Amendment in Farm Bill Could Outlaw Certain Types of Hunting and Training With Dogs

If passed, an amendment to the Farm Bill, H.R. 5017, could criminalize traditional hunting dog training, field trials and hunting with sight hounds. (Image by Bill Konway)

Hunting advocates are raising an alarm over a recent amendment to a bill that they say contains anti-hunting language. They claim that the controversial amendment to the Farm Bill, H.R. 5017, known as the Greyhound Protection Act of 2025, goes far beyond banning greyhound racing and could impact traditional dog training and hunting practices across the country.

Approved by the House Committee on Agriculture on March 3, the bill is presented as a nationwide ban on greyhound racing, which currently exists only at two tracks in West Virginia. It also seeks to prohibit off-track betting on international races.

However, critics argue the broader language amending the Animal Welfare Act could have serious consequences for hunters and hunting dog trainers.

Brian Lynn, vice president of marketing and communications for Sportsmen’s Alliance, wrote an article for the organization’s website outlining how the amendment threatens to ”criminalize traditional hunting dog training, field trials, and hunting with sight hounds across the United States.”

The bill includes provisions targeting “open field coursing” and “live lure training,” though neither term is clearly defined. Without definitions, Lynn warns that courts could interpret “coursing” as hunting with sight hounds, while restrictions on live lure training could affect common practices, such as using live birds, to train a variety of hunting dogs.

Lynn writes that during committee debate, sponsor Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) emphasized animal welfare concerns but did not read directly from the bill text. When questioned by Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) about the scope and necessity of the amendment, Carbajal and other supporters offered only “vague, emotional and dismissive reasoning.” The measure ultimately passed by voice vote despite concerns about unintended consequences and the legality of gabling regulations and enforcement in an agriculture bill.

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Animal Wellness Action, an advocacy group led by former Humane Society of the United States CEO Wayne Pacelle, was cited as a key supporter of the legislation. Pacelle has a long history in the animal-rights movement, including leadership roles in organizations that have backed efforts to restrict hunting through legislation and ballot initiatives.

In Lynn’s Sportsman’s Alliance article, he wrote, “This type of politicking through vagueness is common among the animal-rights movement. It’s easy to manipulate the emotions of people, even politicians, when ‘advocating’ for animals. This tactic fits their modus operandi and script perfectly as most people gloss over the details when the welfare of dogs and cats seemingly hang in the balance.

“But the devil is in the details, and the details of this script were hidden and promoted by a devil well known to hunters, anglers and trappers. This was no accident. It is a pointed and intentional attack on dog hunting that relied on political trickery and emotional deceit as it was snuck into one of the most popular bills in the country.”

The Farm Bill will now head to the House Rules Committee, before being voted on by the full House of Representatives. Should the hunt ban remain in the House-passed version of the Farm Bill, the US Senate will craft its own version of the Farm Bill.

The Sportsmen’s Alliance is asking its members, as well as all who hunt and field trial with dogs to contact their Congressman/woman and ask them to strip the anti-hunting language from the Farm Bill.

Those interested in reaching out to their Congressman/woman can compose a letter at this link.