everyone speak from hunters and traditionalists, to an eight-year old girl who said she “love(s) to go with my daddy” to hunt with dogs.

Speakers mentioned history, tradition and the economic benefits of hunting.

“Dog hunting is a southern tradition. It’s a way of life,” said David Wilson.

“Hunting deer with dogs is a tradition in North Carolina, and if we lose that tradition, it will be a great loss to our society,” said Joe McDonald of Southern Pines.

Noting that the tradition dates back to the days of Indians, McDonald said hunters must show more respect for other people’s property.

Bill Murrow said a ban on hunting with dogs would hurt everyone and offered to borrow money, if necessary, to pay for damage caused by his dogs on other people’s property.

Among those favoring the ban was Gurney Seawell, who lives on the Glendon-Carthage Road. He said deer being chased by dogs has damaged fencing on his cattle farm.

Joel Stancil of Aberdeen called hunting a family affair and asked for a show of hands by those opposed to the ban.

Randy Lemonds of Robbins said he belongs to still-hunting club but does not oppose hunting with dogs. Still hunters wait for deer. They do not use dogs.

“All we ask is to give us the opportunity to still hunt,” Lemonds said.

Lemonds said the problem lies in a lack of respect for other people. In an apologetic tone, he said, “they’re (a reference to the dog hunters) not normally like this. They just want to keep their dogs.”

Steven Richardson of Carthage said he has hunted both ways.

“We don’t ask for much, and we abide by the law,” Richardson said. “We have to work together.”

Don Elam of Robbins, president of a still hunting club, said his club contributes more than $100,000 to the economy of Moore County in a year.

“Hunting does impact the county economy,” said Elam, who opposes hunting deer with dogs.

Elam warned that with increased development and urbanization, Moore County could one day run out of land for hunting.

“The solution to this problem is inside this room tonight, and the problem is inside this room tonight,” Elam said, drawing boos from spectators.

At this point Morgan asked “everyone to be respectful of differing opinions.”

Billy Cole was one of several persons who asked to give an existing law a chance to work. He was talking about a bill passed by the legislature in 1999 that placed restrictions on hunting with dogs.

That bill, introduced by Morgan, requires all hunters to carry written permission by the landowner when hunting on other people’s land. It requires identification on dog collars and prohibits hunting from the highway right of way. The bill was the result of recommendations compiled by the Moore County Hunters and Landowners Committee, a panel established by the county commissioners.

“I’m a deer dog hunter,” said Cole, who lives in the Doubs Chapel community. “I’ve hunted all my life. I’m proud of my heritage.”

Cole asked if those people having trouble with hunting dogs have notified law enforcement agencies when people have trespassed on their property or perpetrated damage.

“Let’s give this law a chance,” Cole said. “I think it’s worth it.”

Joe Rosy of Aberdeen said, “Do not punish good hunters for what bad hunters do.”

Jim Allred of Robbins expressed support for the dog runners and said that some people are handicapped or, for other reasons, are unable to walk long distances and climb trees or hunting stands.

Johnny N. Owens, who lives on Bethlehem Church Road near Carthage, estimated that about a one-fourth of his club members are unable to climb a tree or use a ladder to still-hunt.

Owens, who cited errors appearing in The Pilot, said the Hunters and Landowners Committee had not received much credit for the hard work that went into the study leading to the existing law.

William Buie, who lives between Whispering Pines and Lakeview, said that four-wheel vehicles do more damage than running dogs. He opposed banning hunting with dogs.

Gifford Fisher of Pinehurst said his hunt club does not hunt with dogs but he does not want to ban hunting with dogs.

“That was our decision,” Fisher said. “We don’t feel that we should impose our will on others. It’s a thing of mutual respect.”

Several speakers expressed opposition to a proposal to change the deer-hunting season, making the same season effective for the entire county.

No one voiced approval for the concept of a countywide deer-hunting season.

Others speaking during the hearing included Virginia Saunders, Herman Brown, Donnie Shaw, Fred Strider, Wayman Marsh, Richard Lynch, Jason Cole, Winford Seawell, Tom Trivett of Greensboro (a Moore County landowner), Robert Allred, Jonathan Chapman and 8-year old Brittany Seawell.

After the hearing was adjourned, Ronnie Williams, chairman of the Hunters and Landowners Committee, told The Pilot that the views expressed during the hearing were the same ones his committee heard and took into consideration in its 1997 study.

Williams said that the N.C. Wildlife Commission allows deer hunting with dogs in 51 counties.

He also countered arguments that deer are damaging fences and said that the average deer can leap six or seven feet, well over most fences, without causing damage. He said they rarely cause crop damage because most major crops are already harvested by the time deer hunting season opens.

“I think deer dogs are getting a bad rap,” Williams said. “They’re getting blamed for everything. I still haven’t heard anyone say they’ve lost any livestock or chickens to deer dogs. I don’t see any reason the law ought to be changed.”

Williams said many people see a dog on their property and assume it is a hunting dog. In many cases, he said, the dogs are stray domestic dogs or wild dogs.