Ambiguous, Problematic Language Plagues Oklahoma Tether Bill
Take Action Today! Oklahoma members should contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to oppose House Bill 1580. The committee members can be contacted at the links below:
Chairman Rande Worthen (405-557-7398; [email protected])
Rep. Gerrid Kendrix (405-557-7369; [email protected])
Rep. Carol Bush (405-557-7359; [email protected])
Rep. Jose Cruz (405-577-7397; [email protected])
Rep. Ross Ford (405-557-7347; [email protected])
Rep. Jason Lowe (405-557-7367; [email protected])
Rep. Stan May (405-557-7338; [email protected])
Rep. Lonnie Sims (405-557-7340; [email protected])
Rep. Danny Sterling (405-557-7349; [email protected])
Rep. Judd Strom (405-557-7402; [email protected])
"At the most basic level, this bill's language leaves it open to interpretation as to whether or not you can tether your dog outside for five hours or for as little as 15 minutes, and when you can do so," said Jacob Hupp, associated director of state services for Sportsmen's Alliance. "Further, HB 1580 could completely outlaw common and accepted training and hunting practices for bird dogs and hounds."
The use of a stakeout chain for bird dogs serves as an important training tool for puppies and adult dogs alike, and is used by traveling hunters and field-trial competitors to air, feed and safely allow dogs time out of their travel boxes.
"Given the fact that HB 1580 eliminates any tethering of a puppy under six months of age under any circumstance is cause for concern, too, as that delays accepted training methods during impressionable phases of puppy development," said Brian Lynn, vice president of marketing and communications for Sportsmen's Alliance and well-known sporting-dog writer. "This is just a poorly written bill that raises more questions than answers."
About the Author : Sportsmens Alliance
Visit authors website | View more articlesThe Sportsmens Alliance protects and defends Americas wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits hunting, fishing and trapping that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmens Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible.
Related Aritlces
Tall Timbers: Burning Down the House
I’ve heard of folks figuring out the price tag on costs to raise wild quail, but I don’t know of anyone who has kept track of the amount of time that goes into the breeding, training and developing of a championship gun dog. Both are significant. Take that dog number, multiply it by 55, and you’ll have one heck of a lot of hours all represented in the dogs that qualified to run across 28 braces in the February 2025 National Championship for Bird Dogs held at Ames Plantation. The first brace of this 126-year old Super Bowl caliber event commenced on February 10th . The final brace ran over two weeks later on February 27, and during that time weather conditions ranged from a soggy, below-freezing 22 degrees Fahrenheit day to a 75-degree Fahrenheit sweat lodge. If you don’t like the weather in Grand Junction then wait five minutes.
And the Birds Whistled Bob-white
Quail hunting in the South has always been as common as sunburn. Due to the fertile soil, flat and rolling coastal plains that are cut by long rivers and dotted with lakes and ponds, made for a perfect farming. Mild winters with hot, humid summers meant crops grew for longer times of the year than just about any other part of the country. Cotton, rice, peanuts, tobacco, peaches, sugar cane, watermelons, and indigo, the blue dye that comes from the plant, were staples. It didn't matter if the farming occurred on plantations several thousand acres big or on 50-acre tenant farms, one thing was for sure. Quail were abundant.
Looking for a Pointer?
Few breeds have earned the reputation of the Pointer. Known for their speed, style, and natural bird-finding ability, Pointers have been a favorite among upland hunters for generations. Whether you are chasing quail across southern plantations, hunting prairie birds in the Midwest, or simply looking for an athletic companion with strong sporting instincts, the Pointer remains one of the most respected bird dogs in the field.
