Farmer Jim Medeiros holds one of his chickens during an interview at his farm Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Wilsons, Va. Medeiros owns a 143-acre dairy and poultry farm and has had issues with hunting dogs on his property killing chickens. WILSONS, Va. — — Soon after Jim Medeiros bought his 143-acre cattle and poultry farm in rural Virginia a decade ago, he and his wife were startled by the sounds of 20 hunting dogs barking and howling as they circled their house and chased their chickens.
A number of states allow hunters to retrieve their dogs without permission from property owners under certain circumstances, such as properties that do not have “no trespassing” signs. But Virginia's law says hunters are allowed to retrieve dogs even when the property owner has specifically denied access.
Daniel Woislaw, a lawyer with the Pacific Legal Foundation, said he believes Virginia's “right to retrieve” law amounts to a similar physical taking of private property.