Game Retrieval Tool: Is Washington Ready?

[Bob33]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.08.010

    (53) "To hunt" and its derivatives means an effort to kill, injure, capture, or harass a wild animal or wild bird.

If a dog is doing any of that, it could be considered as hunting.

If its already dead you can't kill it injure it capture it or harass it. 

How do you know it's dead?  If you know it's dead, then you know where it is, and you don't need a dog to find it....

[Machias]

They spell it out for hound hunters chasing lions, and those would be lions that are very much alive  , it is not considered hunting or pursuing as long as the dog remains on the leash.  Think about how many folks walk their dogs in the woods during Oct, Nov and Dec.  Makes no difference if they are following tracks in the snow, blood trail whatever, they cannot be cited if the dog is on the leash.  Like I said if I could run fast enough to put pressure on a bear or a cat I could keep my dog on the leash all the way to the tree...but of course that is pretty much impossible since dogs putting pressure on the animal is what makes them tree.

[grundy53]

if I thought there was a chance it was alive I wouldn't use a dog anyways. If you use a dog on a wounded animal it would probably jump it out of it's bed prematurely. I know you can never be a hundred percent sure but usually you know if it's hit hard and is going to be dead or if you gut shot it and need to track it.

[6x6in6]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.240
(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of dogs if the person:
      (a) Negligently fails to prevent a dog under the person's control from pursuing or injuring deer, elk, or an animal classified as endangered under this title;

Negligently fails to prevent a dog under the person's control from pursuing............The way I read this is whether leashed or not it is negligence.  It doesn't state dead or alive, just pursuing.
Interesting discussion.  I can certainly see where Machias is coming from and as usual see that there is a bit of gray in the RCW and the use of dogs.

Like Bob33 said, not sure I would want to be standing over a freshly tagged animal with my leashed dog at my side.  In this world of guilty until proven innocent, I'd have a pretty big hole to dig myself out of.

[Machias]

6x6in6

Page 58:

"Transporting a dog(s) in a motorized vehicle or walking a dog on a leash is not pursuit."

[6x6in6]

6x6in6

Page 58:

"Transporting a dog(s) in a motorized vehicle or walking a dog on a leash is not pursuit."

Yes, I know.   
But the "grey" I was referring to was in the "negligent to prevent a dog under a persons control" part.  Under control is certainly leashed.
I guess I was a bit unclear.  Sorry!

[grundy53]

pursuing = chasing. you can't chase something that is dead.

[Machias]

You CANNOT have pursuit without them being off leash and therefore you CANNOT be charged with "pursuing" if their is no "pursuit".  Cannot have one without the other.  No grey, very black and white, VERY BLACK AND WHITE!  

   I love it when we have these discussion.  This one is fun.  Thanks guys.

[6x6in6]

pursuing = chasing. you can't chase something that is dead.

Can you point us to the definitions section of the RCW for this?

And if you know that it is dead, you must have seen it, so why the dog?

[6x6in6]

Yes, it is fun. 

[grundy53]

You CANNOT have pursuit without them being off leash and therefore you CANNOT be charged with "pursuing" if their is no "pursuit".  Cannot have one without the other.  No grey, very black and white, VERY BLACK AND WHITE!  

   I love it when we have these discussion.  This one is fun.  Thanks guys.

That explains it more clearly.  

[grundy53]

pursuing = chasing. you can't chase something that is dead.

Can you point us to the definitions section of the RCW for this?

And if you know that it is dead, you must have seen it, so why the dog?

Like I said. Most of the time you know if you hit it hard or not. If you know you hit it hard and wait a reasonable amout of time it should be dead. Key word should.

[6x6in6]

pursuing = chasing. you can't chase something that is dead.

Can you point us to the definitions section of the RCW for this?

And if you know that it is dead, you must have seen it, so why the dog?

Like I said. Most of the time you know if you hit it hard or not. If you know you hit it hard and wait a reasonable amout of time it should be dead. Key word should.

I was just poking at ya.  Your previous said is dead.  I knew what ya meant. 

[grundy53]

pursuing = chasing. you can't chase something that is dead.

Can you point us to the definitions section of the RCW for this?

And if you know that it is dead, you must have seen it, so why the dog?

Like I said. Most of the time you know if you hit it hard or not. If you know you hit it hard and wait a reasonable amout of time it should be dead. Key word should.

I was just poking at ya.  Your previous said is dead.  I knew what ya meant. 

 

[Bob33]

Hi, officer.  How are you today?

Yes, I know this is a rather strange sight.  You see, I shot a deer a few hours ago and just could not find it.  I know it’s illegal to use my dog to track it, so I went home and got Yogi.

He’s really a nice bear, but if he gets hungry you don’t want to get in his way.

Now, just let me show you how he works.  He’s got a nose that a bloodhound would die for…