Tools for hound hunters
Resources
Forms, wallet cards, data and videos for Virginia’s hunters and dog owners.
Most requested
Quick downloads
Sportsman’s Incident Report
Dog stolen, shot, detained or a collar removed? Make a claim with this form.
Sportsman’s Pledge & Permission Card
A wallet card to share with landowners when asking permission to hunt.
Code of Ethics & Law Card
Our Hunting Dog Owner’s Code of Ethics on one side, important Virginia dog laws on the other.
Forms & cards
Forms, cards and posters
Sportsman’s Pledge and Permission Card
Asking to hunt on private land
We offer the following sportsman’s pledge in exchange for permission to hunt on private property. In return for the privilege of using private property, I agree to:
- Respect the landowner’s property, only go where he designates and assume liability for my actions and my person while on this property.
- Take every precaution against littering and fire.
- Obey the game, fish, and other wildlife laws.
- Observe all safety precautions and the traditions of good sportsmanship.
Available as a wallet printable, the card lets hunters and landowners share contact information and records the hunter’s permissions on the landowner’s property.
Sportsman’s Incident Report
If you have had an incident with your dog
Please use the Sportsman’s Incident Report to make a claim if your dog was:
- Stolen
- Shot
- Detained
- Tracking collar removed
- Picked up and hauled off
- Interfered with during legal hunting
- The subject of a false report
$1,000 reward
We do not tolerate the abandonment of a hunting dog in Virginia, and offer a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who does so. The reward has grown from the original $250 offer when we began.
Code of Ethics & Law Card
37,000
free laminated cards printed and distributed to date. One side summarizes important dog laws; the other has the “Report Wildlife Violations” number and the Hunting Dog Code of Ethics.
Videos
Watch and share
Short videos that explain the issues hound hunters care about.
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Right to Retrieve
All about Virginia’s Right to Retrieve law, § 18.2-136.
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Fox Pens
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Data & laws
Data, legislation and official sources
Freedom of Information Act data
DWR hunting dog data, 2013–2025
Since 2013, VAHDA is the only organization to publicly track and maintain all the DWR call logs for hunting in Virginia, including hound hunting. Hunting dog violation calls fell by half from 2023 to 2025.
Laws & legislation
Active legislation and Virginia dog laws
The bills we’re tracking at the General Assembly, the laws VAHDA helped pass, and plain-language summaries of the Code of Virginia and DWR regulations.
Resolution on Heritage of Hunting with Dogs
Twenty-four counties pass resolution on heritage of hunting with dogs
The number of Virginia counties in support of our heritage of hunting with dogs, especially hounds, has grown to twenty-four. The “Brunswick Resolution” is a defense of the rural culture of Virginia. It has been passed by:
Charlotte · Brunswick · Mecklenburg · Lunenburg · Caroline · Spotsylvania · Charles City · New Kent · King and Queen · King William · Page · Isle of Wight · Northumberland · Essex · Nottoway · Prince George · Goochland · Southampton · Greensville · Cumberland · Buckingham · Sussex · Pittsylvania · [24th county]
Consider asking your Board of Supervisors to pass a similar resolution today!
Official sources
DWR and Code of Virginia links
See a wildlife violation?
Report it to the Department of Wildlife Resources.