In this episode, Todd speaks with Lonnie Miller, President of the Alabama Dog Hunters Association, and Cody McCarley, Vice President, about growing concerns over the future of hunting deer with dogs in Alabama. Both men describe dog hunting as a deeply rooted tradition passed down through generations. Lonnie shares that he has been a dog hunter since childhood and has served as president of the association for the past ten years. Cody explains that he grew up dog hunting with his father, but in his home area of North Alabama, that opportunity was later taken away, forcing him to travel long distances to continue the tradition. The main issue discussed is a proposed statewide permit system for deer hunting with dogs. According to Lonnie and Cody, the permit itself is not necessarily the problem. Their concern is that it could become a tool to place unnecessary restrictions on hunters who are already following the rules. They argue that a small number of complaints is being used to justify regulations that would affect dog hunters across the entire state. The guests repeatedly stress that they do not support trespass or irresponsible behavior. Lonnie makes it clear that if a dog crosses onto someone else’s property, it is the hunter’s responsibility to correct the problem. He says the association supports ethical, lawful dog hunting and believes repeat offenders should be dealt with directly rather than punishing everyone. A major theme in the conversation is the difference between validated complaints and informal or exaggerated allegations. Lonnie explains that years ago, the number of complaints appeared much higher because almost any report or comment could be counted. He says the association pushed for more substantiated complaint tracking, and that the number of confirmed complaints dropped significantly. From their point of view, the current push for broader restrictions does not match the actual scale of the problem. Another major point is enforcement. Lonnie and Cody argue that Alabama already has laws on the books to deal with trespass and other violations. Their position is that the state should enforce existing rules against bad actors instead of adding new restrictions on everyone else. They say many of the complaints raised at advisory board meetings involve conduct that is already illegal. Cody also describes frustration with how the permit system is applied from county to county. He says some counties are allowed to operate under permit systems while others with similar circumstances are denied the same opportunity. In his view, that inconsistency shows that the process is not being applied fairly. The discussion also touches on public land hunting, with the guests questioning why Alabama says dog hunting permits cannot work on public land when neighboring states appear to have found ways to manage similar systems. The conversation ends on a broader point about culture and the future of hunting. Lonnie and Cody argue that hunting with dogs is one of the best ways to introduce children to hunting because it is active, social, and exciting. They describe youth hunts, public hunts, and chapter events where children are welcomed, fed, encouraged, and given opportunities to participate. In their view, dog hunting is not only a traditional method, but also an important pathway for preserving the next generation of hunters. Cody closes by referencing the Alabama Constitution’s Sportsman’s Bill of Rights, which states that people have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife by traditional methods, subject to reasonable regulation. He argues that hunting with dogs clearly qualifies as a traditional method and should be treated as such.
