A recently proposed amendment to the Farm Bill has the potential to hamstring your ability to properly train your waterfowl dog. H.R. 5017, or the Greyhound Protection Act, was drafted by animal rights groups to ban commercial greyhound racing and associated activities nationwide.
The provision with the greatest significance to bird dog trainers has to do with “live lure training.” Essentially, “live lure training” involves the use of live animals to compel a greyhound to chase them while preparing for racing.
The amendment, however, does not include language that specifies that it is solely confined to greyhounds; folks in the hunting industry worry that it could ban key practices that use live birds during gun dog training. For waterfowl hunters, it could impact live bird introductions for puppies, as well as duck search training and the incorporation of “live flyers” in water work. Meanwhile, pointing dog owners are worried about their ability to plant live pigeons and game birds for field work.
Whether the drafters of the amendment meant for it to impact hunters is a matter of debate. Brian Lynn, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Sportsmen’s Alliance, believes it is, citing specifically the involvement of Wayne Pacelle, who has a history of pushing anti-hunting legislation as the former CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and Founder of Animal Wellness Action. “The version portrayed in committee seemed straightforward and aimed only at greyhound racing. In reality, it’s anything but simple and much worse for Americans who hunt with dogs,” wrote Lynn in a press release. “This language is the first shot fired in Congress to ban hunting with dogs.”
Others in the hunting community have taken a more measured approach. “Working dogs deserve the best lives we can give them, and nobody believes that more than hunters,” Aaron Field, Director of Private Lands Conservation for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said in a statement. “This amendment made it through on good intentions. But as written, it contains provisions that could seriously affect bird dog and retriever training, field trials, and other hunting-related dog sports – and that needs to be addressed before this bill becomes law.”
One of the proponents of the amendment, Carey Theil, Executive Director of Grey2k USA, told Outdoor Life that the measure “has nothing to do with hunting or any other issue” and that her organization will “work to clarify, as necessary, that the Greyhound Protection Act helps greyhounds and does nothing else.”
Waterfowl hunters should hope that this is the case—and in the meantime, it’s probably worth contacting your congressperson to tell them where you stand on the matter. The amendment aside, the Farm Bill is vital for hunters as it impacts everything from private land conservation programs to public walk-in access programs.