The strings of personal preference continue to be pulled in both directions on the Richmond County dog hunting issue.

The date of the next meeting with some of the hunters and landowners has not been specified yet but will be sometime this month and will consist of the entire Board of Commissioners as well.

But the July 22 meeting, with the Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Gordon Myers, NCWRC Legislative Liaison Sarah Clapp, North Carolina General Assembly Senator William Purcell, Richmond County Board of Commissioner Chairman Kenneth Robinette, Commissioner John Garner, Commissioner Thad Ussery and County Manager Rick Sago ended on a good note, Ussery said.

“I think that the meeting was very informative,” Ussery said.

Purcell said that he suggested doing the meeting.

“One of the options that was discussed was to make stricter rules that would be enforced by the NCWRC,” he said.

The NCWRC is aware of the issue in Richmond County among others.

“We receive a lot of calls specifically dealing with trespassing issues,” said Myers. “We are certainly aware of the conflicts that are associated with them.”

He said a number of counties have opted out of allowing deer hunting with dogs.

But, this may not be the case for Richmond County.

“We have some good dog hunter’s here that respect people’s property rights, that don’t need to be effected,” Robinette said.

According to Ussery, there are only about 200 game wardens to 700 counties in North Carolina.

“Maybe this thing can be worked out to where everyone can walk away with some point of satisfaction,” he said.

But, the voices of both parties have been heard. Purcell said that he has received scathing letter from both parties.

The options, once they are discussed, should be clearer to everyone involved.

“We are trying to put people together to see if there is something that can be done to satisfy both parties,” Myers said. “All hunters have a responsibility to hunt within the laws and regulations of the state.”

Despite persistence, S. Henri McClees, lobbyist for the North Carolina Sporting Dog’s Association, was unable to speak in front of the Board of Commissioners at Monday’s meeting regarding financial information on hunting with dogs in Richmond County.

The Richmond County Web site has an outdated version of rules pertaining to the Board of Commissioners meeting. The updated information was given to McClees by Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Marian Savage.

“It’s not about who can bring the most people to the meeting,” Sago said. “It’s about finding a solution with them.”

The hunters and landowners aren’t alone in looking forward to the future meeting.

“I would very much like to be in that future meeting as a resource, I would like to hear first hand from the stake owners for my own education,” Myers said.

Hollie Nivens can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or by e-mailing at hnivens@yourdailyjournal.com