Firstbow, I agree with you on the importance of thefair hunt issue but simply put, I draw the line elsewhere than you. The dog part brings me so much more pleasure that I like to have it. And as you yourself described with the clever buck in the thickets its not a guaranteed success butching. We often come up empty handed. No bucks at home, they went beside us, didnt provide a shot, fooled the dogs or whatever else that can happen and what makes hunting the charming experience that it is. It just struck me that maybe the social part in drive hunts can be another bigplus factor.

It is a heck of nuissance when the hunt rattles away to a car chase and everybody is babbling in the radio about changing positions to here and there. Been to such hunts and hate it.Never works and is just a major disturbance in nature. Not at all what I advocate. Just not fun, fair or responsible to neighbors or game.

And the rifle thing. There is no sport in making difficult shots. One shot is still whatisrequired. The weapon of choicewould be a drilling.

I can feel much safer when hunting with a tracker dog availble. If the bad shot occurs, and sooner or later it will, the dog will make it easier to shorten the deers suffering. Not many hunters will be as devoted as you on this.