Source: Deep Run Hunt (Virginia District)
Purpose: Establish & maintain relationships with game commissioners & state legislators to protect our sport
How it Works:
Deep Run Hunt’s ex-MFH, Ginny Perrin, describes this as one of the most valuable initiatives a hunt can pursue to protect the future of our sport. It involves an event—a hunt’s annual visit with state legislators—but ideally, it is part of a continuous dialogue maintained with state legislators and game commissioners. As Ginny says, “The heads of game commissions work hand-in-hand with state legislators, and together they wield power that directly affects hunting-related laws.”
Legislators often have little or no knowledge of our sport, don’t know what hunts are in their districts, and are unaware of the number of their constituents engaged in our sport. Thus, periodic communications with game commissioners and legislators, plus an annual state capital visit, can build relationships and trust needed to help ensure hunting-related votes go in a favorable direction. Ginny emphasizes, “These connections are vital before you need help. It’s very hard to play catch-up after potentially damaging legislation is in the works.”
For over ten years, Deep Run Hunt has coordinated with other Virginia hunts to send an annual delegation of adult and junior foxhunters, and some personable hounds, to the Virginia state capitol grounds. Quite a few hunt clubs have participated. The visit day, typically a Friday, is chosen to coincide with a legislative meeting, and often to celebrate a hunt’s important anniversary or other event. A huntsman, in hunting attire, brings two or three couple of hounds. Often the juniors and pony clubbers are also in hunting attire. Legislators and aides join the contingent outside for photo ops and introductions. Understandably, the hounds are a huge hit. Then the contingent, minus hounds, meets with legislators in their offices. The prime architect of this event has been Mike Pearson, a lobbyist hired by Virginia hunts to be foxhunting’s eyes and ears at the state capital. If hunts don’t have, or can’t afford, a trusted lobbyist, it’s important to find volunteers who can make the needed connections and keep an eye on proposed legislation. As Ginny says, “You want to help the game commissioners and legislators understand we are rational, law-abiding people, with an oversight body (MFHA) that has rules of conduct to preserve the sport and relationships with landowners.”
Visits are now so popular that legislative aides ask, “When are you doing the next one?” Significantly, legislators can learn that hunts can be trusted sounding boards for opinions on topics such as animal care, kennels, veterinary practices, land and rural road preservation. And it’s not lost on legislators that many of the visiting youngsters will be voters within two election cycles!
This entire effort to build relationships with game commissioners and legislators is so crucial to the future of our sport that the MFHA’s fall Covertside magazine will expand upon the practice.
For more information, contact the MFHA at 540-883-0883 or office@mfha.com
Entries posted with “Notes” are for information and education and represent the views, opinions, conclusions, recommendations and experiences of the submitting parties. Their inclusion does not constitute endorsement or warranty by the MFHA of the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the postings.
